Out of Rhythm (Face the Music Book 1) Read Free Page A

used to be. Gemma had let her try all kind of things. While she’d been doing her apprenticeship it had been fun. Gemma the wanna-be rock star and Kirsten the almost hairdresser. At least one of them had enough guts to dream big.
    ‘No one’s touched my hair since you.’ It was a soft admission that carried a world of meaning.
    ‘I can tell, and you’re famous, you need to look fabulous. You can tell them I did your hair and then I’ll become hairdresser to the stars.’ That had sounded better in her head, but Gemma grinned at her and it was as though nothing had happened and they were the best of friends again.
    ‘You do know your brother still uses clippers all over.’
    Ed thought keeping his hair military short was a sense of fashion. ‘That’s because he has no style. You and Dan are the cool ones.’
    Once, a long time ago, she’d fancied Dan. But Ed had made sure that would never happen; she’d hated him for that then. With Gemma in the band she’d felt like an outsider at times.
    Gemma shook her head. ‘Don’t tell him that, his head might explode.’
    ‘Lisa’s not here?’ Kirsten had been expecting to see her. Lisa had been a fixture for the last three years. She’d been expecting Dan to pop the question and be the first one married.
    ‘Yeah, don’t use the L word near him. She dumped him and he’s very fragile.’
    Oh. He hadn’t seemed hurt…but that did explain the awkward pass. Six months ago Lisa and Dan had been talking rings and now it was over. ‘My brother doesn’t share any gossip.’
    The gossip she’d really wanted to hear about had been how Gemma was going. But she was afraid that if she’d asked Ed outright he’d have told Gemma she was asking, and that would have been worse.
    ‘Did Dan cheat?’
    Gemma shook her head. ‘Not that I know of. But I think Lisa was convinced he was. They argued on the phone a lot toward the end. It’s hard being away from home all the time. I don’t think she could handle the separation.’
    It sounded like she really couldn’t trust Dan.
    ‘Does the band have groupies yet?’
    ‘There’s always some chick wanting to jump Ed.’
    Of course there was, he and Gemma split the vocals so he was out the front. ‘He’s my brother; I really don’t need details.’
    And what about Gemma? Did she get guys trying to sleep with her? Or girls? Hairdressers didn’t get grateful clients throwing themselves on the floor and offering their bodies up.
    ‘It gets old fast. Or maybe I’m not cut out for this.’ She shrugged and let her hair cover her face again. ‘I don’t know anymore.’
    Kirsten got up and sat on the arm of Gemma’s chair. She gave her friend a hug. ‘You’ll get through this. You’re coming off a massive and exhausting year.’ But even as she reassured Gemma, she knew that it was something that ran deeper that was bothering Gemma.
    Despite the apologies, there was still too much unsaid.

Chapter 2
    After everyone had left and Kirsten had helped her parents clean up, she went looking for Ed. He was sitting in his room picking at the strings of his guitar and staring into space.
    There was a half empty beer on his bedside table and his suitcase was open and partially packed on the floor, as if he expected to up and leave again. She knew that wasn’t going to be happening. He was home for the summer — except for when the festivals started.
    She remembered going to the music festivals with a huge group of friends and he’d be there saying it would be him up on stage one day. Now he didn’t seem thrilled.
    ‘Working on something new?’ When she was younger he’d always let her listen. Gemma had too. Without either of them in her life, the last six months had been quiet and colourless.
    ‘Nope. Just making noise.’ He reached for his beer and took a swig.
    ‘Gemma said the second album was tough going.’ She didn’t know what else to say.
    He nodded. ‘Glad you and Gem fixed things up.’
    Kirsten wouldn’t go