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

that far but they were both trying. ‘She also said Dan and Lisa split.’
    He nodded again. ‘That was all bad. I thought we were going to have to cancel shows or come home or something.’
    ‘But you didn’t.’
    ‘We couldn’t. We need to be professional and together. Dan knows that and he pulled it together.’ He plucked at the strings again. ‘She couldn’t have picked a worse time though. Two days before the ARIAs. I think she wanted him to come home. To choose between us and her.’
    ‘And he chose the band.’
    ‘Yep. He did that in spite of the fact we haven’t written anything worth playing.’
    ‘I don’t believe that…I’ve heard you play a lot of crap. Remember The Dog Ate my Shoe ?’
    Ed grimaced. ‘I was fourteen, and you loved it.’
    ‘I was eleven. Of course I loved it.’ Their parents had not liked the vet bill, but Muffin had survived eating Ed’s school shoe.
    ‘Good thing and Dan and Gem do most of the lyric writing now.’ He paused and looked up at her. ‘I think Lisa blamed Gem for the breakup.’
    Lisa had never liked a girl being in the band. She’d always frozen Gemma out at social gatherings. ‘Gemma’s never dated any of you.’
    ‘I know. She’s like one of the guys. I forget sometimes that she isn’t.’ He gave her a half smile. ‘But she and Dan are close.’
    Kirsten leaned against the doorframe. Gemma and Dan weren’t that close. Did Lisa think men and women couldn’t be friends, so was automatically suspicious? ‘What’s really been going on? None of you seem happy.’
    He looked down and shook his head. ‘Just tired, K.’
    She wanted to ask more about the tour and Gemma, but held her tongue. Ed thought everything was fine between them. ‘I missed you.’
    ‘Sure you did. You would’ve had the ground floor to yourself.’
    She smiled. That was true. ‘That’s kind of why I’m here.’
    ‘Ah, I knew you had an ulterior motive.’ He plucked a sinister tune. ‘Music for your dastardly plan which you know I’ll agree to. Are we toilet-papering Lisa’s house?’
    ‘Please, I’m not fifteen.’ They hadn’t done any stunts like that in a long time. Probably since their father had threatened Ed with joining the military. They still weren’t sure if he’d been joking.
    ‘Damn, I’d have been in for that, and so would the guys.’
    ‘You know Gemma’s parents don’t approve.’
    Ed stopped playing. ‘You want her to stay here.’
    ‘I want to put the offer out. They didn’t come to the barbeque and neither did her brothers. They never wanted her to sign the contract and they’ve been pulling her back the whole time.’
    ‘I know. I heard them berating her on the phone. There are no secrets on the road.’ He gave her a pointed look. ‘But she’s always stood up to them.’
    Kirsten looked away and studied the socks and sneakers on the floor. Gemma didn’t seem to have any fight left in her. ‘She shouldn’t have to, Ed. What if she stops fighting and she gives in? How is she supposed to work when they’re sabotaging her?’
    ‘She’s sleeping there, not living there. Her stuff’s at Mike’s because she was worried that one of her brothers would take her guitars and hock them, again.’
    When she was seventeen, Gemma had saved up to buy a new guitar, and one brother had taken it. Her parents had done nothing, as it couldn’t be proven. Had even gone so far as to suggest that perhaps she should look after her things better. After that Gemma had left all her valuables here or with Mike. Her parents would do anything to get her to give up the band. They’d refused to drive her, so Gemma had caught the bus or taxis. They’d threatened kicking her out of home, but had soon changed their mind when they’d realised they would have zero control over her if she moved out.
    ‘I don’t know why they want to see her fail. The band fail.’ Ed frowned.
    The few times Kirsten had been over there she’d always been made to feel