The Hardest Set (Willow Son #4/Brothers of Rock #19) Read Free Page B

” Natalie said. “ But I ’ m sure I could give Mr. Frehnen
something to show. I mean, I can ’ t
help all that ’ s happened.
The school closing. What Mark did to me. ”
    “ Don ’ t even say his name, ” Andrea said. “ That was bad from the word go . ”
      “ Yeah,
try not to make me feel too guilty, ” Natalie said. “ You know how
I felt. ”
    “ You
need to let all that go. ”
    Natalie closed her mouth and
nodded. Andrea, the best friend, the mother figure. Sometimes those lines
blurred too much for Natalie. Right now, she wanted the best friend. She wanted
Andrea to hear how she felt and show compassion. To care. To give her advice
without the obvious - you shouldn ’ t
have been involved with a married man!
    “ Okay, ” Natalie said. “ So it ’ s a big event. ”
    “ The
biggest ever for me, ” Andrea said. “ That ’ s why I brought wine tonight. I needed
to get away from my apartment and office. I need to get just a little drunk and
laugh a lot. ”
    “ Good
news for me, ” Natalie said. “ I still have electric and
cable. So we can drink the wine, find something to watch, and laugh. ”
    “ Sounds
like a deal. ”
    “ And
if we get drunk enough, ” Natalie said, “ you can give
me pointers on how to be a perfect waitress for your party. ”
    “ Nat,
this isn ’ t a joke. ”
    “ Hey,
remember the time you tried to put a pie on Mrs. Allowen ’ s chair in high school? And she pulled her chair out,
saw it, and thought someone baked her a pie. ”
    “ Yeah, ” Andrea said. “ Some joke. ”
    “ Then
she made the entire class take a bite, but it was nothing but whipped cream. ”
    “ Yeah,
I was there. I became the most hated person in our class. ”
    Natalie started to laugh. Andrea
soon followed. There was nothing like the innocence of being young and thinking
you knew everything about the world.
    Andrea grabbed the bottle of wine. “ Hey, Nat. I ’ m counting on you. This is
really a big opportunity for me. If this goes well, I can up my clientele. I ’ ll bring you in anytime you
want. I ’ ll find a way …”
    “ Enough
talk, ” Natalie said.
    I ’ ll find a way to make this work, baby. Okay?
Just trust me on this. It ’ s
all so complicated. That ’ s
how love is, isn ’ t
it?
    Natalie started to feel a little
sick.
    She needed something - a man, sure
- but she was done with anything that resembled a relationship. Those were only
destined to end. And anyone who dared to approach Natalie for that would get an
eviction notice.
     
    3.
     
    Van sat at the table, sunglasses on
his face. His head hurt and the pills weren ’ t
doing a damn thing. All he wanted was a stiff drink. That was the only cure for
a hangover. Get right back on that horse and go to town.
    The rest of the band sat with Van.
They had guitars on the table, some in pieces, some missing strings. In the one
corner was a brand new bass worth almost eight grand. A poster hung above it of
Van on stage, sweating, with a neon light behind him. Just another big
promotional deal for Willow Son. Jett and Ryker had their deals with guitars,
strings, straps, picks, cords, amps, and pedals. Colby had a deal with
microphones. Brantley with drums and sticks. And Van had a deal with a bass
company … and strings,
picks, pickups, amps, and even shoes. As crazy as it all had gotten, each deal
was worth a lot of money.
    Sitting across from the band was a
reporter. This was an interview and had nothing to do with the deals. This was
about music and success.
    “ So,
let me just do this the way I ’ ve
always wanted. ” The guy ’ s name was Jackie. He had spiked
up black hair and tattoos up his neck to his chin. “ I ’ ve
been wanting to hang with you guys for a long time. As a fan. As a reporter. As
a musician. ”
    “ You
play bass, right? ” Jett
asked.
    “ Yeah, ” Jackie said. “ Sort of a long term fill in guy
for a lot of bands. But I love your story. Rags to riches. The rise up, the
fall, then