Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
Duncan
The man in front of me is not at all what I would have pictured when I agreed to audition.
For starters, he’s nearly as tall as me, and I’m a blessed six foot two. But on him, it’s all lean muscle and sinuous frame, likely from a steady diet of drugs and drinking.
His bleached blond hair boasts a slick sheen at his dark roots, which combined with the dark circles under his eyes and the way he keeps twitching, tells me he’s probably on a bender.
I watch as he slides his aqua Fender on, his chipped black nails absentmindedly strumming as he grumbles something unintelligent.
He’s got tattoos from his knuckles all the way up to his neck. The hot pink sleeveless tee he’s wearing looks like it’s been through the ringer, too.
His attitude is foul, and reminds me of some of the assholes I used to deal with on a regular basis when I was a lot younger.
Or one asshole, in particular. Issax Perregrine, lead singer of Hollow Pointe.
And apparently, this Ken-Goes-Punk-Doll hates Hollow Pointe .
Of fucking course.
Nevertheless, I am a professional, and I need this gig. So I shut out my own disdain, and focus on the task at hand, which shouldn’t be too hard.
I glance up at my sheet music, waiting for the okay from Lou.
His round face peers at me from the other side of the sound booth glass.
“All right, boys, show time.”
The light goes out, and I flip my switch. Felix strums his guitar, and I keep up to his erratic playing to the best of my ability. The other two chug along as well, though they don’t bother trying to keep up with Felix.
Despite his erratic playing, I can tell he’s pretty good, because Issax, Hollow Pointe ’s second frontman, used to play like absolute shit when he was drunk or high.
At least Felix can somewhat keep the notes on time with my beat.
Then he opens his mouth.
“You make me weak, make me bleed, baby, I’m a sucker for you. You tie me up, you break me down, baby, cause you’re a sucker for me.”
His vocals are raspy, edged in a husky slur as he talk-sings.
I keep up with his notes, beating out the rhythm, and think so far, so good.
Until the door flies open and all I see is a flash of black.
“What the fuck, Felix?” A gravelly, agitated voice echoes in the room as the door the sound booth opens with a harsh bang.
Felix’s entire body tenses as he comes up against this other man’s chest.
The guy is also tall, but unlike Felix’s wiry frame, he’s built.
Even though he wears a fitted tee, I can see the outlines of his pecs.
His dark hair is frosted with pink tips, spiked with gel.
“Get the fuck out of here,” Felix growls.
“I barely been gone fourteen hours and already you’re fucking auditioning?”
“Sully, now is not the time.” Lou’s deadpan voice echoes in the room.
I watch, glancing back and forth between the two men.
Sully advances in Felix’s space, and the kid doesn’t even blink as he gets in his face.
“Just get your shit and get the fuck out of here!” Felix snarls as he grabs a duffel bag from the corner, throwing it at Sully.
But Felix has terrible aim, probably on account that he’s high as hell.
The duffel hits a couple stands, knocking them over with a loud clash and bang.
Sully throws it down on the floor.
“What did you think, if you can’t have me you’ll get my fucking idol and spit in my fucking face?”
Felix literally spits in his face and I roll my eyes.
Kid is way too easy, and my dad instincts kick in.
I get up, jumping between them. I place a hand on Felix’s chest and on Sully’s, looking between them.
“Look, let’s just all calm down and handle this like adults,” I say to the adults who look like they are literally teenagers.
They are adults, right?
Felix grapples with me as Sully hisses at him. Like a fucking weirdo.
“Sully... get your stuff and go. No one wants to end up with a black eye.”
Sully sneers at me, then looks at Felix.
“This band, this show... You ain’t nothin’ without me, Lixy.”
Felix struggles against my hold, which to be fair, isn’t that strong, but he’s fucked up as is. It doesn’t take much to push him back.
“I’m calling security,” Lou drones through the speakers.
Sully looks at me with disgust, spitting at my feet as he grabs his duffel. “Good fucking riddance.”
Security is outside the door within seconds, escorting an agitated Sully out as Felix stumbles back into the drum set, the cymbals crashing loudly. He tears the cymbal off, throwing it at the glass.
Lou calmly presses his button and speaks.
“I think that’s enough for today. Duncan, you can head home. We’ll be in touch.”
I sigh, looking at Felix crumpled over against the drum set, his long legs spread out, his head in his tattooed hands as he breathes heavy.
“I’m too fucking old for this shit,” I mumble as I grab my bottled water, leaving Felix Hart to his mess.
I’m just cleaning up the dishes from dinner—which ended up being pizza and wings because I was too tired to cook a full ass dinner when I got home—when my phone goes off.
I lean across the counter, grabbing it as Bobby flops down onto the couch.
In the glow of the television, he looks older than sixteen, and in a way, I guess he is.
Where his academics are concerned, anyway. He’s always been a smart kid, but I attribute that to Marci.
I was terrible in school when I did go, and it was a miracle I graduated.
“Hello?”
There’s a rumble in the background before Lou breathes out, “Hey. You, uh... I know it’s late, but I was wondering if you’d be able to meet up to chat?”
I glance at the clock on the microwave. It reads eight pm.
“You mean, like, now?” I ask, watching Bobby.
He’s glued to his phone and hasn’t said a word since dinner. I know something’s bothering him, and I’ve told him time and time again, he can talk to me, but I worry if I keep pushing, it’ll do more harm than good.
“Yeah, you know, just some drinks to discuss your audition.”
My blood runs cold, knowing that this is probably the do or die moment, and I need to go, but... it’s a school night, and I feel weird leaving Bobby alone, even if he is capable of taking care of himself for a few hours.
“You there, McKay?” Lou asks, and I realize I’ve gone silent.
“Hey Bobby, are you, uh... you okay hanging out for a bit?”
He grunts and nods. “Yeah, sure. Whatever.”
I sigh, wondering if he even hears me.
“I’ll just be an hour or so, you sure?”
Bobby waves me off as he goes back to his phone.
“I’ll be fine, Dad.”
I let out an unsteady breath as I respond to Lou.
“I mean, I guess. It’s a school night, though, so I can’t be out too late,” I say under my breath.
Not that I don’t trust my kid, but I’m usually in bed by eleven.
“Great. Does Jezebel’s work for you?” he asks, and I can’t help but crack a smile.
Lou’s really pulling on my nostalgia strings, here. Jez’s was always a favorite haunt before we signed with the record company. We used to play there damn near every weekend, but I haven’t been to the place in years.
“Yeah, sure. I’m heading out now. I should be there in about a half hour.”