6. Finn
Not only are the paparazzi going crazy around my hotel, hoping to catch me in the act with the wrong twin, but now I’m sitting at the Lancaster family dinner where her father shoots daggers my way when he thinks no one’s looking.
It’s clear he respects his daughter’s choices, but like any father, I’m sure he’d rather not see her image splashed across the tabloids leaving a hotel room.
When Jax gave me the scoop about her dad just minutes before I arrived, I nearly shit myself.
He’s a freaking lieutenant colonel in the Air Force.
He’s been a pararescue pilot for the better part of his career.
He’s had Special Forces training. He knows how to hide a body, and I’d be nothing but a memory to my family should he choose to do away with me.
Christ, I feel like a sixteen-year-old getting caught in the back seat of his parents’ car with a girl, rather than the twenty-seven-year-old man who should know better about keeping my private life out of the public.
As a set musician, I never had to worry about photogs keeping track of me, so this newfound fame is nothing I’ve experienced.
I haven’t had the chance to talk much with Raven, but I do know she’s agreed to be seen with her sister, Jax, and me to set the record straight about me having an affair with Sloane.
After having my manager and some execs at the label hand me my ass for causing such a PR nightmare, I came straight to this dinner, in hopes of talking with Raven and putting this fiasco behind us.
Little did I know when I was invited, it included her extended family.
It was bad enough meeting Lizzy, Lanie, and her fiancé, Ryan, but the hits just keep coming when her dad and his sister, Mable, arrive.
I nearly die on the spot when her father mentions seeing the headlines because he’s flagged our band’s name to keep tabs on Jax’s success. I love that he’s tech savvy, but have I mentioned I hate technology?
The sisters wasted no time setting the record straight about a misunderstanding at the hotel yesterday.
You could’ve cut the tension with a knife.
This will go down as one of the worst possible “meeting the family” scenarios ever.
Ten out of ten, do not recommend.
What sucks most about this fucked-up situation is that Raven is someone I could see myself dating. She’s smart, sexy, and fun to hang out with. I know we’ve only spent one night together, but I’d love to get to know her better.
However, the cold shoulder I’m getting from her at the moment has me thinking she might feel differently. It’s awkward as fuck having a huge elephant in the room. Like a neon flashing sign blinking, “Finn slept with Raven.”
Fuck, everyone knows what we did last night.
I’m like a fish out of water in this situation.
If only we could talk privately. Though, it’s practically impossible to get a moment alone with her.
Between her sisters, Aunt Mable, and the guys from the band calling me away for one thing or another, I haven’t been able to pin Raven down for the conversation we need to have.
It's driving me crazy.
With a beer in hand, her dad finally approaches. “How’s it going, Finn? You get enough to eat?”
This conversation could go so many ways, and my stomach flips as I clear my throat. “Yes, sir. I did. Thank you for having me.”
“It’s on the girls’ invitation that you’re here. I had nothing to do with it.”
Well, shit. What do I say now?
Thankfully, he must realize I’m at a loss for words because he asks, “So, how long have you been playing the drums?”
Can’t say I was expecting that.
“Hmmm… let’s see…I’ve been tapping out rhythms since I could walk. I was that annoying kid always drumming my desk in school. I think it was my third-grade teacher, Mrs. Welker, who suggested I should get a drum kit for Christmas, so I could put my talents to good use.”
This at least earns me a laugh from Mr. Lancaster.
Is that what I should call him? Mister? Or do I address him as Lieutenant Colonel? Fuck if I know? There’s no way in hell I’m calling him Mark. Sir comes naturally, growing up in the South, but I’m out of my depth when it comes to addressing active-duty military officers.
“Do you play any other instruments?”
My shoulders fall from my ears, and I feel the tension loosen slightly. I can handle this conversation. “I can play the guitar and piano, though my preference is drums.”
“I’ve heard some of the tracks you’ve participated in. You all sound fantastic together.”
Shocked at the compliment, I say, “Thanks. Jax, Ryker, and I are fire when we play together. I can’t wait to lay down tracks on our first official album this summer.”
“I’m coming back for the festival. Sloane’s snagged me some tickets, and I can’t wait to catch up with some buddies who’ve recently retired.
Apparently, Jax is the new Harry Styles or something with the teens.
” He chortles once and shakes his head. “Thanks to Sloane, my buddy Harps is scoring big by getting his daughter Frankie tickets. Apparently, she nearly passed out when she found she’d also get to see you perform at Lanie’s wedding. ”
“Jax has wicked skills. I’ve been playing for years, and I can’t believe Sloane found someone as talented as him at an open mic in Seaside of all places.
He not only has what it takes to be a musician, but he gets the music business in general.
I know I’m biased, being his new bandmate, but he’s the main reason I agreed to form Ruby Frax. ”
“Okay, I’ve been meaning to ask, what the hell is a The Ruby Frax? Is that some girl one of you used to date or something?”
Chuckling at his assumption, I assure him, “No… it’s got nothing to do with a girl. Trust me. It’s way nerdier than you could imagine.”
“Nerdy?” Raven’s dad asks in disbelief.
“You know Jax was finishing his degree in computer engineering while on tour, right? Well, one night after he’d been studying, we were trying to come up with a name for our band once the tour was over.
Jax was spent after hours reading code and jokingly said, ‘ Don’t look at me, or we’ll end up being the Ruby Frax or something like that.
I’m up to my eyeballs in code, and Ruby is all I can think of.
For all I care in this moment, we could ship our names together. ’”
Confusion spreads across his features, and I almost laugh. “Ship?”
“You know, when you use parts of people’s names to create a new one—like a couple name? Finn, Ryker, and Jax became Frax. It’s not that creative, but Ruby Frax sounds like something that will stand out and set us apart from the competition.”
“I like the name. But never could’ve guessed what it meant.”
“Most won’t. Trust me,” I assure him. “But fans are on board with it so far, and we’re getting some good publicity with the festival coming up in a few weeks.”
“I imagine it’ll be great exposure. Just look at what you’ve been able to do since announcing The Ruby Frax.”
“If all goes well, we’ll drop our first single just a few days after our first official performance as a band. Then we can build up hype for our full album.”
“I’ll admit, I don’t follow the music scene.
I just listen to what catches my ear. However, since Sloane started working at Smashing Waves Records, I’ve taken an interest in the talent she finds.
Though with Jax in particular, I’ll admit, I keep closer tabs on him.
With the whole vested interest on his future and how it relates to Sloane. ”
When his eyes bore into mine, I see the double meaning behind his words as clear as day. He’ll keep tabs on me, too.
Fuck, I really need to talk to Raven.
As if I’ve conjured her in my brain, her distinct laughter interrupts my thoughts, drawing my attention her way.
She looks radiant. Her face lifts to the sky, and her hair cascades down her back as she belly laughs from across the deck.
Lizzy’s got her full attention, and I’ll admit my curiosity is piqued.
I’d give anything to know what’s causing this kind of reaction. She’s so fucking beautiful.
Clearing his throat, her dad regains my attention.
The moment my eyes lock onto his, he says, “I’ve been watching the two of you all afternoon. My job depends on me reading the room. I don’t think the tabloids got everything wrong in those photos. You’re clearly interested in her. Don’t you think it’s time she stopped avoiding you?”
My mouth drops open, and I’m sure I blink at him in shock. I thought for sure he hated me. What man wouldn’t hate the guy putting his daughter negatively in the limelight? That’s one thousand percent deserved.
Placing a hand on my shoulder, he waits for me to close my mouth and really hear what he has to say.
Tipping his head in her direction, he leans in and whispers so only I can hear, “Tread lightly with that one; she’s tough as nails on the surface, but her heart is far bigger than she’ll ever let on. ”