Chapter 9
Izzy
The guys had been in the library practicing for hours. I’d only heard the door open once when Leif Eccles darted down the hall with his phone to his ear.
I felt kinda ridiculous standing in the hallway with a tray clutched in my hands. What was I thinking, loading it with water, soda, ice, and snacks? These were rock stars; they lived on nicotine, liquor, and coke—the white powdery kind.
This was stupid.
I was mid pivot to leave when the door opened, and Beau was suddenly looming over me.
“Izzy!” To say he sounded surprised would be an understatement.
“Hey, uh…I was just—”
“Did you make cookies?” A huge grin swept over his face.
I shifted uncomfortably. “I, yeah. It’s my favorite recipe. I’ve made it so many times I have it memorized, and you had all the ingredients so…”
“They smell amazing. I’m not sure I want to share them with these assholes though.” He grabbed one off the tray, took a bite, and then moaned his approval. “They’re still warm.”
“What’s going on over here?” The step-monster pranced down the hall toward us. No sign now of her earlier dishevelment. Her long brown hair was sleek and shiny, and her makeup was flawless but confusing, considering her skin-tight workout attire.
“Izzy baked for us.” Beau beamed, holding out his cookie to her.
But Phoebe cringed like he held a bleeding carcass. “Oh. That’s…nice.”
I barely held back the eyeroll.
But Beau just grunted and shoved the rest of the cookie in his mouth. “Come on in, kiddo,” he muttered around his full mouth. “I guess I can share with the rest of these assholes. Lord knows Phee isn’t going to eat any of them.”
Phoebe’s lip curled, but she didn’t disagree.
“Babe, I need to talk to you about that event tonight…” Step-monster was suddenly the picture of innocence as she blinked up at Beau. “Since you’re taking a break.”
If she arched her tits anymore into his face, she’d throw her back out.
But Beau was mesmerized. “Sure thing, Beebee.”
I cleared my throat, and he jerked back into the present.
“Right, uh, kiddo.” He rubbed at the back of his neck and avoided my eyes. “You can go inside. We’re just taking a little break. And I’ll just…”
I was so glad he didn’t finish that sentence.
I tossed him a smile he didn’t see then walked past him and into the library.
I’d only been in here once, and despite my love of books, I hadn’t been tempted to return. Between the very formal leather-bound books on the wall and the messy desk in the corner, it wasn’t a place that had made me want to linger.
Until now.
Now, four rock stars were splayed out on three sofas, scrolling on their phones.
Each had their own appeal—from Leif’s moody romantic air to Ryker’s boxer-like masculinity to Mal’s relaxed hippy vibe.
But it was Hunter my eyes were drawn to.
There was something about him that made me want to cuddle him.
He had a tentativeness in his body language like he wasn’t sure if he really belonged.
That, combined with the vulnerability in his eyes he was clearly desperate to hide, softened my heart.
But then I remembered the blonde last night pushing past me to hang on him, and the urge to comfort him dried up. Along with my vagina.
“Hey guys, I have cookies if you’re hungry.” I walked past Hunter’s corner of the sofa and offered my tray to Ryker first.
“Don’t have to be hungry to appreciate chocolate chip cookies.” Ryker grabbed three and shoved them into his mouth in a huge bite.
“Right.” I blinked a few times. That was…something. “I’ll just leave them on the coffee table here. There’s some drinks too. Enjoy.”
“Thanks, Isabella,” Mal hollered as he grabbed a handful.
“Yeah, thanks, kid,” Leif murmured as he leaned forward to take one.
I shrugged uncomfortably. This was awkward. I’d made them as an attempt to reach out to my…Beau, and he wasn’t even here to enjoy them.
Another point to the step-monster.
“You’re welcome.” Giving them all a smile, I turned to leave. “I’m just gonna…go.”
“Wait!” Ryker shouted.
“Stay.” Mal grinned. “We want to get to know the newest member of the group.”
I shook my head. “But I’m not—”
“You’re one of us.” Leif sat back with a cookie in one hand, looking all suave and sexy despite the chocolate smearing his fingers. “Beau claimed you, which means you’re a Lick for life.”
“Ooooh, I like that.” Ryker snapped his fingers. “You should send it to the merch guys.”
“Lick for life,” Mal repeated as he munched on his cookie. “It does have a nice ring to it. So Isabella, what’s the plan?”
“Um, you can call me Izzy. And plan?” My eyes bounced from Mal to Leif to Ryker and back. “I’m supposed to have a plan?”
Mal shrugged. “I meant for your time in LA. Have you been before? Are there any sights you want to see? Things Beau needs to take you to?”
“I haven’t really thought about it. Everything’s been so crazy.” I gestured vaguely. “I don’t know.”
“You’ve done Disney, right?” Ryker asked as he leaned forward to grab another cookie.
I nodded. “I’ve been a few times. Six Flags and Universal too.”
“What about the Hollywood Bowl?” Hunter asked, suddenly joining the conversation. “I heard the Tin Gods are playing with the LA Philharmonic this week.”
“They are.” Mal nodded. “I can get us all tickets. I know a guy.”
I frowned as Leif and Ryker laughed.
Mal shrugged. “I’m their drummer’s NA sponsor.”
“Oh.” I blinked a few times. I had no idea Mal was in the program. Or so open about his past drug use. “That’s…nice?”
Mal laughed. “It’s a pain in the ass is what it is. Noah is a needy bitch. But I’ve grown to like the guy. You want to go with us?”
“Where are you taking my daughter?” Beau’s deep voice rolled through the room. He stopped next to me and reached out to give me a side hug, clasping my shoulder in his large hand.
I held my breath for a beat. It was the first time either one of us reached out to the other all casual.
It felt momentous.
Beau groaned in disappointment and stomped away. “Seriously, assholes? You didn’t leave me much.”
The guys chortled as he picked up the last remaining cookie.
“You snooze you lose!” Mal snickered.
“They’re fucking delicious.” Ryker shrugged. “You can’t blame us.”
I finally peeked in Hunter’s direction and found him staring back at me with smoldering eyes.
He nodded. “So delicious.”
It was crazy, but I felt like he was talking about me and not my baked goods. But that couldn’t be right—he had a girlfriend, a blonde, slender girlfriend. Pretty much everything I wasn’t.
No way was I his type.
“So where are you taking my daughter?” Beau grumbled again, ripping me back to the present.
Mal licked his fingers with a flourish. “The Hollywood Bowl. The Tin Gods are playing with the Philharmonic.”
“Really?” Beau turned to me. “That’s something you’d like?”
I shrugged. “I mean it was epic when Metallica played with the San Francisco Orchestra.”
“Fuck yeah it was!” Ryker shouted, pointing a finger at me. “No DNA test required. This one is definitely your kid.”
I don’t know why, but it made me feel proud to be claimed not only by my…Beau but his band too.
“All right, so we need—two,” Mal pointed at himself then at Beau then me. “four, five… Are you all bringing dates?” he asked, gesturing at the rest of the guys.
“I only need one ticket.” Hunter waved a chocolate smeared hand.
Mal frowned. “What happened to the blonde from last night? Shavonne or Shania or whatever?”
“We broke up,” Hunter replied, trading a meaningful look with Ryker but not going into more detail than that.
I couldn’t breathe for a second. Hunter was single?
My mind raced as I tried and failed to make connections between what I saw last night and this new development. When? Where had I been? How did I miss that?
But Hunter didn’t look my way again.
“Huh. Okay.” Mal shrugged. “What about you two?”
Ryker shook his head while Leif nodded.
“I’ll tell Noah to get us nine tickets then.” Mal rubbed his hands on his long shorts before pulling out his cell phone.
“Uh, what night is this again?” Beau asked, pulling his phone out too.
“Saturday,” Mal replied. “There’s only one show.”
“Damn.” Beau shook his head. “I can’t make it. Phoebe has a speaking engagement at that Creator Con thing in San Diego.”
“Oh.” I blinked a few times. San Diego? This was the first I was hearing about it. “That’s okay. San Diego sounds…fun too.”
“No, you should go to the concert. The guys will take care of you. Right, assholes?” Beau gave them a stare down. “You’ll watch over my girl.”
“I mean, she’s an adult, but sure.” Mal nodded. “It’ll be great. Definitely more fun than a bunch of narcissists talking about themselves.”
“Watch yourself.” Beau glared at Mal.
There were so many undercurrents with this group that I just didn’t understand.
“Um, I’m just gonna…” I hitched my thumb over my shoulder.
“Aw, you don’t have to go,” Ryker protested.
“You sure you don’t want to stick around and listen? We’re just plunking mostly at this point.” Beau collapsed on one side of a couch then pulled a guitar onto his lap that’d been leaning against the arm.
“I don’t want to be in the way.” I twisted my fingers together, needing something to harness my nerves.
“Anyone who cooks like that can hang out with us, no problem.” Mal grinned at me over his phone.
“If it’s not any trouble…” My resolve was weakening. I’d always been a fan of the Long Licks and seeing them all together—and begging me to stay—was heady. And kinda crazy.
I had no backbone. I sank down on the only available space on the couches—next to Hunter on the love seat.
“All right.” Mal tapped his cell phone screen before stashing his phone in his pocket. “Noah says we’re in. He’s got us two garden boxes with security.”
“Awesome.” Hunter grinned, wiggling on the sofa to pull his cell out. “I’m gonna…right. Tell no one.” He shook his head and shoved his phone back into his pocket.
“Wait, what? Why not?” I asked.
“Hunter here is still under an NDA.” Leif smirked.
“Okay…” I was confused. “About what?”
“About the band.” Hunter sighed. “I’m still on probation.”
“Probation? I thought that was for felons.” I gave him a small smile.
One that he didn’t return. “Felons and drummers apparently. The guys want to make sure I mesh before they announce anything officially.”
“Eh, you’re half-way there already, kid,” Mal said. “You’re killing it so far.”
“Debatable, but he hasn’t fucked it up too bad yet.” Leif made an expression that might’ve been a smile. But somehow it looked more threatening than comforting.
Even though it wasn’t pointed at me, I shrank back into the couch. Like I said, the vibes with these guys were confusing. I could only imagine how Hunter felt.
Leif kinda reminded me of the scary guys on those late-night news magazine shows my mom liked—the ones who seemed attractive and suave…right up until the cops showed up and reports came out about all the bodies found in the basement.
But then, none of these guys were warm and fuzzy.
Beau looked like a lumberjack, Ryker was more boxer than rock star. And Mal would’ve been at home at a commune or something.
And then there was Hunter.
I shivered as he leaned forward to grab some chips and his arm brushed mine.
I swore I felt a zap of electricity arc between us—sudden and so jolting.
But when I looked at Hunter, he was busy tapping out a beat on his knee.
He hadn’t felt it.
I deflated.
In the background, the guys droned on about a song that needed tweaking. Something about timing of a bridge? But I couldn’t look away from Hunter’s calloused fingers. They were so nimble and sure. Confident. I wondered what they’d feel like on my skin.
Not that I’d ever know.
Guys like Hunter weren’t for girls like me.