Page 269 of Hot Mess
Matt laughed. “Same thing I thought about your playlist,” he poked back.
“True story,” I told him. “Those were the exact first words out of her mouth.”
“We’re gonna crack your code, Matt Brohmer,” she told him. “I don’t buy this ‘nice guy’ act.”
“Crack away,” he said.
“I gotta tell you, though,” she added, “you really impressed Ash with that playlist of yours.”
“You had me at Rob Zombie and James Brown,” I admitted.
“Me too. Shit, that would be amazing…” Summer wandered off into her DJ brain. “Like a Rob Zombie and James Brown mashup… I’m gonna work on that.”
“Shit, woman,” Matt said, “you had me at ‘Super Freak.’”
“Me too,” I said.
Summer grinned, pleased with herself.
Matt looked at me. “And you? Judas Priest and Snoop Dogg? Yes-to-the-fuckin’-please.”
I chuckled. “We should start a garage band and just play parties, old-school style.”
“Seriously, Matt,” Summer said, “we’re thrilled to have you. And by the way, I expect you at my show Sunday night, before you slip back out of town. I’ll even play you some James Brown.”
“Then I think I can swing by,” he said.
We made it semi-official with a round of handshakes and hugs. The contract would come, too, but as far as I was concerned, the deal was sealed.
Matty Brohmer was joining our band.
He’d be ours, officially, when he came off tour with Dirty in ten months.
“I hope you guys are okay with waiting,” he said. “I’d be with you today if I could. I’m looking forward to starting something new. Love Dirty, but can’t wait to get going on something that’s my own.”
“Us, too,” Summer said.
“We’re good with June,” I assured him. “We don’t need to rush this. Summer has a bunch of DJ gigs to play throughout this year anyway, and meanwhile, we’ll keep looking to complete the lineup.” We’d already filled him in on our efforts so far.
Fruitless efforts.
“Any movement on that?” he asked. “Xander coming around?”
“Maybe. Slowly.”
“He’s coming around,” Summer said. “He’s making Ash work for it, but I can respect that.”
Matt chuckled. “Sure. As long as he’s not gonna be a prima donna on every point.”
“He won’t be,” Summer said firmly. “I won’t allow it. There’s only room for one queen in this band.”
I snickered.
“I’m talking about you, Ashley Player,” she teased, and I tossed my sweaty towel at her.
“We’ll hold out for the right fit,” I said. “No compromises. So it’ll be Xander or it’ll be someone else just as good. And I definitely want someone else on guitar. Would love a second lead, if we can get it. Someone really strong to vibe off of. We’ll see what pans out.”
“I’ll let you know if I think of anyone,” Matt said.
