Page 54 of Ravaged For You

“Yeah, but you’re cool. And fake, sorry to be blunt.”

“Right. No offense taken. But what about living a life, Drake? What about sharing things with someone? Going through life solely focusing on your music and fucking girls without a second’s thought doesn’t sound much like a life to me.”

“Well, that’s where you and I differ.”

“Oh yeah?”

“You see, so many people never find their passion in life. I’m lucky enough to have found mine, and so have the rest of the boys here, so why not put your heart and soul into it when you’ve got it? One-hundred-fucking-percent. We don’t have time for relationships that are more important than the music.”

“But what about love?” I ask him.

Drake laughs.

“I love the music,” he replies. “I love the band. That’s enough.”

“And what about a fulfilling relationship with a partner?”

Drake’s dimples grow. His blue eyes are shining. “You’re good, Maddie, I give you that. But you won’t change my mind.”

“I don’t think many people can change your mind, Drake,” I muse.

“Especially a girl,” Ravaged’s frontman replies. “No offense.”

“None taken. Again.”

Axel laughs and points at Drake. “Your philosophy is only that because you were burned by a girl, weren’t you? Before Ravaged?”

For the first time, I see a flash of fear cross Drake’s famous bright eyes. His dimples fade. “That’s not true…”

“You told me once.”

“Not in those terms.”

“You want to fight about it? Yeah, I see you want to fight me, Drake.”

Drake lunges forward and manages to get Axel into a headlock. I lean back, rolling my eyes. Caspian, yet again, is the one that has to break them apart, just like in the office. His giant hands clamp down on their shoulders.

“You have to always get into a fight, don’t you?” I ask Axel when he sits back down, taking a drink from his champagne.

“It’s how we show love in this band, Maddie. A girl won’t understand.”

“You’re such a child, Axel.”

But despite how disapproving I am of their silly behavior, it turns out I really like Ravaged. There’s nothing to be intimidated by when you get to know these boys. In fact, they remind me of any other young guy from my hometown, just with a lot more money and that they’re getting to do what they love every day.

And the fact that they’re super talented and sexy.

“And what about Bishop?” I ask him, quieter this time. I don’t want the guitarist to overhear. “What’s his deal?”

“Bishop and I have our history,” Axel says, clearly hinting at a past he’s not keen to fill me on. “If there’s one thing to know about Bishop, it’s that he does not like to lose. Ever. He’s the most competitive guy I know, at anything. Gambling. Art. Music. Hell, even video games. He’ll practice Mario Kart for weeks just to beat your ass. And he’s the musical genius of the group. He’s just one of those lucky people who’s fucking good at whatever he turns his hand to. We may have our history, but he’s like a brother to me.”

“And Caspian?”

“You want to know about his past? Ask him yourself, you won’t get much of a response though. He’s loyal to a fault, but don’t you dare mess with him. I love the big guy.”

“You are all like one big family,” I say to Axel.

He nods. “That’s what we want. We’re brothers before rockstars, always have been. We stick to each other no matter what.”