Page 1 of Lucky Break
1
CALLUM
I’m not happy.
My chest tightens with my sharp inhale, and my lips lock around the mouthpiece of my vape. I need to get on stage. My set was supposed to start five minutes ago, but the only thing I can focus on are the bubbling dots below the last text my girlfriend sent. Or maybe I should say ex? The way we’ve been fighting tonight, I’m not so sure.
She’s not happy. I don’t make her happy anymore.
I’m not sure how I pictured spending my thirty-second birthday, but this was not it.
The door from the bar that leads to the alleyway swings open, and I hold my breath, waiting to see who’s discovered where I’m hiding.
“Hey.” One of my best friends, Tess, shuffles over, her hands rubbing up and down her bare arms to combat the cool night. “Thought I might find you out here.” In the dim light, her pale skin stands in contrast to her heavy eye makeup and deep wine-colored lipstick.
“Hey.” My heel bounces and I glance down to the screen of my phone. Still with the fucking bubbles. I wish Celeste would text me already.
“Trouble in paradise?” Tess lifts her brow in question.
“Aye.”
Tess’s lips press together with her frown. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” I stand tall and slide my cell in my back pocket, trying to not care about whether or not Celeste texts me back. “It’s busy tonight.” I hold out my vape pen.
Tess declines with a shake of her head. “Yeah, should be a good night for tips.”
The Twisted Goat is enough off the beaten path it doesn’t attract the posh LA crowd or vacation goers like some of my other gigs. But the pay is good and the regulars sing along to my originals as much as the covers, which is something I’m grateful for.
“Lars getting pissed?” I grin, imagining the manager cursing under his breath over my whereabouts.
“He’s in the back office. You’ve got another ten minutes before he starts to wonder why it’s so quiet.” She smiles, kicking at a rock with her Docs. “So why is it you’re getting high instead of playing for your adoring fans?”
Tess’s a good friend. One of my best friends here in the States. We met a few years ago when I started playing here on the regular not long after I moved to Los Angeles. While most people insist she’s an ice queen, I’ve never had that experience. Yeah, so she’s a bit of a sour patch—prickly and rude to anyone outside her circle. But that doesn’t matter, because her center is sweet, and she’s the best, loyal, most generous soul to her friends. She’s far too good to be slinging drinks at this bar or to be listening to my sob stories.
“It’s Celeste, so you know how it goes.” I bite back the urge to sigh. On more than one occasion, Tess’s given me relationship advice when it comes to Celeste, and she’d listen now if I asked. But I don’t want to bring her down. Not now. Not tonight.
Tess bumps her shoulder against mine. “Oh, you know I do.” She rolls her eyes, but there’s a good-natured grin tugging at her lips.
“Let’s talk about anything else.” I stare straight ahead, feeling Tess’s gaze on my face as I take another long inhale from my vape.
“Maybe later.” She laughs, taking the vape from my hand.
Our fingers brush, and a wave of awareness ripples through my body. I shake it off, startled by the un-platonic feeling toward my friend.
Tess takes a step back, clueless to my reaction, her smile wide. “I’m taking this hostage. I need you lucid on that stage if I’m gonna make any money tonight.”
“Fine.” I pretend to pout, swipe the vape from her hand, and slide it in my back pocket. “Mother.”
She punches me in the arm. “We’re the same damn age.”
“Yeah”—I step ahead of her and open the door—“well, you’re an old soul.”
“And you better start singing.” She glares at me, passing by to walk inside. “I’m not consoling your pretty face if Lars fires you.”
I sling my arm around her shoulder. “Aw, you really care.”
Her body stills. Or maybe it’s just my imagination, because a second later my phone buzzes from inside my pocket. I stop and pull it out to see who’s calling.
