Page 5 of Lucky Break
“She needs to get out more.” Ava sighs, then stares longingly toward the booth.
“She really does.” Parker nods, then meets my stare. “That is Trent Donovan, the front man for Three Ugly Guys. They’re only like my favorite band. His wife, Lexi Marx, the one with the short blonde hair, runs Detour Records with her half-sister, Opal—who is married to the drummer of 3UG.”
“It’s like you’re speaking English, but none of it makes sense,” I deadpan.
“Ugh!” Parker waves me off.
A laugh bursts from my lips as I turn and make my way back to the table. I’m probably the only one on staff who cares more about the man playing on stage than the rock star royalty in the house.
5
CALLUM
“Great show tonight, man.”Trent Donavan.TheTrent Donavan.The front man of Three Ugly Guys, and the guy offering his hand to shake before me says. You know, because he watched most of my set with his wife and rock god in her own right, LexifreakingMarx.
It takes everything in me to act unaffected by his presence. “Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it.” By some miracle, my voice doesn’t break or shriek like a teenage girl. Because I’m shaking the hand of Trent Donavan.
“I like what you did with ‘Sugar,’” Lexi says, her bright-red painted lips stretching wide with her smile. “Way more sensual than these fuckers play it.” She playfully slaps her husband on the chest.
“Oh, you want sensual?” He wraps his arms around Lexi’s waist and tugs her to his side. “I’ll give you sensual.”
“Get a room!” says the guy who I’m pretty sure is the new drummer for 3UG. He holds his hand out to me next. “Can’t take these two anywhere. Nice to meet you, man. Great show.”
“I’m Opal,” the woman at his right says, offering me a wave. “I really enjoyed the set list. Were the originals yours?”
“Yeah.” I nod, my chest brimming with pride. “I write a lot of my own stuff. I mean, the crowd loves the covers, but I like to mix it up.”
“Well, this crowd loved it all.” Lexi glances at Opal, and even though they don’t say anything aloud, I swear they share a telepathic conversation. She turns her gaze back to me. “My sister and I would love to hear more.” She holds out a card. “If you’d like, give us a call sometime to set something up. We run a small indie label in Oceanside.”
My jaw falls open. “Yeah. Thanks.” I almost drop the business card as I take it in my shaking hands. “I’ll give you a ring.”
“We look forward to it.”
“Cal?” The voice at my back is one I know better than anyone else. Though, right now it interrupts like a bucket of ice water. Celeste.
“We’ll let you get to your fans.” Lexi grins. “We’re gonna head out.”
“Thank you, again.” I lift my hand in a wave as they all turn toward the front door, casually passing Celeste and her friends. As if it’s perfectly normal to be visiting some dive bar on a Thursday evening. I think I might be hallucinating.
My eyes land on the card in my hands. The shiny words stand out, even in this dimly lit bar.
Detour Records.
It begins to sink in. Someone important in the music business watched me perform. And they liked it. I have a meeting with a record label. A real, genuine invitation to show them my work. It’s everything I’ve ever wished for. Hell. This might be my lucky break. The reason I left my family and the only home I’ve ever known to come to the City of Angels and chase my dreams.
I want to dance with joy.
I want to throw a fist in the air.
Instead, Celeste’s bitter stare drags me back down to reality. “We need to talk.”
For a moment, I forgot we were fighting.
“Outside.” I tip my head toward the exit.
She sighs and turns to her friends, who appear as if they’d prefer to be anywhere but this bar. “I’ll just be a few minutes.”
Leading the way, I push out the door and hold it open. “How about over here?” I point down the street, far enough that we won’t cause a scene if Celeste starts yelling. Or worse, crying. Because I’m hopeless when it comes to her tears. I can’t stand to see her sad. She knows this, and lately I’ve had the suspicion she uses it to her advantage. I shake off the horrible thought. No one wants to be manipulated by their partner. Whatever this phase in our relationship is, I’m sure we can work it out.
