Chapter 7

“Come out when you’re ready,” he said discreetly as he suppressed a smile.

“Oh, okay.” I quickly grabbed my guitar case, then slung my purse over my shoulder and walked out.

I looked around the bar, and there were a few customers still there. I looked down to check my guitar and almost ran into a wall. I looked up, and Logan was looking down at me.

“You’re still here…” I said, more of a statement than a question.

“Yes. We’re still here,” he said, pointing to the same group of friends that he was with at McDonald’s. “Would you like to join us?” His eyes were so hopeful that it was difficult to say no.

“Well, I really should be going…”

“Just for one drink?” he asked, hopeful as he raised his eyebrows.

“Alright. Just one drink,” I agreed.

I followed him over to the table where his friends were sitting. “This is Kyle,” he said, pointing to the guy who had been impatiently trying to get Logan to leave at the McDonald’s.

He rose to his feet. “It’s a pleasure to officially meet you,” he said as he extended his hand.

I took it, and he shook my hand firmly. “The pleasure’s mine.”

“These are my friends, Lathe and Mason,” he said, pointing to the two other guys. Lathe had bright blonde, short cropped hair with hazel eyes, and Mason was a brunette like Kyle, but Mason’s dark brown hair brushed his shoulders, whereas Kyle’s was short, just covering his ears. All were tall, towering over me as they each rose to their feet. Perfect gentlemen.

“You were wonderful tonight,” Lathe said. “Where did you learn to play like that?”

I shrugged. “I’ve been playing for as long as I can remember, but when I took the stage tonight, something inside of me took over.”

All four men laughed. “You mean to tell me that this is the first time that you’ve played in public?” Logan asked.

I nodded. “Except in church.”

“Wow,” Mason said, laughing as he looked over at Logan. “Well, you have yourself a nice church girl who can rock.”

I smiled sheepishly.

“That’s enough,” Logan said, then turned his attention back to me. “Man, you were smokin’ it tonight! It’s hard to believe that was the first time you’ve played in public.”

“Thanks.” I felt pink filled my cheeks.

“So, gentlemen, lady, anything for last call?” a waitress asked expectantly, holding a serving tray.

“Another beer for me,” Kyle said, holding up an empty bottle.

Lathe and Mason agreed.

“Me, too,” Logan said, pointing to his empty bottle. Then, he turned his attention toward me. “And what for you?”

“Diet Coke,” I said, knowing that I was only eighteen and underage.

Logan smiled.

“So, what brings you here to Nashville?” I asked Logan. These men knew a lot about me, but I still didn’t know much about them.

“Promise that you won’t laugh?” Logan asked as the other guys snickered.

“Why would I?” I asked. The waitress slid a soda in front of me and I took a sip. “You already know why I’m here.”

“Well, we’re a band,” Logan replied as he motioned around the table. “Lathe is our lead guitarist, Kyle here plays bass, and Mason is our drummer.”

“And what do you play?” I asked, taking another sip of my soda. It felt cool all the way down, and a chill ran through me.

“I play rhythm guitar, and I sing,” he said, taking a sip of his beer.

“You’re a band?” I asked, unable to believe what I was hearing.

“Yes. Why are you so surprised?” Logan asked, running his hand through his dark blonde hair.

“Well, I just so happen to need a band,” I said, taking another sip of my soda.

“As your backup?” Logan asked, frowning as he looked down at his beer.

“Yes, but you can have the lead, too,” I said after seeing his discomfort. “Never mind. It was just an idea. I’m sure Frank can find me one.”

“Frank? Tasha Granger’s manager, Frank Mallory?” Lathe gushed as he shook his head in disbelief. “Logan, man! What’s wrong with you? This is the big time!”

“What do you mean?” Logan asked, looking into my eyes, ignoring Lathe.

I took a deep breath. “I’m going on tour with Tasha, and I need a band. She just asked me.”

“Oh my God, Logan!” Morgan said, practically jumping to his feet. “This is what we’ve been waiting for!”

Logan took a deep breath. “Do you have a place to stay yet?”

I took a deep breath, not sure how much to tell him, but something inside of me wanted to trust him. “No; not yet. I’m going to stay in a hotel tonight.”

“Well,” Logan said with a sly smile as he took my hand into his, “do you feel like jamming tonight, or are you too tired? If you are, we can get together tomorrow.”

I laughed. “I’m so excited that I couldn’t sleep if I tried! Now’s good. What do you have in mind?”

“Well, we just got an apartment this afternoon,” he said. “You can come over and we can jam if you like. Then, we can talk about working together.”

“Alright,” I said, hesitantly, not sure how I felt about going to an apartment with four guys that I had just met, technically.

Eying my reluctance, he whispered, “You’ll be safe. I promise.”

I nodded, not sure if this was such a good idea. But I needed a band, and I also wanted to hear them play. But, above all else, I wanted to jam. “Let’s go.”

Logan nodded, and he quickly called the waitress over to the table to pay the bill as his friends downed their beers. When he was finished, he turned to me. “Shall we?”

I nodded, smiling as Logan placed his hand on the small of my back as we walked outside, followed by his friends. I just hoped that this wasn’t a mistake.