“I know.”
Our manager has been in the industry for fifteen years and is not only a hard-core rock enthusiast, but a hard-ass in general.
Then again, the dude wears cargo pants.
Taking the lit cigarette he passes me, I reverse out of the driveway. “I’m never gonna let him live this shit down.”
Josh pulls something out of his pocket. “Fuck no. Next time he starts bitching at us, I’m gonna start singing this.”
A snort leaves me as I head down the coast. The look on that dickhead’s face will be priceless.
“We should make this our pregame song on tour,” Josh continues.
We’ll be starting our month-long South American tour in five weeks, followed by another month-long stint in Australia, and then our US tour this summer.
After that…we’ll be headed to Europe for six weeks.
And then? I’m sleeping for the next fucking decade.
“Fuck no.”
I go to shut the stereo off, but Josh stops me. “Nah. Leave it on.” Bopping his head to the beat, he dumps some powder on the dashboard and snorts it.
“Seriously, dude?”
He just did a few bumps back in the room.
“Relax. I saved you some.”
I’m about to tell him I’m good because I’m feeling nice right now, but my phone rings. When I take it out of my pocket, I see Storm’s name flash across the screen.
I hit the speakerphone button. “Yo.”
“Where the hell are you?”
That only makes Josh and I crack up.
Reaching over, I rub Josh’s head. “Our crazy bassist stole the keys to Chandler’s car, so we’re taking it for a joyride.”
He goes silent…and then.
“What the fuck, Phoenix? You’re shit-faced—”
“I’m fine—” I start to say as the car swerves.
“Party foul,” Josh calls out.
Fuck. I’m more messed up than I thought.
“Damn, bro. That shit got me fucked up.”
“Pull over now,” Storm barks. “And tell me where you are so I can come scoop you two assholes.”
I pull to a stop on the side of the road as another wave buzzes through me. “Not far. Still driving down the coast.”
“I’ll be there soon.”
I take one last drag of my cigarette and chuck it out the window. “Fuck.”
“Man, forget Storm’s bitch ass.” Josh gestures for me to give him the keys. “I can drive us back.”
The warm, euphoric feeling intensifies. “Yeah?”
“Look at me.”
When I do, he points to his face. “It’s all gravy, baby. I got this.” He nudges me with his elbow. “Switch places with me.”
“Aight.”
Hopping out of the car, we exchange seats. I shoot Storm a text and tell him not to bother coming because we’ll be back soon.
Pulling a U-turn, Josh presses repeat on the Britney Spears song and turns up the volume.
“You sure you’re not into this shit?”
Bopping his head, he steps on the gas. “Nah, bro. I’m just trying to learn the lyrics so I can fuck with him.” The car accelerates as he moves his shoulders up and down to the beat, causing the mustang to veer sharply to the left. “Hit me—”
And then everything goes black.
White-hot pain shoots through my head and liquid runs down my face. “What the fuck?”
A coppery tang fills my mouth, mingling with the taste of something dusty.
When I open my eyes, I’m surrounded by airbags, broken glass, and branches from the trees we must have hit.
“Whoops.”
Ignoring the throbbing in my neck and rib cage, I look over at Josh. There’s a lot of blood on his face, but at least we’re both alive.
Josh’s hysterical laughter fills whatever’s still left of the car. “Chandler’s gonna be so pissed.”
Hell yeah, he is.
“I should probably wait a while to give him shit about listening to Britney, huh?”
The dust in my mouth irritates my lungs and I cough…which only makes the piercing pain in my head and rib cage worse. “Let’s get out of here.”
I look around the rubble for my cell so I can tell Storm what happened, but the car is so wrecked I can’t find it.
“Do you have your phone?”
I turn to look at him when I don’t get a response.
His eyes glaze over. “Skylar.”
“Huh?”
“Sky—”
His eyes roll back.
A flood of panic surges through me.