Page 35 of The Twisted Beats

Greg motions to the lounge chairs, then addresses Livianna. “Darling, it’s time you go practice your lines. I need to have a chat with the boys.”

“Yes, Daddy.” She peeks at me and lowers her head.

She joins Lorna, who’s been standing off to the side. Lorna slides her arm around Lily’s shoulders and pulls her into a hug.

I don’t think her parents like me much at the moment. I hang my head and sit where Greg instructed me to. Bren follows on my heels. We get comfortable on the lounge chair I was on earlier while Greg sits across from us where Lily was.

Greg takes a deep breath and runs his hand over his neck. “Look, boys. You’re both sixteen and I know how guys your age think and feel. It’s intense and can make you do irrational things.”

His gaze lands on me. The muscles over my ribs tighten and my stomach knots.

Bren shifts beside me. “I wouldn’t really kick Cash’s ass.”

Greg studies Bren. “You say that now, but when you’re out on tour, you’re bound to get sick of each other from time to time. You’ll be sharing rooms and small spaces for long periods. That can wear on the best of men.”

“You have my word, Mr. Hemings. We won’t fight. We both wanna be in a band, so we won’t do anything to ruin that.” I pat Bren on the back. “Besides, he’s my best mate.”

Bren shoots me a side smile. “Thanks, Cash. You’re my best friend, too.”

Greg nods. “You two need to remember that. If you wantUr Boyz to be successful, you’re going to need to stick together.”

Bren and I both groan. We hate the name the label gave us. Ur Boyz is a boy band, singing bubblegum pop. I want to be a rockstar singing rock with a special soulful twist.

“I get it. It’s a terrible name, but we all have to start somewhere.” Greg looks over us toward the house.

I follow his gaze. My uncle is talking on the phone while Livianna and her ma disappear into the house. I turn back to Greg.

He leans closer to Bren and me. “Now that the ladies are inside, we need to talk about girls.”

Bren nudges me. “This is when we get the safe sex talk.”

My chest and cheeks heat. I don’t wanna talk about this with his pops. I already had it with my ma.

She found out I lost my virginity a year ago with some random chick named Faith. I met her at a show in Long Beach, so I tune out the majority of the conversation.

A little while back, I was trying to make it on my own, so my uncle booked me to open for a couple of local rock bands. It was great exposure, but I didn’t make it out there long before my uncle found a more lucrative opportunity.

That’s how I got hooked up with Bren. Our mas are both models. They were talking and Lorna explained Bren wanted to start a band, but they needed a lead singer. My ma told my uncle about it.

After some research, they found boy bands do better at the start. They got us hooked up with some label executive my uncle knows. They signed us, but we won’t make much money until we prove ourselves.

The Hemingses are loaded and are willing to back the band financially until we hit it big. They’re basically investors who agreed to provide our advances for the label.

Some hip young guy who’s smart as hell and Greg doessome business with helped them put the deal together. He even threw in some of his own money.

My uncle jumped at the chance to make it work. Under the agreement, my uncle will manage us, tour with us, and find ways to get us in front of the right people.

He’s also our chaperone because Lorna can’t tour with us due to Livianna’s responsibilities, and Greg is a cut-throat real estate investor and developer.

He works his ass off and doesn’t have time to put into Bren’s music career. Since Bren is older, they’re willing to let him go out on the road.

Greg taps my knee. “Did I make myself clear?”

I shake my head. “About what?”

He forces out a heavy sigh. “Livianna is not allowed to date for the foreseeable future. That means friends only. And while you’re out on tour, keep it wrapped. I don’t care if the girl is the best-looking woman you’ve ever seen and swears she’s on birth control, you don’t have sex without a condom. Ever.”

“Understood.” I glance at Bren, who’s nodding in agreement.