Page 14 of Banging the Drummer

She waddles over towards us, one hand resting on her baby bump. “What’s up?”

“You know Luna, right?”

She nods, clearly uncertain where Crue is going with this.

“She coming to the next show with the rest of the girls?”

“She is.”

“Excellent. We need to make sure our boy, Mason, here gets a moment alone with her to clear something up.”

Shelby’s gaze turns to me, and she stares at me as if she’s trying to read my motivation. Eventually she nods. “I can make that happen. That all?” she asks Crue.

“Yep. Carry on.”

“To what end does that serve? I have to have her tell me to my face that she has a boyfriend?” I hiss.

“Or you discover you misread the situation entirely. Either way, you have to know for sure.”

Fuck me, but I hate that he’s right.

chapter

nine

Luna

“Whoa, what just happened here?” Max asks.

I stare at the doorway where Mason just disappeared. “I’m not exactly sure.”

“I think your little drummer boy was jealous.”

“Of what?” I ask.

“Me. I’m a big, strapping lad, and maybe he didn’t know I was your brother.”

I roll my eyes. “You are ridiculous. Besides, I’m sure in one of our conversations I told him yours and Shelby’s names. There’s no way he didn’t know we were related.” I shake my head trying not to cry. “No, he tried to beg off from hugging me, telling me how sweaty he was, but I hugged him anyways. I forced myself on him.” I nearly choke on my words.

Do you know what my stupid asshole of a brother does? He laughs. “You’re ridiculous, Luna. That is not what happened. Mark my words. Everything will be different when you see him again at the Dallas concert.”

“Oh shit! The Dallas concert. I promised the girls I’d go to one more with them, so I wasn’t a complete party pooper. I can’t see him again, Max. It’ll be too embarrassing.”

He shakes his head, his mop of curls, dark like my own hair. “Nope. My big sister does not get embarrassed. She eats embarrassment for breakfast, then spits it out on adolescent children.”

“What?”

“I dunno. I was trying to be inspirational but it’s clearly not my strong suit.”

“Yeah, you should probably stick to hockey.”

“My point was you’re the bravest person I know. If this thing between y’all doesn’t turn out to be what you want it to be, you’ll survive that. But I truly believe this was a big misunderstanding.”

“Thank you for saying all of that.” Right now, I do not feel particularly brave. Instead, I know that if I were alone right now, I’d already be crying. So I suppose it’s a good thing I’m here with my brother.

I’d had to come clean with Max about my online friendship with Mason since he was tagging along to the concert. He hadn’t even teased me that much. Of course, he’d been enjoying the town car Mason had sent for us and all the subsequent VIP treatment.

The girls—primarily Shelby and Ireland—drag us the rest of the way backstage and we get to meet the rest of the band. Which is surreal and cool. They’re all so down to earth and normal. Dani is snuggled up in Jax’s lap, and it makes me want to squeal for my friend.