Double Time

Chapter 28

Trey watched Reagan’s frustration build at rehearsal the next day. All the guys of Exodus End were behind her one hundred percent and she was doing great for her first attempt at rehearsing an entire, major live show, but she had no tolerance for her little mistakes. And the more she made, the more stressed she became, which made her make more mistakes until she couldn’t seem to do anything right.

“Let’s take a break,” Max said and hooked his microphone in its stand.

Reagan rubbed her forehead while Max talked to her about letting her notes trail longer. Dare set his guitar in a stand and came over to sit next to Trey on an equipment case on the edge of the stage.

“She might do better without you watching,” Dare said.

“She’s doing great.”

“I’ve seen her do great, Trey. She’s stiff right now. Unnatural.”

Trey had picked up on that too. “I think she’s just nervous.”

“That’s to be expected, but she has to be able to fake it enough that the audience doesn’t pick up on it.”

“Maybe if your manager would stop trying to turn her into a sex symbol, she could find her music again. She’s not comfortable with that image.”

“He thinks that’s the way to go. The band’s split on that idea.” They both watched Max try to get Reagan to hold her guitar lower—at heavy metal level. She typically held it a bit higher—at country western level.

“As long as you’re on her side, I won’t have to kick your ass,” Trey said.

Dare flicked Trey’s ear. “I’ll do any required ass-kicking in this family.”

“You’re going to kick your own ass?”

“If necessary.”

They watched Steve tap his drumsticks on the body of Reagan’s guitar as he tried to get her to rock out to the beat. “You did it back in the studio that first day,” Steve said to her. “I know you can do it.”

“I think I should get her out of here for a few hours,” Trey said. “She looks pretty stressed out.”

“She has to get used to that too,” Dare said.

“So I’m supposed to sit back and watch her struggle?”

“Nope, you’re supposed to leave her to struggle on her own and let her vent to you about what assholes we all are when she sees you tonight.”

Trey sighed. “All right. I’ll leave my one true love at the mercy of four badass metal heads, but I won’t like it.”

“She’s a tough chick. She’ll be fine. Don’t be her crutch. Be her champion.”

Trey internalized his brother’s words. The man could do no wrong. In Trey’s eyes, he knew everything. “Dare?”

“Yeah, bro?”

“Watch out for her for me, okay?”

Dare smiled. “Will do.”

“Thanks.” Trey slid off the equipment case and approached Reagan who was having advice thrown at her from Max, Steve, and Logan all at once. She looked from one man to the next as if they were speaking some obscure foreign language.

“Guys,” Trey interrupted. “Give her a moment to breathe.”

She looked so relieved to see him that he thought she might burst into tears. He strengthened his resolve. Champion, not crutch. “I’ve got some stuff to do. I’ll see you tonight, okay?”

Her look of desperation turned his resolve into a wet noodle. “You’re leaving?”

“You’ll do great, Reagan. I have faith in you.” He gave her arm a rough bro-tap with his knuckles and turned to go. Maybe he should have kissed her good-bye instead.