Rock 01 - FRET (4 page)

I stared down at my plate of chicken with broccoli in some sort of sauce. Axel went to get his own plate and brought two glasses of water with him. He sat down across from me and picked up his fork.

“Do you plan to try it?” He stared at my plate.

“Yes, Lurch.” I snickered as Axel raised a brow at me. “What’s the sauce?” I poked at my chicken.

“Just try it.”

I stabbed a piece of chicken and stuffed it into my mouth. The flavor swept over my taste buds and I groaned. It was tender and delicious.

“That good, eh?”

I opened my eyes and found Axel watching me. I didn’t even realize I had closed my eyes. I coughed quietly and sipped my water.

“Delicious.”

“So, tomorrow it’s Phoenix.”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “I want to go to the unconventional house.”

“I’ll be going with you.”

“I know. It has a guest room.”

“Where is it?”

“In Flagstaff.” Axel seemed to choke on his food and he coughed. I handed him a napkin and eyed him. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“You should cook more often.” I smiled, taking a bite of broccoli.

“If you’re a good little boy, I will.”

I frowned at him.

“What? Fair is fair. You love calling me all kinds of names.”

“Okay, Stretch,” I pointed at Axel with my fork. “But don’t think I won’t come up with new ones for you.”

“I can’t wait,” Axel drawled.

I laughed.

~*~

I stared out the window of the plane as it descended into Phoenix. I have never been so happy to be home, although I love touring. There are some places I always wanted to go to as a kid, but could never afford. Now we’re staying in five-star hotels and eating at five-star restaurants. But I always look forward to being back home.

Amazing how things can change in just a few short years.

When the band first got a contract, I went along for the ride as a roadie. Hell, I had nothing better to do and had no plans to attend college. Music was my life and I didn’t plan to do anything else. I loved my job even then, setting up the equipment and making sure everything was ready to go for the guys. Music calms me, centers me in a way, and when I was younger, it was my escape. Music often drowned out the screaming and yelling between my parents. But playing? That brought me to a completely new level. I loved the sound of the crowd, the vibrations of the music stroking along my body.

Even though I was out front every night with people screaming at me, I was still unbelievably shy. Don’t ask me why. I was always in the background, minding my own business. Now I was front and center and still trying to get used to it. When I took over, we were opening for bands. Now bands were opening
for us.

“Yo, Gareth.”

I glanced up. Ransom was grinning at me.

“What’s up?”

“Guess who’s playing in Glendale?” Ransom waggled his brows.

I sat up quickly. “No!”

“Yes! Black Ice!”

“Holy shit!” I bounced. “I’m going.”

“Black Ice is …?” Axel joined our conversation.

“Oh God! They are so awesome! I grew up listening to them. They’re a heavy metal band.” I almost squealed. I didn’t care if I sounded fangirlie. I loved Black Ice. They got me through so much when I was younger.

“So, a concert?” Axel furrowed his brows. “I don’t know, Gareth.”

“Oh come on!
Please
?” I begged. “I’ll be extra good and won’t call you any names.”

“I’ll have to call the arena first.” Axel pulled out his phone. “I need to talk to their security.”

“Seriously?” I balked.

“I’m going to be carrying, so yeah.” Axel narrowed his eyes at me. “You want to go or not?”

I zipped my lip and grinned.

Once we landed, Axel waited with me for the limo. I was going to stop at my house in town first and grab some clothes. After the concert, I planned to head up to the unconventional house in Flagstaff until it was time to leave for Europe. I love it up on the mountain; everything seems so calm in a chaotic world. The limo pulled up and Axel peeked inside before allowing me in. We hit the road and merged onto I-10. I watched the city fly by and sighed in contentment. This was home.

“You live in the foothills?” Axel asked.

“One house is out here. I like to be close to malls.”

“Seriously?” Axel’s brows furrowed. “Do you actually go to the mall?”

“Yep.” I motioned to the hoodie hugging my slim frame. “I flip the hood on and off I shop. I play a lot of video games so I’m constantly picking up a new one.”

“Let me guess. ‘Rock Band’?” Axel guffawed.

“If you must know, no. I play ‘Dragon Ball Z’.”

I couldn’t help but laugh when Axel’s chin hit his knees. I reclined in the seat and lifted both brows.

“I’m kidding. I play ‘Mario’.”

Axel sighed and placed his face in his hands, shaking his head.

“Would you feel better if I said I play ‘Grand Theft Auto’?”

“That would actually make more sense.”

“A hard core rocker like me can’t play video games? Do you know how hard it is to beat Bowser?”

Axel threw his hands in the air and I chuckled softly.

“When we get to the other house, you’ll see what I actually play.”

“You mean you don’t play ‘Mario’?”

“Oh no, I do. Jinx and I are trying to beat the castle.”

“Oh for fucks sake.”

The gate opened slowly and the limo pulled through. My house was at the end of a dead end street. The nearest house to mine was a good half-mile. We pulled into my circular drive and stopped. I opened the door to jump out but Axel’s large hand landed on my arm.

“Wait here,” he instructed.

I stared at my house through the window as Axel made the rounds of the front, side and backyard. I couldn’t believe how much I missed my place until I couldn’t even go in it. Axel came back and offered me his hand. I took it and he accompanied me to the front door. I punched in the code on the wall and a panel opened. I took my key from inside and slipped it in the lock.

“Fancy,” Axel observed, staring at the little door in the wall.

“This way I never have to carry my keys.”

I opened the door and immediately punched in the security code on the wall panel. The light turned green and I noticed Axel checking the place out.

“You should see the living room.”

“Yeah?” Axel walked forward. “Which way is it?”

“To your left.”

“I’ll hit that after I’ve made the rounds through the entire house.”

“Um, do you want a drink or something?”

“Water is fine. I don’t drink alcohol on a job.”

“Well that’s good because I don’t have any.”

Axel stopped midstride and turned to look at me. “You don’t drink?”

“Not really. I don’t do drugs either.”

Axel tilted his head, observing me. He finally nodded and took a step forward.

“I think I get that. Your father, right?”

“Well, me and Ransom were never into that shit anyway, but yeah, that has a little something to do with it. Both of us are somewhat scared it’s genetic so we just don’t drink too much. We don’t do drugs, either. Besides, there’s a clause in our contracts that forbids us from doing drugs.”

“I guess that’s smart. I’ve heard of enough musicians dying from drug overdoses.”

“Well, we don’t give the guys who smoke pot any shit. I mean you can carry a license and order that shit online now.”

“Huh. Interesting.”

“You didn’t know that?” I asked in astonishment.

“Not really keeping up with the drug trades, Gareth.” Axel cocked a brow.

“Okay. Well, um, I’m just going to get some water.” I jerked a thumb to the kitchen behind me. Axel grunted and took off.

I hit the kitchen and grabbed two water bottles. I really loved my kitchen. I had a four-burner stove, stainless steel, with a grill option. My fridge had a bottom freezer, and double doors with ice and water. Knotty pine cabinets covered one wall and a large pantry with pull-out shelving ran across the other. Right in the middle was my showpiece — a butcher-block island with a pot and pan rack hanging from the ceiling. A noise upstairs alerted me to my huge bodyguard scoping out my place.

“Find anything?” I shouted.

I got silence in return. I filled my glass with water and headed up the winding staircase. My entire house is tile; I’ve always hated carpet and tile is so much easier to clean. I found Axel in the guest room; he was looking under the bed.

“Don’t shoot the dust bunnies. They’re pets,” I said jokingly.

Axel stared up at me and I fidgeted. Did this guy have any sense of humor? I mean…ever? I’d seen him smile now and then and he’d definitely had some serious sarcasm classes in the past, but he seemed kind of …lonely. Maybe that’s just me projecting, who knows? People surround me all the time, but I feel alone.

Now I just sound pathetic.

“I did find a scorpion in the bathroom.”

“Well, that’s nothing new.” I shrugged. I handed him his bottle of water and sipped mine.

I’d only stepped on one in all my years of living in Arizona. Hurts like a bitch, but I wasn’t on death’s door. Axel stood up and continued down the hall. I followed him, sipping my water as he did a sweep of each room. I was proud of my house. I didn’t go the expensive, fancy route most rich people do. I picked this house because it was warm and inviting. I think after Mom died, Ransom and I always had it in the back of our minds that we wouldn’t flaunt our cash. If we’d had the cash we have today back then, we could have saved our mom.

That still stings.

Axel trudged ahead of me and opened the door to my studio. This was the room I’d sunk some money into — it had soundproof walls and a huge skylight in the ceiling. I had four guitars lined up against the wall, a drum set in the corner and a soundboard. The guys and I practiced here now and then between tours. Axel let out a low whistle as he looked around the spacious room.

“Well.
This
is nice.”

I picked up one of my Fenders and strummed lightly. Axel sat down on one of the beanbag chairs and listened to me play. I stopped.

“Any requests?”

He smirked and I cocked a brow. “What?”

“Eruption.”

I smiled.

Then I played.

I couldn’t see the look on his face because I was so wrapped up in playing, but I had a feeling I knew what his face looked like. Not too many people can play that guitar solo. It had taken me awhile to get it down. I let it flow through me, and wrap around my body in a comfortable cocoon. When I finally opened my eyes, Axel had a look of wonder on his face.

I grinned and put the guitar down.

“Wow,” he marveled softly. “It’s like you’re this different person when you play. You’re so open and real. I can’t believe you never took one lesson.”

“Couldn’t afford them. I listened to a lot of music growing up; it’s how I handled things most of the time. Want to go check out the backyard? I could really go for a swim.”

“I take it the pool’s heated?”

“Solar heated in fact. It
is
Arizona.”

“Well, lead the way.”

I changed into my trunks and waited for Axel to join me. The pool was clear blue and 98 degrees. It was perfect. A waterfall off to one side gurgled softly. At least I knew my pool guy was taking care of it while I was gone. The sliding glass door opened and Axel stepped out.

I almost swallowed my tongue.

He wore swim shorts that hung low on his hips giving me a perfect view of his V. A line of hair curled around his belly button and disappeared under his shorts. His chest was slightly hairy, not gorilla hairy, thank God, and it looked soft. I wanted to touch it. Beautiful, colorful tattoos decorated his biceps, rib cage and chest.

“Wow,” I nearly stammered. “That’s a lot of ink.”

“You’ve got quite a bit yourself.” Axel indicated my own tattoos.

“Yes, but yours are so colorful. Where did you get them?”

“All over. Some in Thailand, others in Turkey. Where did you get yours?”

“Not anywhere so exotic. Los Angeles, and right here in Arizona.”

Axel brushed past me and stuck a foot in the pool. I got a good view of his back and covered my mouth to try to keep my gasp inaudible.

“I see you noticed my battle scars,” he tossed over his shoulder.

“Oh my God,” I whispered. I couldn’t help it; I reached out and traced one of the scars with my fingertip. Axel whipped around with a snarl and grabbed my wrist.

“Don’t ever touch me!”

I shrank back immediately and Axel’s features moved from anger to shock.