Page 19 of Dark Verse

Danica continues, “So the form let the groups know that the audition would be twenty minutes long, or about 4 to 5 songs. Three of them must be covers, and the others can be originals.”

“So that’s…” I quickly do the math, “Three hours of auditions. Assuming all the bands show.”

“Yeah, sorry,” Danica says apologetically.

I wave her apology off.

“I’d rather get it all done now than spread it out. Another cup of coffee and I’ll be good to go.”

The first band arrives at 4:30, a lively trio of brothers who play country and folk music. They trickle in after that over the next half hour. With each new arrival, I feel the anticipation growing in my body. I both want to see Knox and want to avoid seeing him. It’s been over a week since our unexpected encounter, and I feel more embarrassed than ever before. I seriously cannot believe I allowed myself to get drunk enough to start making out with him in an active alleyway.

I cringe at the thought of Nan or someone else stepping outside to find my party dress riding up my ass while I licked the inside of Knox’s mouth.

Seriously. So. Messy.

The door swings open once more, and I catch sight of Octavia first, her large, bouncy curls styled into a messy bun. The bright light from outside highlights the amber tone of her skin. Seeing her is confirmation that the Nightshades are actually coming to this.

I am so not proud of the fact that I find the quickest route to the wings of the stage, letting Danica continue to greet the arrivals. My new position gives me a clear view of the front door while staying hidden from everyone else.

The bright afternoon sunlight rushes in once more as the door swings open. Even from up here, I know that outline. The outline of his broad shoulders is made more stark by the jacket he wears. Leather probably, but I’m not close enough to confirm. Knox’s full beard is trimmed back, a little longer than a five o’clock shadow. The length allows me to see more of his face. His strong jawline. His full lips and cheeks.

With everyone seated, I step out onto the stage. Both the stage and house lights are up, so I can easily see the people who make up my bands. I spot the Nightshades towards the side in a little trio, Knox in the middle. Everyone around him talks animatedly, but his expression remains impassive, his arms crossed over his chest and his legs crossed at the ankles. Our gazes crash into each other, and once more memories of that night flood over my body and try to take over my system. I can smell him again like he’s standing right next to me, taste the gum on his breath. I can feel his fingers inside me, his lips sealed over mine. It was hot, wild, and wonderful.

And it will never be repeated.

I clear my throat, suddenly bone dry, and all other eyes snap to me.

“Good afternoon, everyone. I’m Raven Dexter, the current manager for this location. Danica and I are excited to have you here for a new and thrilling endeavor in this area. Today, we are looking for two bands that will carry the responsibility of drawing in local and visiting crowds night after night. We want to see your group’s creativity and passion, which is why we’ve asked for a minimum of three covers and one or two original songs. These auditions are your moment to shine—be confident, be bold, and most of all, be yourself. Once you’re done, you are free to leave. You’ll hear from either Danica or me by the end of business tomorrow if you’ve been chosen.”

As I speak, using a repackaged rally speech from a professor back in college, I look everywhere but at Knox. Every time I catch his eye, I’m nearly overwhelmed. I keep remembering everything about him like I’m in the moment. How he felt inside me. How he seemed to know the exact right amount of pressure to squeeze and bite with to get me coming in no time flat. How easy it was to talk to him even before all of that. The brightness in his eyes, the ease of his manner.

I clear my throat again to refocus my own thoughts. Wanting to get him out of here as quickly as possible, I say, “The Nightshades will go first.”

Zeke and Octavia perk up slightly, but Knox remains in his easy-going position, the ghost of a smile appears on his lips. Together, the three of them stand up and begin to move towards the stage. I take the opposite set of steps to avoid going anywhere near Knox.

They take only a few minutes to set up, ensuring their instruments are in tune. Knox waves Octavia towards him and Zeke, the three of them having a quick conference.

“For our first cover, we’ll be playing Love at First Sight,” Knox says when he returns to the microphone. He scans the room, looking at Danica and the other bands, but settling his eyes on me as the song begins.

The first chord settles easily between the three of them, a reminder to me that I’ve heard them play this song before. But Zeke had taken lead that night, and he had turned the melody into a driving force at Dove’s reception. His tenor voice sat comfortably in an upper register, giving the song an upbeat and dancey vibe. Knox does something wholly different with the melody.

He starts as soft as the tickled piano keys of a baby grand, yet his tone is sure and unguarded. It seems to pull everyone in the room towards him. When our eyes meet, I have the distinct sensation that he’s singing to me directly. The lyrics burrow under my skin, getting into my blood and making me slightly dizzy. I feel suddenly hot enough to melt right here in my chair.

As the song continues, Danica begins to sway to the beat, and I join her, looking for any way to get this sudden squirming energy out of my body. The look in Knox’s eyes lingers longer than the words he sings as the song ends. Silence takes hold for a moment before the other bands spontaneously begin clapping.

Knox leans into the mic. He smiles widely, that boyish gap between his teeth on full display.

“Thank you for the unexpected encouragement,” he says, his warm baritone voice modulated and pleasant to my ears.

They continue with the rest of their prepared set, a wide range of rock, country, and punk that I would find pretty impressive if I didn’t feel absolutely drunk off their opener. I have to remind myself that I am at work and force myself to try to focus on what Zeke and Octavia are bringing to the table.

It’s a completely useless endeavor on my part. Knox manages to eye fuck me until they leave the stage. It’s only once he’s out of my sight that I can actually focus on what I am supposed to be doing.

In the five years since I graduated with my degree in Music and Performing Arts, I’ve been on a steady and upward trajectory with my career. It’s given me connections in every part of the music industry I might never have been able to make as a classical pianist. Another two or three years with Alice will basically set my career for the next fifteen-plus years. But only if I stay focused.

Yeah. No way I’m hiring him. That’s a recipe for distraction.

CHAPTER NINE