Chapter 42

The bass guitarist stepped forward with his hand extended. "Shawn Simmons. That was priceless," he said, flipping his reddish brown hair out of his eyes. It was long in the front, but collar length in the back and sides, and wavy.
"Nice to meet you," I replied, laughing as I shook his hand. Somehow, I already felt at home with this group of guys. In fact, it was almost as if we had known each other for a while and not that we'd just met.
The drummer stretched across his drum set, extending his hand to me as a strand of short brown hair fell into his eyes. "Wyatt Ryker," he said, laughing. "That was so cool!" He nodded toward his blond friend. "I don't think I've ever seen him at a loss for words before."
"Ass," Brett mumbled under his breath as he turned his attention back to his guitar. "It was an honest mistake. She looks young." Then, he looked over at me. "No offense."
"None taken," I said. "In fact, just treat me like one of the guys."
"Don't tell them that or they will, lass," the rhythm guitarist said in a pronounced Irish brogue, laughing as he slid his acoustic guitar around to his back. His light brown hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, and loose tendrils fell around his face. He was tall with broad shoulders. Well over six feet. "Noah Grayson. 'Tis nice to meet ya."
"Well, now that the introductions are out of the way," Craig said as he slipped off his black leather suit coat and discarded it across a nearby folding chair. "Why don't we see what you can do together?" He nodded in my direction as I slid my guitar strap over my shoulder. "Alyssa, tell them which song you want to do and in what key." He sat down and leaned back, crossing his legs at the ankles as he folded his arms over his chest. "Let's see what they can do." He gave me a wink. Although I knew it was meant to be friendly, it felt a bit too familiar.
"Rock it Country, Key of G," I said to the band, taking charge. Then, I nodded to Wyatt. "Count it off."
Immediately, Wyatt hit his sticks together. "One, two, three, four!"
Everyone immediately started off together, fluid, as if we had been playing together all along. Immediately, I knew that these guys were true professionals. I approached the microphone and began belting out the country-rock tune. Halfway through the song, I let Brett take a guitar solo as I stepped toward him and we jammed together. When his solo came to an end, I picked up the chorus again, and a few moments later, the song came to a close. I nodded to the guys to take their cue from me, and we all jumped into the air, bringing the song to a close when we landed.
Everyone whooped and hollered their approval as an adrenaline rush poured through my veins, leaving me a bit breathless from excitement.
"Yes!" Craig said, clapping his approval loudly. "Now that's what I'm talking about." He rose from his seat and crossed the room. "It sounds as if you've been playing together for years."
Smiling, I looked over at Brett. "What do you think?"
Brett lifted his eyebrows, surprised that I would ask. "Well, we're tight, but we could do better. Also, come in a bit quicker after my solo with the chorus. I think it'll be more effective. I'll work on the guitar solo."
I nodded thoughtfully, taking it all in. "You're right. Let's do it again." Then, I turned to everyone. "Stop us if you hear a problem, and we can work through it." I looked over at Brett, and he nodded thoughtfully, his eyebrows pulling together. "Let's do it. Wyatt, count it off."
We launched into the song again, paying more attention to specifics. We continued into the afternoon, working the song until it was tight and much better than I had originally wrote it.
Craig flipped a switch, turning on the warehouse lights when the sun began to fade outside of the windows that stretched across the right wall, creating a beautiful view. We spent the evening going over my songs and practicing each one until they were tight. Never once did my band members say anything about any of their originals, but I silently vowed to speak with them later about it later, and planned to write some songs with them if they wanted to. By the time the evening came to a close, we were a unit; they were my band.
"Well, that's a wrap!" I said, on an adrenaline high as the last song came to a close. "When do you want to meet next?"
Brett slid his guitar off his shoulder. "Maybe tomorrow?"
"Sounds good," I said as I laid my guitar into its case.
Craig got up and crossed the room. It was a bit odd that he stayed for the whole practice, but I guessed that he wanted to see how things went first hand. "How do you feel about a gig next weekend? I've booked you at Powder Keg Tavern."
"Really?" I asked, happy that I would see Judy again. It was ironic. That was where I had met her, where it all began, and that was where my first gig was going to be.
Craig laughed. "Yes, really. Do you think you'll be up for it?" Of course, I knew that he was asking if we'd be ready.
I looked over at Brett, and then Wyatt, Noah, and Shawn. "Well, guys. What do you think?"
A slow smile spread across Noah's face. "Well, we didn't get all dressed up for nothin'!" he said in his Irish brogue. "I say we do it."
Wyatt pushed his fingers through his hair thoughtfully. "We'll need to practice every day to the point where we're tight."
I nodded. "Shawn?"
He smiled, obviously happy that I was including everyone in the decision. "Let's go for it. It's a good opportunity to play in front of a live audience before we go on tour."
Craig crossed the room. "Are you up for this, Alyssa?"
I smiled as everyone awaited my answer. "I've been waiting for this my whole life."
"Well, I'll take that as a yes!" Noah joked as everyone laughed.
"Alright, then," I said, elated. "The Powder Keg Tavern it is! But, as Wyatt said, we'll need to practice every day until we're tight. Is everyone up for that?"
"Not just yeah, but hell yeah!" Brett said as everyone mumbled their agreement.
"Thanks, guys," I said as I appraised my new band members. "It was nice to meet you."
Noah looked over as he packed his guitar into its case. "It seems strange to hear you say that. I feel as if we'd been playing together for years."
I laughed as I picked up my guitar case and slid my purse over my shoulder. "Yeah. I feel the same way. You guys are good. Really good."