A Filthy Christmas (Filthy Line #6) - Jaxson Kidman Page 0,10

on him.”

“No… that’s not… no…”

“Drunk words are sober thoughts,” I said.

“Shane…”

“I’m not going to say anything to anyone,” he said. “You just have to let that guy go. He’s never going to come back to you. He’s only going to fuck with your heart. Over and over.”

“What exactly did I say to you?” I asked.

“I’m going to be late,” he said. “I’ll talk to you later.”

“Shane, please,” I said.

He stepped out of the bedroom and poked his head back in. “I’ve been there before too, beauty.”

Shane then disappeared for good.

I stood there, hungover and embarrassed.

What was worse?

Waking up not remembering having sex with someone or waking up and not remembering all the personal details of your love life you spilled to them?

And what the hell did Shane mean by ‘I’ve been there before too’…?

5

SHANE

“That’s the take!” Nash’s voice yelled through the speakers.

I stood alone with one of Dex’s guitars.

He insisted I play the solo on a specific guitar.

I understood that.

Certain guitars had certain sounds. And when you were a band as big as Filthy Line, there was a sound the fans expected to hear.

I was well aware the band would probably end up having Dex record everything I was doing once his hand was better, and that was fine by me. I was still getting paid to jam with them.

The band joined me and I took the guitar off from around my neck.

I held it out for Dex to take.

A sign of respect.

I wasn’t going to put another rock star’s guitar away.

It was his to take care of.

“Thanks for letting me play it,” I said. “She’s smooth. The action down low is perfect. I can see why you chose that one.”

“You know your shit, Shane,” Dex said. “I respect that. You know your place too.”

“Reminds me of Linx,” Reed said.

“Linx?” I asked.

“He was our keyboard player for a minute,” Nash said. “After Mitchy was out of the band, we brought Linx in.”

“What happened to him?” I asked.

“He chased some woman across the country,” Jay said. “Sucker for pussy.”

“You’re one to talk,” Dex said.

“We all are,” Nash said.

“Yeah, I noticed that myself,” I said. “The biggest and craziest band in the world, and you’re all tied down.”

“I don’t mind being tied down,” Jay said with a wink.

“Life is one wild ride,” Nash said. “What’s your end game with this? Just lingering around or what?”

“I’m just happy to play guitar and be here,” I said. “Nothing more, nothing less.”

“Well, there is something more,” Reed said.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“There’s a show we need you for,” Jay said. “We are contractually obligated to play this new song live.”

I looked at Dex. “You sure about this?”

Dex showed me his casted hand. “What choice do I have?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “I don’t want to ruin your image.”

Nash laughed. “Just show up to the gig and play the songs.”

“Songs?” I asked.

“It’s a small set,” Reed said. “Five songs. Private event. Five thousand people.”

“That’s not so private,” I said with a smile.

“That’s a nothing gig for us,” Jay said. “But we have to do our part. For the record company. You know?”

“I get it,” I said. “I, uh, I’ll think about it.”

“No thinking, Shane,” Dex said. He grabbed my left shoulder with his good hand. “Just play like you do here. You’ll be fine.”

“This is a no thinking situation,” Jay said.

“In or out,” Nash said. “For everything.”

I looked around at the band.

I nodded.

“I’m in.”

I went outside for a smoke and saw Lita on her phone.

She didn’t look too happy, which seemed to be her thing.

I was able to light my cigarette, take a drag, and then sneak up on her without her knowing I was there.

I slowly exhaled and when she smelled the smoke, she lifted her head and looked around.

When she saw me, she screamed and dropped her phone.

She jumped back. “Fuck! Shane!”

I looked down on the ground and crouched to pick up her phone.

Of course I had to take a look at the screen.

“Checking for cracks, beauty,” I said as I stepped back with her phone.

“Asshole,” she said. “Give it back. Now.”

I shook my head when I saw the picture of the guy from the bar last night.

I flicked my wrist and tossed the phone back to her.

“You can’t help it,” I said. “You’re in love with that guy, huh?”

“Blaze? Are you insane? Not a chance in hell.”

“Then why are you stalking him?” I asked.

“I’m not. I just happened to stumble across his… why am I talking to you?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “Maybe because