Stroke It - Brooke Page Page 0,6

Raina.” I made sure to emphasize her stage name.

Regan’s jaw tightened while Calvin put his hands on her shoulders to guide her out of the private room. “Raina, sweetie, let’s get you out of here,” he sighed.

She stopped in her tracks, her jaw ticking. “Like you didn’t know,” she hissed under her breath.

I held my hands in the air. “My bad, I forgot everyone knows who you are.”

Her jaw dropped. “Excuse me? What are you implying now? Just because I didn’t recognize you doesn’t mean you have to pretend to not know who I am!”

“Maybe I was trying to be respectful,” I hissed back. “You introduced yourself as Regan, so I assumed that’s how you wanted me to treat you, as your non-stage name.”

Calvin let go of Raina’s shoulders. “Did you not realize he was Jet Ryder?!”

Raina whipped her head toward Calvin. “Of course I did!”

“Oh, so who’s calling the kettle black, now?” I countered.

There was a storm festering in her beautiful gray eyes, making my blood boil with her pretentious attitude.

It was fucking hot.

Why did girls with backbones who weren’t afraid to banter turn me the fuck on?

“Listen here, Jet Ryder, just because you’re in a popular band, doesn’t mean you can be some cocky asshole!”

My hands went back in the air. “I didn’t know cocky bastards would be willing to stop and ask a crying girl if she’s okay, lend a listening ear, then offer to share their eyeliner with them.”

She narrowed her eyes and snarled her teeth. “Whatever, you were probably going to try and take advantage of me.”

My eyes bugged out of my head. “Wow, you really must be from L.A. with that comment.”

She balled her tiny hands into fists and jutted her chin in the air. “I don’t have to put up with this!”

I tilted my head, my lips whispering near her ear, “No one’s keeping you here, Regan.”

She glared at me, then turned on her heel, storming passed Calvin.

Calvin’s jaw was hanging open during our whole interaction. “She’ll call you,” he laughed nervously, then ran after her.

I huffed under my breath. What a waste.

Then scolded my cock for getting excited over her entitled tantrum.

Chapter Three

Jet, present

A line of black SUVs waited by the curb of the hotel to bring us to the venue. I stood with my band in the lobby, looking for Sebastian to give the final go ahead. Security was blocking off a row of die hard fans, and I was about ready to say fuck him and go out to greet them. Who knew how long they’d been standing there to see our band.

Rocket, our keyboarder and backup vocalist stood by me, waving through the window at the grouping of people. “Feel like pissing off Seb?” Rocket was your upstate New York preppy kid whose parents wanted him to take over their corporate business and become one of those schmoozy assholes, but that wasn’t in the cards for him. He was a killer at creating lyrics, and could make a mad beat with his turntable. Not to mention, he rhymed and rapped just as well as a kid from the hard knocks.

“Who doesn’t like pissing off Seb?”Gunner grunted, finding my other side and fussing with his hat.

“When don’t we all?” Chase, our fourth and final band member added, towering behind me. He was one of those giant, corn fed southern guys who rocked the guitar with his flannel and cowboy boots. He was the opposite of my all black apparel, pale skinned self.

Although we were different on the outside, we all needed music to fight off our demons.

“Let’s go say hi,” I decided, leading the way through the automatic doors.

Security tightened their man-made chain while the fans screeched as we approached them. Trembling hands held out pens and photos for us to sign, begging for selfies, and per the usual, there was always the crier who could relate to all of our pasts.

“I used to steal my mom’s depression pills,” she shivered. “Your music helped me to stop. I’ve been clean for over two years.”

I hugged the young girl, she was maybe seventeen. “That’s so awesome! What song spoke to you the most?”

She shook in my arms. “Maddie’s Song.”

I tightened my arms around her. Me too, kid. “That’s why I wrote it. I’m glad it helped.”

She pulled back some, her eyes heavy with tears. “I have a little sister, and I couldn’t imagine if anything happened to her like what happened to yours. Thank you for saving me.” Her gratitude was