I wanted another taste.

“So, how about it?”

Braden’s voice grated against my eardrums. He was waiting for my reply. Again. “Uh, sure.”

“Really?” His eyes lit up.

What had I agreed to? My stomach tightened, and I looked at Luke. He was shaking his head with the corner of his mouth curled up.

“Good. Okay.” Braden clapped his hands together. His fingers started tapping against each other. “Here’s the plan. Brielle, you give your shift away, then go and shower. Luke,” his nose wrinkled, “you shower, too. I have to check on Mom. She wasn’t feeling good earlier, and then we can go.” His hands separated and pointed in opposite directions. “Just don’t shower together because I’m here, and that’s gross. When you’re done showering, come to the house. I’ll call Emerson and have him meet us there. He doesn’t need to ride with us. Band bonding is good, but the extra car ride might be too much bonding.”

Band bonding? My mouth dropped. “What?”

“Okay.” My brother ignored me and clapped his hands together once more. “We have a plan. I feel good about this. Be ready in thirty minutes. I’ll grab the coffee and donuts.” He didn’t stick around. He dashed up the stairs. As the door closed behind him, I turned heated eyes to Luke. “What the hell did I just agree to? The Feast is tonight. It’s always late at night and in the park.”

He was shaking his head, but his shoulders were lifting slightly. “Paul Montrose—”

“From Shifter?”

“Yeah. He’s hosting a pre-Feast shindig today.”

“That’s not bad. A car ride to his house…”

Luke moved back a step, scratching underneath his jaw.

“What?” This wasn’t going to be good. I knew it…I waited.

“It’s not at his house. It’s at the river.”

The river was an hour away. I squeaked out, “All day? That’s how long this will go?”

His head moved up and down. “I’m sorry. I thought you heard your brother.”

“Oh my god.” I pressed my hands to my temples. They were throbbing already. “A whole day with Emerson?”

“I’ll be there.” His hand fell away and slid back inside his jean’s pocket. “I should’ve stopped your brother from coming down. If it’s any consolation, I think your brother just wants to go because Avi is going to be there.”

I rolled my eyes. That made it worse. “So, my brother is subjecting me to an entire day of torture with Emerson so he can get in some hot singer’s pants?”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Apparently her vocals are supposed to be off the charts.”

“Grammy winning off the charts?”

Both corners of his mouth were stretched. He was trying not to laugh. “I guess. Does that make it better?”

I groaned. “It’s done. Avi’s vagina had better be the best he’s ever felt because a whole day with Emerson…” I shook my head. “Someone’s going to end up in the hospital.”

It was nuts when we got there.

“Took you long enough, my future band masters.” The first person we saw was Dustin. Barefoot and wearing only black swimming trunks and a yellow inner tube around his waist, he lifted his beer in a salute. When we got closer, we could see a small rubber ducky was duct taped onto the inner tube. A six-pack of beer dangled from his waist, hanging from a cord that had been looped around the inner tube.

“What the…” Braden stopped beside me, holding a cooler of beer on his shoulder. “I thought this shindig was insiders only.”

Dustin’s hand went to his chest. “That hurts, my future best friend. Insiders only? I’m a Grant West purebred.” His hand went to the rubber ducky. “Is no one going to mention my buddy here?”

I didn’t care.

Braden scratched the back of his neck.

Luke’s eyebrows bunched forward.

“That hurts.” Dustin squeezed the duck so it squeaked. “His name is Hitchcock. He’s a rebel.”

“How’d all these people get invited?” Braden asked, scowling.

“Okay.” Dustin indicated behind him, his hand sweeping out like he was on The Price is Right. “Yes, I’ll admit I might’ve overextended my privileges of being your future head roadie, but these fine folk heard the words ‘river,’ ‘drinking,’ and ‘bands.’ I couldn’t fight them off with a bat. They were salivating over the idea of hanging out with some local bands, especially one that’s going to be famous.” His hand moved back in front of him, and he pointed at us with a finger. “That’s you guys.”

The river was a specific spot where people were able to camp, barbeque, swim, and fish. It wasn’t known to a lot of people, but a few guys from another band found the spot five years ago. It was spread by word of mouth, and eventually anyone who was in a band, knew a band, followed a band, or were friends with a band knew about the place. There was no parking lot, only a large patch of grass, and the beach was a sand bar. As Dustin was speaking, a group of girls ran past us in their bikinis, wearing straw hats and cowboy boots. One of the girls paused long enough for me to read Grant West University on the back of her bikini bottom.

It wasn’t a local secret anymore.

I skimmed the line of cars. “I’m betting there are twenty cars here.”

Braden scowled, tightening his grip on the cooler. “No outsiders allowed.”

“Paul’s coming.” Luke pointed ahead of us where a guy had broken apart from the crowd. He was walking toward us, moving in a quick gait.

Like the last time we saw him, he was gripping a beer in his hand and waved with his other. “Hey, guys. I’m glad you could come.” He pointed over his shoulder. “This was all last minute. A bunch of us thought an all-day party was the way to go today.” He put two fingers to his mouth, making a sucking sound. “You know, we didn’t want the party to stop, but, yeah. Emerson was there. I gave him the invite. He was supposed to let you guys know. When he didn’t show this morning, I figured I should get ahold of one of you guys. You never know with him, do ya?”

Emerson at a party? I muttered under my breath, “What a shocker.”

Dustin’s duck squeaked.