Primrose’s eyes light up. “You have a rare name just like me.”
I shuffle on my feet, pushing a rogue copper lock from my face. “Yeah. I do.”
And then she claps. “So, it looks like maybe you need to go shopping? I know I do. Maybe we can go together?”
I don’t know this girl, but looking at the size of her, I think I could punt her if she tries anything. So I shrug, “Sure, but I want to go to Target.” There’s no debating this, I am going to Target.
She tilts her head. “I love Target.”
Maybe me and this little fairy could be friends.“I have to stop somewhere on the way. Would that be okay?”
She nods. “That’s fine. Just let me slip on my shoes and grab my purse. I’ll order us an Uber.”
* * *
I smirka little as we stop in the middle of the town. The sidewalks are not so crowded this early in the morning. Primrose’s eyes widen as she follows me into the brick building, the neon lights giving away where we are. “What are you doing here?” she whispers.
I show the bouncer my ID, explaining I’m here for an audition. He looks me over, eyes falling to Primrose. “It’s just me, she’s here for moral support.” He nods, pulling the velvet rope back so we can enter. This place is no different than any other club I’ve preformed at. The multiple stages, the sleek floors. The rows of leather chairs strung about. The bar that takes up one entire wall.
Finally, I answer Primrose’s question. “Getting a job.” I look over to her, waiting for the judgment that never comes.
“May I come watch you?” she surprises me by asking.
“If I get the job, sure.”
She smiles and I’m soon joined by the manager. An older woman with spiky black hair and leather, well, everything. “Changing rooms are in the back. Tell the DJ what you want to dance to and show me what you’ve got.” She looks over to Primrose, eyes narrowing. “Are you here to audition as well?”
Primrose’s cheeks heat, but she smiles. “Moral support.”
“Love that. Okay, Brixley, show me what you’ve got.”
And so I do.
* * *
Primroseand I head down to the water fountain in the middle of campus. They’re doing an orientation of sorts, showing us around the grounds. We walk the crowded sidewalks, following the group since neither of us know where we are going. But then I notice students begin to part on the sidewalk, some throwing themselves onto the grass. “What the heck?” I mumble.
“Maybe we should—” Primrose starts, but I cut her off.
“Nah, we don’t move for anyone. Do you…” My voice trails off and my throat dries as four dark, towering figures come into view.
My eyes roam from left to right as I try to take in the presence of each of them. The first one I see has honey blond hair that’s a little long but it’s swept back off his forehead. His jaw is square and strong, his eyes a kind brown that sparkles like warm whiskey in the sun. He wears dark jeans and a black Henley stretching over his cut body.
The next one is almost too beautiful to be true with his curly sandy brown hair and green eyes. His jaw is sharp, looking like a model for a fashion show with his cut cheekbones and pink lips. His sweats hang low on his hips, his plain t-shirt tight and leaving nothing to the imagination.
And that’s when my eyes connect tohis. His dark brown hair hangs over his eyes, but I still see the specks of green and brown, surrounded by thick lashes I would kill for. He’s not as big as the blond one, but bigger than the model. His muscles are lean, and a tattoo snakes up the side of his neck. My eyes fall back to his face, taking in the slight crook of his nose, as if he’s broken it one too many times. His skin is tan, a deep bronze I could never obtain. The angle of his jaw is sharp, his cheekbones prominent as if sculpted to perfection out of clay. When his eyes connect with mine, I shiver, before quickly looking to the last one.
Everything about him screams bad boy. From his dark eyes to the tattoos that skate up his body. His ears and nose are pierced, his strong hands covered in rings. He’s the biggest out of the four, a fallen angel on earth. Something that is beautiful but would set your soul on fire.
I blink and the next thing I know, they are all standing in front of me. “Are you going to move?” The voice is challenging, coming from the one who held my attention the longest—number three.
I clear my thoughts. “Nope.” I cross my arms over my chest, and he smirks. “But feel free to move out of our way if you like.” The blond snorts, covering his mouth with his hand.
“That’s not really how things work around here,” he speaks again, and his voice has the hairs on my body standing on end.
“What do we have here?” the dark angel asks, stepping into Primrose’s personal space. His hand grasps a white-blonde strand of hair, rubbing it between his fingers. “What’s your name, baby?” Primrose blushes, looking to the ground. “Shy, are we? How about I go first. I’m Vance, the guy next to me, Beckett.” He points to the model, “That’s Devlin, and the one on the end is Madden. Now, it’s your turn.”
I step between Vance and Primrose, knocking his hand away. “That’s enough.” I grab Primrose’s hand. “Come on.” We walk around them, but I feel their burning gazes on our backs.