Falling (Fading Series) by E.K. Blair Read Free Book Online

Max!”
    “What’s up?”
    “You seen the guys yet?” I ask.
    “Chasten is here, but I’m not sure about the others. Everything cool?”
    “Yeah, if you see them before I do, tell them I need to talk with them before they go on tonight.”
    “Got it,” he responds as he turns to head out to work the door.
    I need to snag this band while I can. Getting them in a contract will alleviate the hassle of trying to book bands week after week. The guys seem pretty cool from what I got to know of them last week, which wasn’t a whole lot aside from the guitarist, Mark. He stayed late that night, drinking and bullshitting with me and Gavin after he was done playing.
    Gavin tried leeching some chick on him but got a good laugh when he found out that his hard work with the girl went down the shitter when Mark told him he was gay. The look of disappointment, that he wouldn’t have another wingman, was something I selfishly took pleasure in.
    He’s been on my case lately since I ditched him a couple of times this week. I haven’t been in the mood to go out just to find someone to use simply to make myself feel better. Ever since I saw that girl being attacked a couple weeks ago, it feels wrong.
    “You got everything covered, Mel?”
    “Yeah, Ry. I’m good,” she says, and I start making my way to the back.
    I spot Chasten and Mark talking and announce, “Hey, guys, can you get the others and meet me in my office real quick?”
    “Yeah, no problem,” Mark says and then introduces me, “Ryan, this is Jase, the guy I was telling you about.”
    “Jase, man, good to meet you,” I say as I reach out to shake his hand.
    “Yeah, same here,” he responds with a note of hesitation, but I don’t stick around ‘cause I’ve gotta get up to my office to talk with everyone. “I’ll catch up with you later, man.”
    “Sounds good,” he says.
    Once all the guys are in my office, I offer, “What do you guys think about making this gig a steady one?”
    “You serious?” Aiden, the front vocalist, says.
    “Yeah. I’m not gonna bullshit you guys. Finding bands is a bitch, so if you’re in at a ten percent pay increase, all you have to do is sign this simple contract and we’re good.”
    I take the contract and hand it over to Aiden, who reads through it first and confirms, “I’m in,” before handing it over for the rest of the guys to read. When they are all on the same page with the agreement, they sign and call it a deal. Adding them to the payroll takes a load of stress off my back and simplifies my job even more.
    When they leave to head down, I stay a little while to enter their info into our database. I write a note to Michael about the new payroll and employee additions and toss it on his desk before heading down. The band is just about to start playing when I make my way over to the bar and see Jase.
    “Jase.” I move to stand next to him, leaning my elbows on the bar top. “You ever been here before?”
    “Yeah. This crowd is a bit insane though,” he replies.
    Watching Mel hand him his beer, I tell her, “Don’t bother with a tab, Mel.”
    “Thanks, man,” he says as he turns to me.
    “No problem.”
    The music starts blasting through the bar when I say, “Your guy’s band is fuckin’ popular. They brought in a huge crowd last time they played here as well.”
    He keeps his focus on the stage, not responding, so I leave it and ask, “You go to school together?”
    “Yeah,” he hollers over the music. “We’re in the same major.”
    “And what’s that?”
    “Architecture.”
    “That’s cool,” I say and then turn to yell for Mel to grab me a beer.
    “Ryan! Fuck, man!” I hear Gavin shout with irritation from behind me.
    I turn and question, “What?”
    “That chick you flung on me last night was a fuckin’ psycho.”
    Ignoring his complaint, I turn to Jase and say, “Jase, this is my dick of a friend, Gavin.”
    “What the fuck ever,” Gavin says as he laughs. He looks to Jase