In Your Honor by Heidi Hutchinson Read Free Book Online Page B

any fanfare. His stride was even and purposeful, like any
man heading to do a day's work. The rest of the band filed out
behind him, taking up their posts. Luke recognized Lucy immediately
with her wild brown hair and easy stage presence. The bass player
wore a bowler hat and the drummer was already shirtless, waving at
the screaming ladies up front.
    Taylor approached the microphone.
“Thank y'all for coming out tonight.” He was obviously not a
showboat. Just a regular guy. But Luke was intrigued.
    The band began their first song and
Luke went from being intrigued to blown away. The style was based
in Southern Rock but held hints of old blues and a touch of punk.
It was unique, to say the least. Song bled into song and the crowd
responded to each one with increasing appreciation. Taylor had a
powerful stage presence and easily manipulated the audience, taking
them high on rock and roll and bringing them back with a soft
melody.
    When they switched to a Johnny Cash
cover and Lucy sang June's part, Luke got chills. He hadn't heard
Lucy sing in a while, and she had gotten better with time. Her
father, being the legend that he was, had no doubt passed his
talent on to her. Her playing was flawless and the crowd ate it up.
They were obviously proud of their homegrown girl.
    That's when Luke felt the heartburn
start. He loved this band, the whole package. It was exactly what
he had been hoping he'd find. But how was he supposed to ask them
to join the tour when it might make his own guitarist lose his
sanity?
    ***
    “ It's obvious, Luke, you
have to do it,” Blake pushed. “You're never gonna find anyone who
even compares to that.”
    “ I'm not comfortable with
this.” Luke shook his head, and Blake laughed in
exasperation.
    “ I don't know what else I
can tell you to convince you. I'm going to be fine.”
    “ Blake, I hear what you're
saying but I—” Luke tried again.
    “ Dude, you're gonna have
to trust him,” Mike interrupted. “He's right, this is the band. And
we're all willing to put up with Blake's moodiness in order to add
them to the bill. That should tell you all you need to
know.”
    Luke grit his teeth together and
looked at Lenny, who hadn't said anything. They had gathered
backstage to have an informal family meeting while Taylor greeted
his fans out front. Blake had been more than adamant about the new
addition. Luke was the only one who seemed to be worried about what
the repercussions of this decision could be. But then again, he was
the only one who had ever tried to tour with an ex.
    “ I think that if the band
has voted then... that's a pretty clear answer.” Lenny bit her
bottom lip. Luke knew she wasn't just being diplomatic, she truly
believed that.
    “ Okay, then.” Luke felt a
weight settle on his shoulders as he surrendered to the majority
opinion. If this backfired, it could be the last tour for them.
Ever. He looked at the faces of the friends that he had grown up
with, become an adult with. He didn't want to do anything else with
his life. He only wanted to make music with these individuals. He
hoped they would survive this next momentous step.
    ***
    Chad the drummer and Stuart the
bassist had already left to go pack their bags and say good-bye to
their loved ones, leaving Lucy and Taylor alone backstage. She
still hadn't said anything since Taylor had told them that they
would be leaving day after tomorrow. She was trying to figure out
how to tell Taylor that she had to stay behind.
    “ I know this is really
fast,” Taylor started, his arms crossed over his chest making him
look even more intimidating, even though that wasn't his
intention.
    “ I don't know how I can
leave the diner and all that,” Lucy said lamely. She rolled her
eyes at herself and decided to be honest. “I have a... history with
one of the members of Double Blind Study.” Taylor's face held no
expression, so she continued. “I think it would be really awkward,
being on the road with him.”
    Taylor