And that’s really what this is all about. We’re here to entertain, to help people forget about their troubles and to help them celebrate their wins. We’re here to provide a soundtrack to their events and their lives.
I find myself really getting into it. I swing over and share a microphone with Lexi on one section of back-ups, and then I move across the stage in the same way I did with Sin City Crue, when I was a part of that band and we owned the stage like nobody’s business.
I fucking just have fun.
We slide into a couple more MFB songs, and even though they hit me with one I don’t know as well, I’m able to fumble my way through pretty well. It doesn’t matter, anyway, because this isn’t a competition. This isn’t a challenge. It’s a prize, and I take full advantage of the time I have on this stage with them.
Because as I glance over at Lexi and see her smiling and keeping the beat, too, I realize that only one of us will get the chance to permanently share their stage.
And, as I see Dax look over at her with a huge smile, I realize for the first time that it might not be me.
The house feels empty when we get back. We say goodnight to the MFB guys, who head out without coming in, and Lexi goes right for the stairs while I contemplate heading to the food room to get a drink. I’m too amped up to just go up to bed.
I open my mouth to invite her to come with me, but all that comes out is a little croak of a noise before she disappears around the corner toward Tyler, the guy whose arms she slept in and probably the guy who she wants to tell about our magical evening.
I just wish I was the guy she wanted to talk to about it.
We get a rare day off from the competition, and I spend most of it alternating between swimming and relaxing by the pool. I haven’t seen Lexi or Tyler, and instead Decker hangs with me. We have a few beers after dinner and I find myself bored without the threat of an impending challenge.
And when MFB returns the next day with a new challenge, I don’t feel the same fire I’ve felt through this whole thing.
More and more I’m realizing that I have nothing to go home to if I don’t win this thing, but at the same time, I don’t know if I’m as deserving of it as Lexi.
And if Lexi and I are both still here after this competition, I only pray Decker is, too. Because if I have to sit in this house with Tyler and Lexi while they lie in bed together, I don’t know how I’ll handle that.
“Today’s challenge is to choose a different instrument to play,” Dax tells us. “We’ll be judging you based on versatility and talent. You can choose any MFB song to perform, and by the end of the day, we’ll know who our top three contenders are. You have one hour to practice and we will see you in the basement to perform at that time.”
He unleashes us, and I’m confident I’ll be fine on this one. I’m also confident Lexi will be.
We all head down to the basement since that’s where the instruments are located, and I pull on some noise-canceling headphones. I pull up the MFB song I want to play, one simply called “Trust,” and I grab an electric guitar. I don’t plug it, but I mimic the sound I hear through the headphones and memorize the music.
I glance over and see Lexi at the piano, and I see Decker behind the drums. Tyler is on another electric guitar. I wonder what songs they all chose. I picked this one because of its technical difficulty and a long guitar solo so I can prove my worth on more than one instrument—not that MFB needs more guitarists. In fact, I think Lexi might have the right idea choosing something more versatile. They have Rascal as their keyboardist, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t use a piano in certain situations as well.
We practice, and we do our best to ignore one another and stay focused, and then it’s time for the competition.
Tyler’s up first, and he does fine. Decker is second, and honestly choosing drums was a mistake. It’s hard to tell what song he’s playing even though he’s a decent drummer. I’m third, and I do my best. Lexi’s last, and she fucking kills it like she does every damn time. The woman is maybe the most talented musician I’ve ever watched. She’s got this element to her voice that’s both unique and sweet, and I feel like I could listen to her sing forever.
I wish I could.
But I screwed the pooch on that front.
The men deliberate, and they call us up to the family room a little before dinnertime for the announcement.
“This gets harder and harder with each competition. There are fewer of you to choose from, and all four of you standing there are deserving to win. You each have unique talents that would mesh well with what we have going on here, and we’re sorry to have to see one of you go.” Dax is calm as he starts the introduction, and I think the point of him droning on each time is to make those of us standing here waiting for the announcement so damn nervous we can hardly stand it.
Each of us has a one in three chance of making it to the next round, but one of us has to go home.
My fingers are crossed for Tyler, but I don’t really believe it’ll be him.
Dax finally gets to the point. “We’re sorry to say that Decker, you lost this battle. You won’t be MFB’s replacement bassist.”
Dammit.
So now, at least until the next competition, I get to live in a house with the woman I love and the guy she’s falling for.
I turn toward Decker. “Sorry, man,” I say, and I stick out a hand to shake his. He bats my hand away and gives me a hug.
“Win this shit, man,” he says. “Represent Vegas.”
I chuckle and nod. “It’s been great getting to know you.”
“Don’t forget the little people when you make it in the big leagues.” He pounds my back in the way bros do, and then he says goodbye to Lexi and Tyler as well.
And then there were three.
CHAPTER 41: GAGE
“We’ll be back tomorrow for your next competition,” Dax says. “I realize this entire competition has gone at lightning speed, and it’s because we’re anxious to find our new bassist.”
They say their goodbyes and leave, and when I look at who’s left standing, I realize I’m now literally stranded in a house with Lexi and Tyler.
Just the three of us.
Real fucking cozy, isn’t it?
“Gage to confessional room three.” Camille’s voice pops over the intercom, and thank God I’m saved because I have no idea what the hell to say to these two people.
I respect Tyler as a musician, but moving in on a woman another man in the house hooked up with isn’t exactly the way to win the friendship award. And her...well, I’ve probably droned on enough about her at this point. I love her, she’s with him, blah blah blah.
Our timing just didn’t work out, which is unfortunate since it could’ve been something incredible.
“Excuse me,” I mutter, and I head toward the confessional.
Kat’s waiting for me in her little director’s chair when I walk in. “Mr. Hoffman, have a seat.”
She’s all business, and she’s acting a little strange. I follow her direction and sit, and then she cracks a giggle. “I like when you follow directions. I can only imagine what that’d be like naked.”
My brows dip down. Is she flirting with me? “Did you have questions for me?”