The Hardest Set (Willow Son #4/Brothers of Rock #19) Read Online Free Page A

Van said. “ I have nothing else to say. ”
    Harry shook his head. “ You ’ re really filling out those rockstar shoes lately,
you know that? ”
    “ What?
Because I don ’ t want to
answer the same ten questions? Because I don ’ t
want to hear about choosing an opening band? It ’ s
simple, Harry. Just let us play some music and do what we want. ”
    “ Van,
you guys have the world at your fingertips right now. Whether you realize it or
not. You want to go globally next? Portis has a blank check for you. Those
interviews keep you connected with the fans. They eat up the interview, buy the
album, come to a show. ”
    “ Then
let us do something different. Let us grab the guitars and teach the fans how
to play a song. How ’ s that
sound? Give back to the kids sitting on their floor in their bedroom, wanting
to learn how to play a Willow Son song. ”
    Harry nodded. “ That ’ s not too bad of an idea. ”
    “ Of
course not, ” Van said.
    “ You
know what I ’ m going to say
though. ”
    “ What ’ s that? ”
    “ There ’ s something you need to do for
me. ”
    “ You ’ re getting more and more like
Portis, you know. ”
    The door opened behind Van. Jett
and Ryker came out.
    “ Don ’ t get too comfortable, guys, ” Harry said. “ Van wants to do something else. ”
    “ Me? ” Van asked.
    “ What
now? ” Jett asked.
    “ I
want to play some music. Talk about a song. Teach kids how to play. ”
    “ I
love that idea, ” Ryker
said.
    “ Jackie
still in there? ” Van asked.
    “ Yeah, ” Jett said. “ He and Colby are debating a top
five list of the biggest influences on Willow Son. ”
    “ There ’ s a catch, ” Van said and threw a thumb at
Harry.
    “ What
now? ” Ryker asked.
    “ It ’ s for Portis, ” Harry said. “ I was going to talk to you about
it later. But if we ’ re here
now. There ’ s a party. It ’ s some kind of conference thing.
Basically, it ’ s a way for
Portis to show himself off. And that means showing you off. You ’ re the reason the guy has a
business right now. ”
    “ Do
I have to dress up? ” Van
asked.
    “ Probably, ” Harry said. “ It ’ s
a catered thing. ”
    “ I ’ m not dressing up, ” Van said. He turned and walked
back to the room. He opened the door. “ Let ’ s play some music, Jackie. ”
    As the door started to shut, Van
heard Harry say, “ He ’ s going to have to dress up. ”
    “ Good
luck with that, ” Ryker
said.
    Van grinned. He liked playing this
rebel card right now. It kind of all fit with the whole broken heart thing
still going on.
     
    **
     
    “ You
got dressed up? ” Colby
asked.
    Van tugged on the black jacket. “ I compromised. ”
    Van wore black jeans, black shoes,
and a black suit jacket over a white t-shirt. He made sure to wear some
necklaces and the t-shirt wasn ’ t
too clean looking. It also had a rip along the collar, making the ensemble look
gritty and edgy. After all, he was a rockstar.
    The catered affair was Portis ’ s way of drinking with high
profile music executives, movie producers, some big time actors and actresses,
and a lot of people with a lot of money who wanted pictures with famous people.
    “ Hey, ” Colby said as they stood alone. “ You know the deal with
this. You can ’ t get crazy
tonight. We have to be there, wander around, take some pictures, and then
split. I was thinking maybe getting into the studio if we have some time. Just
keep the ball rolling. ”
    Van opened his jacket. “ Look, bro, I ’ m not hiding anything. I ’ m good. Order me some expensive
water and I ’ m happy. ”
    Colby laughed. “ You ’ re an asshole, Van. ”
    “ I
know. It ’ ll pass. ”
    “ It ’ s still bothering you, huh? ”
    “ You
wouldn ’ t get it. You have
Tessa. You two were destined to be together. Always bumping into each other
until it made sense. ”
    Colby put a hand to Van ’ s shoulder. “ Don ’ t forget, Van, at one point, we were chasing each
other. We