Rock n Roll Baby Read online

  Contents

  Foreword

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Epilogue

  Also by Ella Goode

  Connect with me!

  Linc’s always had two loves—music and me. When his big break comes, though, it feels like he’s going to have to choose. I can’t be the one to hold him back so I’m going to keep a secret. He’ll hate me when he finds out, but I can’t crush his dream.

  I’ve only ever had one love—Cherry. She’s the heart of my songs, the beat in my melodies. If I have to choose between music and her, she’d win every time. When my music blows up big on the scene, I need Cherry by my side. Only this time, she’s reluctant to leave home. I’ll need all of my songwriting skills to convince her that my guitar only sounds right when we’re together.

  Chapter One

  Linc

  The club smells like stale smoke and beer. The lights are dim and I can barely make out the face of Cherry, but she’s there, sitting in the spot she always sits in—just left of the stage. From the beginning, when I started playing gigs, she has chosen to sit on the side. She told me that she sees my face up close enough, but she’s really doing it because she wants me to get more fans.

  “One look at this face,” she told me, “and they’ll all fall in love.”

  “I want them to love my music.”

  “Use them both.” She kissed me then. Or I kissed her. Not sure but we ended up sweaty and naked, that’s for damn sure.

  “This next song is for all the lovers out there. Grab the one or the one for the night”—I pause as the crowd laughs—“and sing this next song with me.”

  I scoot my stool over a little to the left so I’m closer to her and sing the song I wrote one night when Cherry’s parents were gone and we were lying in her backyard on a blanket. It was summer and it was too hot inside because the assholes that gave birth to her had forgotten to pay the utility bill before they went off to gamble in the Ozarks. To cheer her up, I sang about how we didn’t need them because we had the stars in the sky and they’d be our lights through the night.

  I repeat those lyrics now.

  It may be dark now

  But the night can’t last forever

  Just hold my hand

  And we’ll reach the stars together

  The crowd sings it with me. I’ve been here before. They’ve been here before. We’re old friends so I get up from my stool, stroll off the stage, still playing the guitar until I reach Cherry’s side. Nick, my drummer, holds the beat for me while Benjy, my best friend and bassist, plays the groove. While the crowd is singing and swaying, I lean over and kiss her until the crowd’s rowdiness makes me push away.

  I hop back onto the stage, finish up and move right into the rock tune that everyone loves about how I messed up, can’t get up, too drunk to remember, but if she takes me back, I’ll promise to be good for this one night, sleep tight, I’ll get right. I promise to be good for this one night, I’ll get riiiiiiiiiiight.

  Nick smashes the cymbals, Benjy makes the bass cry, and I…well, I must turn the ladies on because three pairs of underwear land on my feet. It doesn’t matter that I just tongued Cherry in front of them. They still think they have a chance.

  The bar owner, Tim Owens, walks in clapping his hands. “Awesome set, my friends.” Tim’s an old guy with one of those gray ZZTop beards that hangs down to his chest. His face always has that alcohol flush but even if he’s drunk, he’s still smart as hell, knows the music business in and out, and has launched more careers than Jimmy Lovine. He started booking us a year ago and while we haven’t had much regional success, we’re a hit with the locals, which means there’s always space for us on his roster. As high school seniors, I don’t think we can ask for more than that. He pulls a giant wad of cash out of his pocket and thumbs his way through a few bills. He peels them off and hands them to Cherry.

  “Make sure they don’t spend it all at once,” he tells my girl.

  “I won’t, Uncle Tim.” He’s not really her uncle, but in the past year, he’s taken a liking to her and she’s confided some in him.

  “I put a little extra in there for you since I know your shit-for-brain parents aren’t taking care of you. The only good thing they’ve done in their lives is stop after having you.”

  “Um, thanks.” She ducks her head and kind of tries to hide behind me in embarrassment.

  “You taking good care of her, boy?” He directs this at me.

  “You know it.”

  “Good. Good. I wouldn’t want to bust the chops of my rising star, would I now?”

  “You would not,” I agree. One blow from his meaty fist and I’d be out for a good week.

  “All right. You miscreants better get out of here before the cops haul you away.”

  “That’d require my old man to tear himself away from the Donut Hole,” Benjy grunts. He flips the guitar case latches closed and swings the black shell over his back.

  “Respect your elders!” Tim shouts as he walks out of the backroom.

  I hustle over and help Nick tear down the drum kit. We shove it all in the bed of Nick’s truck. Nick hops over the driver’s side while Benjy holds his seat down so Cherry and I can climb in the back.

  “No fucking back there,” Nick says as he pulls out of the parking lot.

  “When have we ever?” Cherry exclaims.

  “Whatever, just keep the noise to a minimum,” Nick grumbles. “Some of us are single.”

  “Just turn up the music,” Benjy advises. He pulls out a flask and tips half of it down his throat. Nick lights a cigarette and does as Benjy orders—turns the music up to eleven.

  I pull Cherry onto my lap and nuzzle her neck.

  “Not in front of the guys,” she says.

  “Don’t worry,” I reply. “They can’t see a thing back here. Besides, the music is up and all you gotta do is keep quiet.”

  I slide my fingers under her denim skirt and rub the crotch of her panties. “How come you never throw yours up on stage?”

  “You’re supposed to take them off.”

  “Ahh, but we’re not supposed to be doing anything in front of the guys, I thought.”

  She wriggles slightly, pressing her heated pussy against my hand. “Since when do you listen to me?”

  “Every damn minute.” In fact, I’m listening to her right now. Her body is telling me to slip my fingers underneath the damp cotton and finger her tight, juicy pussy. I do as I’m instructed because I’m a very, very good boy. As the truck bumps along in the night and the Ramones wail about the blistering in the sun, I let my girl ride my hand. I don’t give a damn that my band mates are in the front seat and maybe getting hard thinking about Cherry getting off back here. All I care about is that I played a good set, my wallet is fat and my girl is about to melt into a puddle as she creams all over my palm. It’s a good night. A really damn good night.

  Chapter Two

  Cherry


  Linc plays with the end of my ponytail as I scribble down all the notes in our economics class. He’s not paying attention to anything but me. School has never been his favorite thing to do. Sometimes I think he only comes because I’m here. I have to come because I don’t have a beautiful voice to fall back on. Nor do I have parents that give a shit about me. He leans over, placing a kiss on my neck. He’s getting restless. I smile as I keep on writing down the rest of what Mr. Clark is saying. One of us needs to actually pay attention around here.

  “Thirty seconds,” he whispers in my ear. He’s actually counting down the seconds until we can leave. “Cherry girl.” This time he gives me a nip on my neck, making me giggle. Mr. Clark looks our way but doesn’t say anything. He only shakes his head and tells everyone to remember we have a test next week. The bell rings, freeing Linc from his daily torture. He’s already putting my crap into my bag before I can put my pencil down. He’s always so thoughtful when it comes to me.

  “Are you okay?” I laugh.

  “Come on.” He grabs my hand, pulling me out of the chair. Most people are used to Linc and me at this point. We’ve been together forever and his overzealousness with me is nothing new to anyone. “I gotta get out of here.”

  “I didn't notice you were in a hurry.” His fingers tangle with mine as he pulls me down the hallway. My strides try to match his, but it’s almost impossible. I’m not sure why we’re in such a rush, but something must be important.

  “You grabbed all your books?”

  “You grabbed all my books after lunch,” I remind him with a laugh.

  “The parents are gone this weekend. Dad texted me he’s got work in Chicago and Mom is going with him.” I pick up my speed, suddenly able to match his.

  “I’m thinking maybe some naked skinny dipping is in our future.”

  “Fuck yeah,” he agrees. “There will be no party this time. That shit was a mess last time and I’m not spending half this weekend cleaning up after everyone when I can spend it in you.”

  My cheeks heat for a second. Even though we’ve done everything together, I’m still a bit shy.

  “Hey, Linc.” June tries to step in front of us. Well, in front of Linc really. She never pays me any mind. Her eyes are set on one thing and one thing only. I roll my eyes. It’s embarrassing how many times she’s tried to throw herself at my man. But I guess some people have no shame. I never blink an eye or doubt Linc’s faithfulness to me.

  “Move,” he barks, trying to step around her.

  “I wanted to talk to you about prom.” She cuts him off again. I bite my lip to keep from laughing because this is actually comical at this point.

  “Prom?” He looks down at her with an adorable, confused look on his face. He glances at me. “Is she asking me to prom?”

  I should save him. June wishes she could go to prom with him, but she knows he’ll never say yes. I don’t think we’re going to prom at all. We haven’t talked about it. Though if it meant a night in a hotel room together I think I could put on a fancy dress for that. I bet I could even find something at the thrift store for super cheap.

  “I thought your band could perform?” June jumps back, trying to swing Linc’s attention her way again. This used to bug me. I’d be a liar if I said it didn’t get me worked up a few times. Now, I only feel bad for the girls who want to fall at Linc’s feet. The boy became mine long ago and now the man he’s turning into belongs to me alone too. Linc never lets me doubt that.

  “If I’m going to prom I’m taking my girl.” Linc pulls me in front of him, shielding himself from June.

  “Is the gig a paying one?” I ask her.

  “You selling me off?” I look over my shoulder at Linc, who is pretending that he is appalled by my question. He is still as handsome as ever. No wonder girls throw their underwear at him. If they really knew my Linc, they’d know he has a thing for panties. But he only wants mine. He likes to keep them. After he peels them off me himself.

  “You’d charge us?” The look on June’s shocked face isn't fake at all. “Oh that’s right. You’re poor.” Her face turns into one of fake concern. Jealousy doesn’t look good on her. She wants what I have, but she’ll never get it.

  “Ugly on the inside and out.” Linc mutters

  June’s mouth falls open. “Did you call me ugly?”

  I elbow Linc. I don’t know how I manage to keep a straight face. I don’t like to hurt anyone, but she had it coming. It makes me love Linc even more. He doesn’t appreciate her trying to disrespect me and him saying what he did lets her know it.

  “What?” He grabs his side as if it really hurt him. “That hurt.”

  “You can’t call her ugly,” I tell him. “At least not to her face.”

  “Can we go?” He’s already pulling me away from June before he finishes his sentence. He wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me into him as we head for the exit doors. Anticipation pools in my belly, knowing that we’ll get to be together at his house alone all weekend. Relief fills me that I won’t have to spend the weekend at home with my deadbeat parents. Linc stops suddenly, breaking me from my thoughts. He turns toward me, placing his finger under my chin before he takes my mouth in a deep kiss. Giving me a little taste of what's to come.

  Chapter Three

  Linc

  “Too much snare,” Benjy yells.

  Nick keeps playing.

  Benjy slaps his palm against his bass strings and tries again. “Too much goddamn snare.”

  Nick still doesn’t pay attention. Benjy yanks the aux cord from the bottom of his base and stomps over the drum set. He bangs his hand against the hi-hat, which finally gets Nick’s attention.

  “The fuck, dude?” Nick snaps.

  “Too. Much. Snare,” Benjy says through gritted teeth.

  “Why didn’t you say it in the first place?”

  “I did—“ Benjy cuts himself off and rubs his callused hand over the top of his buzz cut. “Never mind. I’m taking a smoke break.”

  Before anyone can say anything, Benjy pulls the guitar strap over his head and leaves. Nick is half off his stool when I hold up my hand. “His dad got laid off today.”

  “Oh fuck.” Nick slumps back into the stool. “When did you find out?”

  “My dad told me.” Dad is the foreman of Benjy’s dad’s crew. He texted me this morning on his way out of town with Mom.

  “I didn’t realize things were shit over at the plant.”

  “Neither did I.”

  “You think your dad…” Nick trails off.

  “I don’t know. Guess I don’t want to think about it.”

  Nick trades his sticks for a flask of vodka. He dumps a good portion down his throat and shakes like a dog. “Damn. Okay. I’ve got some liquid courage. Let me go apologize to Benjy.”

  “He’s not going to do anything to you.”

  “I know that. It’s just I feel bad, you know, and this”—he gestures toward the flask—“makes me feel less bad.”

  I drop onto the ugly corduroy sofa that we got from Nick’s mom when she redecorated their family room and tap Cherry’s foot. She blinks owlishly at me over the romance book her nose has been stuck in for the last hour. Pulling off the noise-cancelling headphones, she glances around. “Where’s Benjy? and Nick?”

  “Outside having a smoke break.”

  She puts down the book and stretches, the action jostling her nice tits that are barely visible under the oversized WorldWired Metallica tour T-shirt she stole from my closet. Nick asked me once if I minded that Cherry was always wearing my clothes. The answer was an obvious no. I mean, what’s the point of having a girlfriend if she’s not going to steal a shirt or ten?

  “How’s the new song coming?”

  “It’s coming.” I slide a hand up her leg. She’s got nice legs--gently sloping calves and solid thighs. Her skin is always warm and my hands are always cold, but she never pushes me away. “I might need some inspiration.”

  “I thought you were writing a
break-up song?”

  “Well, I have to remember what I’m giving up before I can write about the pain of losing it all,” I say. My hand stops when it reaches the elastic of her panties and I shoot a quick look over at the door that Nick and Benjy exited through. Maybe I can take a quick taste. I duck my head under the blanket but Cherry scoots away.

  “No?”

  She wrinkles her nose. “Come here and tell me what’s going on between the boys. I know they were fighting.”

  I resettle myself and pat the cushion beside me. Cherry comes over, folding her legs underneath her and tucking herself under my arm.

  “Benjy’s dad got laid off today and so he’s feeling tight.”

  “Oh no, but I figured it was something serious since those two never get mad at each other. It’s usually you and Benjy.”

  “We never fight,” I protest.

  “Only every day ending in ‘y,’” she teases.

  It’s true that Benjy and I argue about the best quarterback (Mahomes of course) and the proper way to cook a steak (medium) and dream cars (Audi R8 coupe), but on the important stuff like beats, melodies, and lyrics, we’re of one mind. Nick was using too much snare. I can’t imagine making music without Benjy--or Nick, for that matter. We’re a team.

  “What do you think Benjy is going to do?” Cherry asks quietly, picking up on my train of thought.