Read Magic's Song for Free Online Page B

sounds limp.”
    Julian cackled.
    Amanda snarled, “Nothing about Brent is limp.”
    “Good fer ’em,” Julian mocked. “I doubt I’d be able to keep it up if I’d taken a poke at the arctic circle.”
    Marcus cackled. Tanith bit at her lip to keep from laughing aloud.
    “Hey, we’re here to practice,” Brent interceded. He regained control of the group with just a look.
    When practice resumed, Tanith noticed Brent made an effort to be pleasant, even if he didn’t exactly succeed. She knew he did it for the sake of the band. He still refused to look her in the eyes.
    The more she sang, the more the obstacles faded. The music was the biggest high. It compensated for Amanda’s glares and the zingers Brent tossed. Tanith felt like the music had been especially written to caress her voice. Her dream lover could have written the songs.
    Stop thinking about that dream.
    “Tanith? If it’s not too much trouble.”
    She turned her head, not really caring why Brent barked this time. That was the thing about barking. Done repeatedly, it lost its bite. Still, Tanith decided she’d best stop daydreaming about her night dream.
    “No trouble,” she replied sweetly.
    After two more sets, her feet and legs began to throb from standing on concrete. As she rubbed the sides of her thighs, she noticed the time. The practice session had run over.
    Brent slammed his sheet music against the side of his keyboard. “Earth to Tanith.”
    She blinked. He was annoyed with her. Again.
    “What is it this time?” Fatigue made her bold.
    Brent put the back of his wrists against his head and rubbed furiously. “What is it, she asks. For the love of God, Tanith, this is supposed to be a sexy song. I want folks to leave the club and make love, not go home and kick the dog. Could you please sing it like you mean it instead of acting like someone is poking toothpicks under your fingernails?”
    Tanith bristled. So much for nicer. Why the hell was she doing this?
    “Quit acting like a toothpick and give her a friggin’ break, Brent,” Marcus interceded. “You’ve done nothing but bitch all night and we sound better than we ever have. We’re tired, man. Let’s call it a night.”
    Amanda walked over to Brent and ran her fingers inside the waistband of his pants. “If Brent thinks we need to practice, we need to practice.” She directed an icy smirk at Tanith.
    I get it. You’re an item.
    Brent gently extracted Amanda’s hands. “You’re right, Marco. Great job, everyone. Pizza’s on me.”
    While the group argued over what kind of pizza they would order, Tanith went to gather her stuff.
    Brent’s voice echoed behind her. “You’re not staying for pizza?”
    When she turned, he stood so close she almost bumped her head into his shoulder. “Ah…no. My ride will be waiting.”
    “Marcus or Julian can give you a ride.”
    Amanda materialized and ran her arm through Brent’s elbow. “Sure, stay. We’ll be glad to give you a lift.”
    “I really have to go,” she replied, refusing to back down from the woman’s falsely sweet smile.
    Brent reached up and moved Amanda’s arm. Tanith grabbed her bag and headed toward the door.
    “You were good tonight.” The words were so soft she almost didn’t hear them.
    Over her shoulder she smiled, her grin as falsely sweet as Amanda’s. “Wow, you actually managed to get a compliment out without choking. Hit him on the back, Amanda.”
    She let the door slam behind her and marched toward Darson’s waiting car.
    “How’d it go, chickee?”
    “I don’t want to talk about it.”
    She spent the next fifteen minutes complaining about Brent.
    “Brent, Brent, Brent.” Darson sighed. “Was there anyone else in this band? If I didn’t know better, I’d think you had a thing for this Brent.”
    She gasped. “I so do not have a thing for him. I sang my ass off tonight. In return, he cut me to shreds.”
    “Um-hum. Sounds like that Shakespeare thing. You know dust and protesting too