Read Rock 01 - FRET for Free Online

that’s good because I don’t have any.”
    Axel stopped midstride and turned to look at me. “You don’t drink?”
    “Not really. I don’t do drugs either.”
    Axel tilted his head, observing me. He finally nodded and took a step forward.
    “I think I get that. Your father, right?”
    “Well, me and Ransom were never into that shit anyway, but yeah, that has a little something to do with it. Both of us are somewhat scared it’s genetic so we just don’t drink too much. We don’t do drugs, either. Besides, there’s a clause in our contracts that forbids us from doing drugs.”
    “I guess that’s smart. I’ve heard of enough musicians dying from drug overdoses.”
    “Well, we don’t give the guys who smoke pot any shit. I mean you can carry a license and order that shit online now.”
    “Huh. Interesting.”
    “You didn’t know that?” I asked in astonishment.
    “Not really keeping up with the drug trades, Gareth.” Axel cocked a brow.
    “Okay. Well, um, I’m just going to get some water.” I jerked a thumb to the kitchen behind me. Axel grunted and took off.
    I hit the kitchen and grabbed two water bottles. I really loved my kitchen. I had a four-burner stove, stainless steel, with a grill option. My fridge had a bottom freezer, and double doors with ice and water. Knotty pine cabinets covered one wall and a large pantry with pull-out shelving ran across the other. Right in the middle was my showpiece — a butcher-block island with a pot and pan rack hanging from the ceiling. A noise upstairs alerted me to my huge bodyguard scoping out my place.
    “Find anything?” I shouted.
    I got silence in return. I filled my glass with water and headed up the winding staircase. My entire house is tile; I’ve always hated carpet and tile is so much easier to clean. I found Axel in the guest room; he was looking under the bed.
    “Don’t shoot the dust bunnies. They’re pets,” I said jokingly.
    Axel stared up at me and I fidgeted. Did this guy have any sense of humor? I mean…ever? I’d seen him smile now and then and he’d definitely had some serious sarcasm classes in the past, but he seemed kind of …lonely. Maybe that’s just me projecting, who knows? People surround me all the time, but I feel alone.
    Now I just sound pathetic.
    “I did find a scorpion in the bathroom.”
    “Well, that’s nothing new.” I shrugged. I handed him his bottle of water and sipped mine.
    I’d only stepped on one in all my years of living in Arizona. Hurts like a bitch, but I wasn’t on death’s door. Axel stood up and continued down the hall. I followed him, sipping my water as he did a sweep of each room. I was proud of my house. I didn’t go the expensive, fancy route most rich people do. I picked this house because it was warm and inviting. I think after Mom died, Ransom and I always had it in the back of our minds that we wouldn’t flaunt our cash. If we’d had the cash we have today back then, we could have saved our mom.
    That still stings.
    Axel trudged ahead of me and opened the door to my studio. This was the room I’d sunk some money into — it had soundproof walls and a huge skylight in the ceiling. I had four guitars lined up against the wall, a drum set in the corner and a soundboard. The guys and I practiced here now and then between tours. Axel let out a low whistle as he looked around the spacious room.
    “Well. This is nice.”
    I picked up one of my Fenders and strummed lightly. Axel sat down on one of the beanbag chairs and listened to me play. I stopped.
    “Any requests?”
    He smirked and I cocked a brow. “What?”
    “Eruption.”
    I smiled.
    Then I played.
    I couldn’t see the look on his face because I was so wrapped up in playing, but I had a feeling I knew what his face looked like. Not too many people can play that guitar solo. It had taken me awhile to get it down. I let it flow through me, and wrap around my body in a comfortable cocoon. When I finally opened my eyes, Axel