More Than Music Read Online Free PDF Page B

flings. But to my surprise, Jared didn’t reveal how he knew. “She told me last night at the party.”
    Kyle’s eyes narrowed, like he found that hard to believe, but Hector cut him off. “Forget it. We all agreed—no more girls in the band. Not after what happened with Becca.”
    “Hector’s right,” Kyle said. “Sorry, Maddie. It’s nothing against you.”
    “We don’t have any other option,” Jared said. “Unless you can find someone who can play guitar or bass and knows our songs before tomorrow morning.”
    “How do you know she can actually play?” Hector asked. “She probably just said that to get in your pants.”
    “Hey—” I started to protest.
    “She knows our songs?” Kyle asked and then tilted his head back to the ceiling. “Actually, that doesn’t surprise me. Maddie is some kind of musical genius. She can hear a piece one time and then play it back perfectly.”
    “That’s a bit of an exaggeration,” I muttered, but no one was listening to me. Maybe I should leave and let them sort this out on their own. I glanced at my guitar case and wondered how quickly I could pack up and flee to my car.
    “Shit, I don’t know.” Hector removed his hat, spilling his dark curls, and then shoved it back on again. “We should forget this audition and wait for the next one.”
    “The next show won’t be for another year,” Jared said. “We can’t wait that long. And what if they don’t want us next year? No, we have to do it tomorrow.”
    “I need to talk to Maddie alone,” Kyle said.
    He led me down the driveway, far enough that the others couldn’t hear us. I swallowed hard as I waited for him to speak, preparing for the worst. He stared at the guitar still around my neck and then sighed and swept back the black hair that was always falling in his eyes.
    “Why didn’t you tell me you played guitar?”
    “Um…” I stared at the ground. I hated that I’d kept this from him for so long and that he was hurt now because of my omission. But how could I explain that guitar had been my secret all these years? Something that had just been for me. Not my parents. Not my teachers. Not even my friends. I didn’t think Kyle would understand somehow. He wore his entire personality on display and didn’t care what other people thought. It was one of the things I admired most about him.
    “I only play when I’m alone, and not seriously or anything,” I said. “I used to play more, but my mom… She didn’t approve. Told me to focus on piano, on violin and clarinet. ‘Real instruments,’ she called them. Probably because she used to play the guitar and that’s how she met my dad…” I trailed off, but Kyle nodded. I’d told him all about my family before. “When I was a kid, she caught me playing her old guitar and nearly smashed the thing. She was drinking, of course. It scared the crap out of me, and after that, it was easier to keep that part of myself hidden. But I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you.”
    “It’s all right. I get it.” He sighed again. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
    “No, I’m terrified.” I choked out a little laugh. “But I also want to help you.”
    His face softened a little. “I appreciate that. I really do. But I don’t think that’s the only reason you’re here.”
    “Of course it is.” I tried to keep my face blank. Was my attraction to Jared so obvious that even Kyle could see it? I didn’t plan to act on it or anything.
    “Is it really? Because we can’t have another Becca situation.”
    “What happened with her anyway?”
    “She and Jared hooked up about a month ago.” He scowled at his brother, still in the garage. “They both admitted it was a mistake the next day, but it was never the same after that. Becca started drinking more, and she got crazy jealous any time he was with another girl. They’d fight, and then I would smooth things over and then it would happen again. We all hoped she’d get over it, but then she