Free Angel Dares by Joss Stirling Page A

guys already knew each other so well and now I was sitting among them blending in as well as a penguin among pelicans.
    ‘Great, thanks. Have you met Angel yet?’ Kurt gestured to me. ‘She’s my new best friend as she really gives as good as she gets.’ He winked at me while my heart did a little tap dance. I knew he was teasing but still, it’s not every day a girl gets called Kurt’s new BFF.
    ‘We’ve not met yet, no. Hi, Angel.’ Michael lifted his hand in greeting. Pete nodded in my direction. I was getting the message he was not the talkative type.
    Now I was in the inner circle, I racked my brains to decide what I should do with it. From the thunderous expression on Marcus’s face, he wasn’t going to rush to invite me back. I had to make some progress so I would still be welcome. Making myself useful seemed a good way to go.
    ‘I’m so excited to meet you guys. I’ve heard good things about your band. Have you had a chance to look around the festival yet?’ I asked.
    Michael took the spare place next to me, too polite to ask what the heck I was doing here. ‘Not yet. We rolled in late last night. Marcus, you gone exploring yet?’
    ‘No,’ growled Marcus.
    Michael’s eyebrows raised in surprise. ‘What’s wrong with you, man?’
    Marcus dropped his shoulders, trying to rid himself of his tension. ‘Nothing. I was caught up writing a song.’
    Michael smiled. ‘I see.’ He turned to me. ‘Marcus gets these moods. Nothing will stop him once he has an idea—kinda like a hen laying an egg. Can’t be shifted till it’s all over.’
    ‘Ignore little red hen then, if he’s not got time for fun. I could show you round later if you like,’ I offered, making the invitation general. ‘I’ve already found a great place for pizza.’
    Pete put two more coffees on the table, having helped himself and Michael to a cup. ‘It’s OK, Angel: we’ve got our own caterers. Easier than fighting off the autograph hunters.’
    ‘Oh.’
    ‘Not that we don’t all like pizza. We should ask chef to make it tonight; what do you say, Kurt?’
    ‘Fine. I like pizza and he will insist on serving that French fancy stuff to impress us.’ Kurt’s eyes twinkled with mischief. ‘You want to join us, Angel? You can bring your band mates. I’d like to meet this Jay guy who’s got on Marcus’s wick.’
    ‘Wow. I mean, yes of course.’ My usual confidence was recovering. I couldn’t sit still when I had just secured an invitation to dinner. I bounced up and had to stop myself doing a happy dance. I settled for hugging myself. ‘Thanks so much.’ I wrinkled my brow as I imagined the evening ahead. ‘And I apologize profusely in advance for Jay. He is quite impossible to like—but he is talented so you’ll have to forgive him. When should we show up? We’re due to perform tonight at seven on the second stage; can we come along after that?’
    Kurt smiled at my eagerness. ‘Sure. We’ve not got much on tonight—just a few interviews. I’ll give you my number so you can text me a reminder before you go on. I might just come see what you guys can do.’ I took my phone from the front pocket of my tunic dress and he tapped his contact details into the handset.
    Oh my word: I had Kurt’s number and a promise he’d try to come along! I tucked the phone back and held it to my thigh. ‘You’d be very welcome.’ I was going to explode. Marcus’s tidy little man cave was going to have one huge girl-whirlwind rip through it if I didn’t get out. ‘Thanks … and … er … I’d better go. Right now. Quickly.’
    I could hear Kurt and Michael laughing as I exited. I hadn’t managed to hide my enthusiasm from them, not even spreading a shred of sophistication over my delight. I jumped down the steps and twirled on the duckboards between the motor homes, relishing my wonderful news.
    ‘Angel, wait up!’
    Oh great: I had been caught by Marcus acting like a kid in her first party dress.