Free GRIT (The Silver Nitrate Series Book 2) by Tiana Laveen Page A

heart beat beneath his damn chest, and he wanted to kick himself for not thinking this shit completely through. A part of him didn’t even truly believe he’d make it this far. Things were happening so fast, he was at a loss. A mixture of excitement, apprehension, and determination formed a strange cocktail inside him, creating relief and worry, all at once.
    “Alright, I understand.” He kept that brave face—refused to relinquish it, let it go.
    “We want you, Zenith.” Leigh got up from his seat, emphasizing his statement. “We’ll try to work with you until you can get settled. I think you’d make a real nice addition to our band. And based on our conversations on the phone and our meeting when you first got here, we’ve got a similar sense of humor; you seem to understand some shit without me explaining it to you. You’ve never been a part of an actual rock band though, so that may take some getting used to, but Steve said he’s heard you play everything from heavy metal to rap.”
    “I have… We’ve even done a little country, too.”
    “That’s what I’m talking about. I like it. I like it. Steve wants to talk to you about some things, right?” Leigh stretched his arms to the ceiling and yawned. “Too early for this shit…”
    “Yes, let me make a couple of calls first though.”
    Zenith got up as well, still gripping his drumsticks like lifelines. On a swallow, he rushed from behind the drums and made a mad dash to Silver.
    I need her…
    His craving was overwhelming; he simply didn’t know what to do with himself. Before he could burst the studio back door open, she appeared. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she hugged him close and squeezed.
    “You… did… amazing !” She took a good look at him, eyes swelling with pride, then went back to squeezing. She kissed him.
    “Yeah?” He smiled at her, and kissed her again.
    “Yeah!” She rolled her eyes and laughed. “You know you did good. Stop goofing off!”
    “Yeah, I did, didn’t I?”
    She burst out laughing and playfully punched his shoulder.
    “Silver.” He leaned toward her, glanced over his shoulder, then back in her direction. “I don’t know what I thought would happen or wouldn’t happen… but I don’t know if I can do this.”
    She looked at him as if he’d told her he hailed from another world and was there to take over the damn planet.
    “Have you lost your mind?! Pop Evil has flown your ass up here to audition you and snatched you up on the spot! Do you know how many people would kill for this opportunity?”
    “Silver… what about Paw? I didn’t think I’d need to move. That’s so stupid, but it’s true! I can’t move him out of New York. I can’t force him to live in Michigan. I can’t leave him for four or five month intervals…and what about us ?! I can’t expect you to stay with me while I’m gone so long… I love you too much to ask you to mess your life up for me. You’ve got major shit going on right now. It’s not like you’re only temping at a factory or something and would be happy to leave. This is crazy.” He shook his head, disgusted and disappointed.
    She searched his face and he let her, both of them traveling the private highways and byways of their own coveted thoughts. Her smooth, tender touch ran the length of his cheek, up and down, until he grabbed her hand, kissed her palm, and slowly closed his eyes.
    “I don’t know what’s going to happen, Zenith, but what I do know is that you’ll figure it out. I’ll help you. I love you, and love means helping each other along the way, figure out the difficult things, and being there. You need some time to think, okay? Don’t you tell these guys ‘no’!” she warned.
    “I didn’t.” He frowned. “I’m just telling you this between you and me—this is going too fast, and I’m in trouble if I don’t figure this shit out. I can fake it until I make it, but eventually written contracts are going to come flying my way,