Free Out of Rhythm (Face the Music Book 1) by Shona Husk Page B

and if she truly believed that she’d have come out months ago to her band mates, not done her best to act straight, or at least neutral.
    ‘Wish me luck.’ She gave Kirsten a kiss on the cheek. But Kirsten had clammed up, as she worried about what everyone would say.
    Damn Ed. It would have been so much easier if they’d been able to keep it quiet for longer. If Kirsten changed her mind, no one would’ve known about her dabble with girls. Maybe she wouldn’t have and they’d have been happy together for the rest of their lives. She gave Kirsten a little squeeze. ‘Ed’s a decent guy.’
    Usually.
    Probably not so much now that she was sleeping with his sister.
    ‘If he throws me out, I’ll give you a call a little later. Okay?’ Gemma tried to sound confident. Kirsten expected her to have the answers, but she was winging it and hoping for the best. The story of her life.
    Kirsten nodded. ‘Are you going to tell him the truth?’
    ‘I think I have to.’ Gemma released Kirsten and opened the door. She gave Kirsten a thumbs up and an overly bright grin. I am so screwed . Then shut the door so that hopefully Kirsten wouldn’t hear any arguing.
    It might be best for everyone if he had grabbed his wetsuit and gone for a surf. By the time he got home hopefully the initial shock would have worn off and they could talk like adults. Right now she didn’t feel very grown up. She felt like that same scared seventeen year old who’d kissed her first girl and was praying no one would realise she was gay by simply looking at her. After a week she’d realised no neon sign had gone up declaring her sexuality.
    This wasn’t quite the same. She moved quietly through the house, almost holding her breath, hoping he was gone. She stopped in the kitchen doorway. Ed was in the kitchen making coffee and staring out the window.
    ‘How long have you been sleeping with my sister?’ He didn’t turn to look at her.
    ‘It’s not quite like that.’ They had done more than kiss, but not much more. There had certainly been no hands in pants…no, she’d done that herself afterward. She’d had to.
    ‘The fight you had was a lovers’ tiff, wasn’t it?’
    ‘No. It was a falling out of friends.’ She had to step up and stop misdirecting him. ‘Over a kiss.’
    Ed turned around to face her, he was scowling, but at least there was no anger blazing in his eyes. ‘You both have boyfriends, had boyfriends.’
    Gemma nodded. ‘I outgrew mine…they weren’t what I wanted.’
    Ed grimaced. ‘If you were a man I’d have dragged you out of her bed and punched you.’
    ‘Really? Kirsten’s had plenty of boyfriends and I don’t remember you hitting a single one of them. Or is this because you didn’t expect to see me there?’
    He looked away without answering. ‘You’re supposed to be her friend.’ His voice was soft, as if he was trying to make sense of what he’d seen.
    ‘I am her friend, which why I’m here talking to you so you don’t tear into her.’
    ‘You made her do this?’
    ‘Get over yourself. I didn’t make Kirsten do anything. She wanted to try.’
    He shook his head. ‘I don’t get it.’
    ‘You don’t have to. It’s between me and her.’ And it was. Ed had no right to judge either of their relationships, and they didn’t need his seal of approval. Although it could make her position precarious. What if they all voted to get rid of her and get a guy to replace her? Someone who was less trouble?
    ‘Is it a thing, will you grow out of it, Gem?’
    Gemma rolled her eyes. This was why she’d never told anyone. The easy answer would be to agree, sure she’d grow out of it, it was a phase, whatever. But she was tired of not being able to say what was on her mind. When the guys were checking out girls, so was she and she wanted to join in the conversation.
    ‘I’ve known I liked women since I was sixteen. I don’t think I’m going to grow out of it.’
    ‘But you dated a guy last year.’ Ed’s