Free Interference by Sophia Henry Page B

guy could handle the knowledge—and responsibility—that I have a kid. As a full-time mom, full-time student, and employee at two places, my real life was exhausting enough. I couldn’t imagine juggling a fake persona.
    But the lead-singer role seemed to come as easy to Auden as her random comedic routines with KK. It was like they were always “on,” though I doubted they even realized the show they gave people. Their personalities naturally gelled when they were together.
    I stole a glance at Jason, always interested in how guys acted at live performances. Would he stand there like a decorative column? Would he dance? Would he try to dance but end up looking corny and uncoordinated?
    Jason bobbed his head and bounced with the beat, concentrating on the music. He squinted slightly. He seemed to be transfixed by Auden as well.
    Which made me question why he’d be so interested in the lead singer when he’s on a date. Granted, if I were a guy, I’d probably have a hard-on for Auden, too. But still…
    I’m not a jealous person. Never have been. Not even in high school while dating Tim. I never cared if other girls flirted with him. Never cared that I found earrings and thongs in his truck that didn’t belong to me. Never cared, because it took some of the pressure of having sex off me.
    It may sound like I had super-low self-esteem, but in reality, I didn’t care because I barely even liked him. I wasn’t with Tim because I thought we’d be high school sweethearts, still married at our twenty-year reunion. I admit it: I dated him for the status, the popularity.
    Strange Attraction started an upbeat song, one of their own, and the crowd began jumping around to the music. Jason shook his head, stopped staring, and shuffled behind me, encircling me with his arms. His hold formed a cage to protect me from the bodies pushing at us from either side. The crowd jostled him a bit, but I felt completely safe. He still bounced on his toes with the beat while keeping me boxed in. I bobbed as well, bending from my knees and swaying my hips.
    The telltale excitement fluttering in my stomach made it hard to deny how much I enjoyed the friction the front of his jeans created against my backside as we moved.
    The song ended, but Jason didn’t let me go. Instead, his hands slid to my waist, his fingers squeezing my skin every time someone in the crowd bumped us.
    “So, today is my brother’s birthday,” Auden told the crowd. “I know, I know, most of you didn’t even know I had a brother. Hell, I didn’t know I had a brother. I was an only child for twenty years before I found out. But it’s really cool that I do because he’s a cop and I can totally get out of speeding tickets now.” She winked at someone standing near Jason and me. “So, we’re gonna wish him a happy birthday by playing whatever song he requests.”
    I watched as almost all the heads in the tiny bar swiveled toward me.
    Nope, not me.
    Jason yelled a song title at Auden, loud enough for her to hear, but not the whole place.
    What the H E double hockey sticks? Jason was Auden’s brother? I mean, he told me he had a sister, but…
    “I don’t know that one,” Auden lied.
    “Bull,” Jason responded.
    My eyes flicked back and forth between them as if I were trying to follow the most confusing tennis match ever.
    “You’re an ass.” Auden stuck her tongue out at Jason before she spun around to talk to her band.
    “We heard what he said!” a guy a few feet away from me yelled at the stage.
    “Yeah, yeah. I know you heard him. I can’t lie, can I?” Auden called over her shoulder.
    After a minute, she straightened up, leaned into the microphone, and sang, “ ‘I threw a wish in the well.’ ”
    The audience members who knew what was coming next from that line alone hooted and hollered. Auden released the microphone to extend both middle fingers to the crowd before breaking into the rest of the pop hit “Call Me Maybe.”
    “You’re so