�Why do we need more music? I thought Ryan was��
I trailed off as I turned up my nose at the string quartet that was attempting to make their way through your standard elevator music.
Yeah, this fits right along with Ryan�s stuff.
Yeesh.
�Well, we�re going to see a few others too.�
Mike glared at me from a little ways across the room, having been reprimanded by Angie for a snide comment he�d made the moment he�d seen me.
�Are they all going to be like this?�
Angie grimaced at my question.
�Let�s hope not.�
We both fell into a fit of giggles, trying to hide them when the band finished a poor rendition of �Open Arms.�
Doing the band thing was all right. The four other girls went off to get fitted for bride�s maid dresses while I came with Angie to check out so-called �bands.�
I guess you could say music is my forte, so my opinion would be based off more than which had the cutest guy. Not that bands made up of middle-aged white guys could ever qualify as �cute.�
Then again, I�ve seen some of the guys Brittney has dated.
Angie said Nick was supposed to join us when Mike came, but after this morning, I wasn�t surprised when he didn�t show up.
�But still, why do you need more than Ryan?�
She shrugged before replying.
�I don�t think Ryan should have to play the entire time. He should enjoy the reception for a while, so we�ll need another band. Something different from Ryan, but not too different.�
Nodding my understanding, I glanced at the door when I heard it open, not surprised at my disappointment when another band came inside rather than a tall blonde who made my heart race.
�If I could, I�d veto all classical music. You can only dance to that if you know ballroom dancing. That would make it boring, and I�ll fall asleep.�
Angie giggled and nodded her agreement.
�Definitely. No classical music. That was Mike�s idea anyway.�
Really?!
Mindlessly, I rubbed at my arm, wincing at the pain that shot up my muscles when I pressed against the bruise that had started to take on a handprint shape.
�He doesn�t strike me as the classical type.�
We watched the bands change their equipment as Angie gave a discreet shake of her head to indicate the impossibility of the elevator music band ever playing at their reception.
�I don�t know where Nick is. He�s normally pretty good at showing up no more than twenty minutes late.�
Angie glanced at her watch and frowned.
�He was supposed to be here over an hour ago.�
Hmm� perhaps you should ask your fianc�e about that one.
I looked at the list of bands and categories, trying to keep my mouth shut.
�A Journey cover band?! Dude!�
Angie turned quickly towards me and playfully glared at me.
�No way. If I wanted hours of Journey songs, I�d have you, Xander, and Toby play all day. Nick must have put that one on there. He likes them too.�
Yeah, because I didn�t already know that.
Wait a second.
�The guys could play! Ryan could play for a little bit and then the guys could play the rest of it. I doubt they�d mind.�
Smirking, she turned to the band that had just started playing.
�Only if you join them for a few songs.�
Ignoring the amendment to my suggestion, I looked back towards the list.
�A piano player dude! Him! Have that guy - if he�s any good of course - play during the food part and then Ryan�s part since he�s doing y�all�s song and then the guys after that! It�ll be three different types and all the adults can leave and we�ll party.�
�Man, Kara, I haven�t seen you get excited about something in awhile. Why this?�
She continued when I didn�t reply.
�It sounds like a good idea� if you sing a song or two.�
I rolled my eyes and pulled my cell phone out of my pocket.
�I�ll call Toby.�
*
My phone started ringing the special Minuet that was tied to Kara�s cell number, breaking me away from the college cheerleading competition Trevor and I had been watching for the past hour.
�Shouldn�t you be working on your tan or something, baby sister?�
�Will you guys play?�
�What? Play what?�
Angie talked in the background.
�At the wedding. The reception.�
I thought we were already doing that�
�Did something change? Aren�t we playing back up for Ryan?�
Getting up from the couch and grabbing my soda, I ignored Trevor�s curious look and left him to drool over the short-skirted dancers.
�You�ll disappoint Xander. He�s already packed eight suitcases.�
I counted slowly to ten in my head while I walked to my room in our apartment.
�What?! EIGHT suitcases?�
Laughing, I flipped the TV in my bedroom onto ESPN2 and flopped down on my bed.
�Joking, Kar. I think he only has three.�
She�s rolling her eyes and walking out of any room where she might be around other people. She�s too predictable.
�Seriously Toby, Angie wants you guys to play after Ryan. Originals and covers both. They�ll pay as much as they�d pay another band. A few thousand at least.�
The Dr. Pepper in my mouth flew across the room before I started coughing.
�A few thousand?!�
She started giggling and I breathed a sigh of relief at the surprisingly unfamiliar sound.
�Yeah, a few thou.�
Fuck, we play for free food and tips and shit.
�We�ll do it.�
�Shouldn�t you ask the other guys?�
I rolled my eyes.
�A few thou, Kara.�