On a Different Mission

Also by Christie Gordon The First Full Moon - Paranormal, Historical The Obsession - Contemporary College Secrets - Contemporary New Adult Say the Words - Contemporary New Adult In Life and Blood Series – Vampire Hanging in the Balance Holding on to the Past The Bonds of Family Not Alone - Contemporary Rock Star The Haunting Crush - Paranormal, New Adult Find Me in July - Vintage College Breaking His Serve – College Sports A Summer Without Rain – Historical, New Adult Mesa Boys Series – Contemporary New Adult Catching His Fall Catching His Heart Catching His Eye Catching His Name Rock U Series – Contemporary New Adult/College Get Closer to Me Never Let It End Copyright © 2023 Christie Gordon The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Rock U Book 1: On a Different Mission Cover art by Christie Gordon Editing and Proofing by Catherine Chisnall All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher Dedication To all the readers who’ve enjoyed the Mesa Boys series and are willing to take a chance on something new. Thank you for embarking on this journey with me! Contents Also by Christie Gordon Copyright Dedication Contents Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two Chapter Twenty-Three Epilogue Sneak Peek at Come Closer to Me (Rock U Book 2) Dear Reader: About the Author Trigger Warning: This book contains a prejudiced parent and a character who is struggling to come to terms with the teachings of the Mormon religion with regard to sexual and gender identity. Chapter One Devin I strolled along the brick sidewalk in downtown Tempe, taking in the bright lights of the shops lining each side of the street and the inky sky above me. “I’m so glad they hired me at that bakery. Those guys, the owners are really cool.” I hung my head, then shifted my gaze to Olivia, her long brown hair falling over her leather jacket, a blue mini skirt hugging her narrow hips. “I told you, it’s about time you figured yourself out. What better place than a queer bakery?” She touched my arm, a grin growing across her lips. “You will sing tonight, right?” She stopped at a set of glass doors inside a brick building, her brown eyes taking me in from head to toe. “You look good tonight. I love those jeans with all the zippers you found at the secondhand store, and pairing them with the long white shirt all buttoned to the top? You might have found your style.” She chuckled. “I mean, it’s about time, senior year and all.” Heat flushed my face and I glanced at my reflection in the door, my, chin-length, brown bangs falling over one of my light-blue eyes and to the side. She’d talked me into growing out my bangs. I liked it. “Yeah, I think I’ll sing.” I pressed my lips together. How different could it be from soloing in the church choir back home? “Well, if it’s as good as I’ve heard you sing in the car to the radio, you’re going to have the attention of every guy and girl in the bar. Let’s see who you choose.” With a giggle, she sprang the door open and stepped inside. I glanced at the sign in red hovering over the door. Monkey Pants Bar and Grill, what a weird name for a bar. Whatever, here goes nothing. With a quick inhale, I stepped inside and perused the place. A long wooden bar centered the room in a U-shape with red vinyl chairs surrounding it and red-painted walls. Almost all the chairs were full with what looked like students. No wonder, we were practically still on campus. “Hey, let’s find some seats at the bar if there are any.” I pointed toward it. “Sure.” Olivia made her way through young adults, some preppy and some more creatively dressed, then found two seats at the bar. She slid into one, then patted the seat of the other. “Come on.” I climbed into the seat, then rested my elbows on the bar and my chin in my hand, my gaze roaming the room. “How many times have you been here?” “Too many to count.” She waved at the bartender. “You want a beer, right?” “Yeah.” My gaze snagged a younger looking man. “Some of these kids must have fake IDs. There is no way that guy over there is twenty-one.” I ticked my head across the bar. She ordered our beer. “Well, why not? I had one, remember?” She swiveled her stool to face me. “You were too straightlaced to even think about it.” “And Mormon.” I chuckled. “Don’t forget that. I’d never even had a beer before I came down here.” I was so done with that church. There was no way for me to fit in there anymore. I knew that for certain now. My chest tightened. Furrowing her brows, Olivia said, “Devin. How are you going to deal with going back to