“I am right,” I said firmly.
“You seem to know something about it.” She tilted her head. “About having too many rules, I mean.”
“Not a big fan of rules. I think some are necessary, but not too many. Cork needs to have the freedom to make his own choices within the boundaries you set.”
“Like a trellis for a climbing vine,” she said. “The vine ultimately chooses where to go, but along the framework the gardener has set, since the gardener knows the best and safest places for it to grow.”
Giving that some thought, I nodded. “Something like that.”
“I can do that.”
“I know you can. You already do great with him, great with all the responsibilities you have.”
“Thank you.” Her expression softened, and I liked it a lot, her looking like that at me, her eyes warm and approving.
“You’re welcome. I’d better get going.” I reluctantly released her and lifted a finger in the air while walking toward Cork. “Let’s move out.” To Lotus, I said, “I’ll leave you your board, but we’ll take ours so we can do a little surfing later after the studio if we get an opportunity.”
“Not near the pier.” Her warm eyes went cold with icy fear.
“Not going to surf under the pier again.” Cork frowned, and I wondered how much of my conversation with his sister he’d heard.
Though he probably didn’t appreciate being referred to as a vine, I didn’t think it mattered. The conversation needed to be had. He was already chafing under her restrictions like I had underneath my old man’s. She would lose him entirely if she held on to him too tightly.
“Of course you wouldn’t,” she said. “I’m sorry I worry so much. You guys have a good time. I’ll see you later at the Deck Bar. Food and drinks on me, okay?”
“Sounds great, babe.” I scooped up my board, and Cork got his.
I could feel Lotus watching as we moved away on the worn path between the cliffs and the road, but I didn’t let on. I figured it was a growing process for both of them . . . him stretching his wings, and her letting him.
• • •
“You look like shit,” I said when Saber wandered into the studio an hour later than he’d told me to. Shield and Ted had yet to show.
“Hey, Cork.” My brother acknowledged him before he put his sunglasses on his head and fixed his red-rimmed gaze on me. “I don’t believe I asked your opinion about how I look.”
“Fair enough. Your business if you wanna stumble in hungover when we’re supposed to be working.” I shook my head in disgust. “But I don’t get it. All you have—huge-ass deal in hand, etc.” I didn’t specifically mention Lotus. I didn’t want to validate, let alone acknowledge his claim on her.
Stiffly, he moved toward his guitar. “I gave you a task—”
“We have a task,” I said, cutting in. “As a band.” This high-handedness of his was bullshit.
“Fair enough.” Saber threw his glasses on a side table, squinting as if the bright light streaming in from the large window hurt his eyes. Probably did. “Did you make any headway before I arrived.?” He dipped his gaze to my guitar, then Cork’s borrowed bass. “Or are you guys just fooling around?”
“Cork came up with a hook,” I said. “A killer one.”
“That’s great. Let me hear it.” Saber took a seat in a club chair and leaned forward, his elbows on his thighs.
“Okay. I guess I’m doing the singing.” I shifted my attention to Cork, who looked nervous. I put my hand on his shoulder. “Love your riff, man. Give me that same groove. I’ll bounce off it like I’ve been doing. Can you follow my lead at the chorus? My voice is shit without some backup.”
“Sure.” He nodded. Given a task and a deserved compliment, his nervousness disappeared.
Cork checked his amp connection like a pro and went right into it. I did my best to keep up with him. The bass popped like punk rock chords, but with a little complementary guitar work from me, the song transformed into something better than it was before.
I sang, and Cork watched me for his cue. I gave him a nod where we’d practiced the echoes. His voice melding seamlessly with mine, we continued to the chorus.
Getting into it, I moved my body from side to side, and he bobbed his head. I was so focused on him, I didn’t notice the exact moment when Saber picked up his guitar and joined us, or when Shield came in and began softly tapping on his drums.
But when we finished, I noticed a couple of things. Saber was smiling respectfully at me, and Ted had arrived.
“What the hell’s going on?” Ted frowned from the doorway.
“Sorry, dude,” Saber said. “Cork’s our man now. You’ve been fucking replaced.”
Lotus
I SCORED A lot of cool driftwood I could use as frames. Small succulents looked nice tucked into the uneven nooks and crannies on them. I also found a few decent large shells, good for the same purpose, and a couple of terra-cotta pots for my larger plants.
After storing everything I found under the stairs, I was hot and sweaty. So I took a shower, got dressed, and went to see Sophia. Though I was tempted to check up on Cork, I didn’t, remembering Journey’s words.
“Hey, you,” my bestie said as I stepped inside the jewelry shop where she worked.
“You’re sitting in Heidi’s spot?” I asked, taking in Sophia’s position behind a chest-high desk.
“Yeah.” She pushed away the magnifying glass she’d been using. “She’s out looking for new inventory, kinda like you do on trash days.”
“Only she’s at the market. She doesn’t look in alleyways and dumpsters like me.” I wrinkled my nose. I enjoyed recycling old materials, but it was often smelly work.
“She went through a lot of alleyways when she decorated the shop.”
So she had. The driftwood mirrors and the cool floor-to-ceiling shell curtain were recycled materials. I stepped closer to my best friend, peeking at what she was working on under the large magnifying glass.
“Is that a lotus flower?” I asked, taking in the delicate silver lines and the thin chain spilling over Sophia’s fingers.
“Uh-huh.” She nodded, and her long black hair slipped forward. It was loose like mine. “It’s a new piece.”
My eyes widened. “You designed it?”
“Yeah.” She looked sheepish.
Sophia could unabashedly dance at a rock concert, drawing the attention of every guy around, but she was shy about her creations. I totally got that. Art was taking out a part of your soul and putting it on display for the world.
“It’s pretty. I wish I could afford one.”
“This one is yours,” she said in a husky voice, her emotional one. “I made it for your birthday. Sorry it’s late. I had to wait for the materials to come in.”
“I love it.” My eyes filling, I gave her a watery smile. “That’s very thoughtful. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She stood, a polishing cloth in her hand. “Let me put it on you.”
Stepping around the desk, she came to me. I turned around, lifted my hair, and she put the thin chain around my neck and fastened the clasp. I grabbed the pendant and rubbed it for good luck. Kissing it, I spun around to hug my best friend.
“I’ll never take it off.”
“Aw, you’re sweet. You can take it off. You don’t have to wear it all the time.” She returned my smile, and I could tell my appreciation pleased her. “It’s not as good as one of Heidi’s pieces, but she liked it so much, she asked me to make more to sell in the shop.”
“It is as good as one of hers. She’s lucky to have you here, apprenticing with her.”
“More like the other way around. But thanks for saying so.” Sophia gathered my hands in hers and squeezed them. “I’m glad you like it. The stuff you make is just as wonderful, you know.”
I dropped my chin, mumbling my thanks as I blushed.
“So, what’s up?” She led me to a rustic bench with an aqua cushion by the shell curt
ain. It tinkled as her shoulder brushed it. “Sit a moment. Talk to me.”
“Okay.” I sat.
She sat beside me, looking elegantly pretty in her black wrap dress that, along with her naturally light brown skin, showcased Heidi’s jewelry. She searched my face. “You look better than I would’ve expected after all that went down last night.”
“You’re right.” I realized I did feel better. Even after Saber making me feel insignificant and not even calling me today. Even after seeing Tess with Journey. “I do feel better.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“Because of Journey,” I said, giving it to her straight, or as straight as I had it in my mind right now. I’d done a lot of thinking while working today.
“Oh, Lotus. No.” She shook her head.
“I feel good when I’m with him.” That had been there from the beginning. “He seems to really get me, and Cork too. We went surfing with him this morning. He kissed me.”
I withdrew my hands from hers and touched my lips. They buzzed beneath my fingertips at the memory of how his mouth felt on mine.
“But Tess?” Sophia crossed one leg over the other, and the intricate sandal on that foot bounced with her irritation. “Wasn’t he with her last night?”
“Maybe, but maybe not. He said he thought about me all last night.” I swallowed. “To be honest, I thought about him too. I’ve been thinking about him since LA. It’s him that I want.”
“You’re breaking up with Saber.”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “But not just because of Journey. Because he’s wrong for me, wrong for me and Cork.”
“I agree completely. That’s been my opinion all along.” She tilted her head. “But, honey, you shouldn’t be looking for a guy based on how your brother interacts with him.”
“In my case, I should. Cork’s always going to be a part of my life. He’s my brother, sure, but he’s also my responsibility. Journey sees that, and he understands the situation.”
“Which is?”
“Cork and I are a package deal. Saber never got that. To him, Cork is just a cute kid he tolerates, but Journey cares about him. They’re already friends. He’s caring with me too in his own unique way.” I twisted my hands together. “He asked me to come down to his apartment tonight. After Cork’s asleep. I’m considering going.”
Her eyes widened. “So you’re willing to do a friend-with-benefits thing with him?”
“Yes, if you want to put a label on it.” I lifted my chin. The nighttime was my own time. I could be completely selfish. Do something for myself if I wanted to.
“That’s tricky. With you, I’m gonna say it would be impossible not to let your heart get involved. In fact, looking at you right now, with your eyes glistening and skin glowing, I’d say it’s already involved.”
Glancing away, I shrugged. “That’s the sun and surf from this morning.”
“It’s you, your pretty heart, and he’s stirred up the fire within it.”
Sophia was right. He had. But I was surprised by her insight. She and I connected more over our shared love of music and our art. Not so much about emotional stuff, like I did once upon a time with Storm.
But maybe that was my fault. Maybe I’d kept her at arm’s length. Maybe I’d kept Saber there too, wanting him to be someone he wasn’t.
I needed to stop that. Take a chance, and not just on Journey. I needed to trust my best friend with my deepest feelings.
“I’m falling for Journey,” I said softly, and then proceeded to tell her everything.
When it came to Journey, I had a feeling I was going to need all the help I could get.
Storm
TED WAS FUCKING pissed. He walked out of the studio after Saber’s announcement, leaving a flurry of f-bombs in his wake.
“You okay?” I asked Cork. Dude looked like he might pass out.
“I’m not sure what just happened.”
“You’re our new bassist.” Saber gave Cork a pointed look. “You got a problem with that?”
“I can’t be in the group,” Cork said, shaking his head.
“Why the fuck not?” Saber asked.
“Because I don’t have any experience.”
Saber clamped a hand on Cork’s shoulder and squeezed. “The way you play that bass is your experience.”
“But don’t I need to try out?” Cork asked.
“What we just did was your audition,” Saber said. “You’re fucking better than Ted.”
“Don’t you guys need to vote before adding someone new to the band?”
“He’s got my vote.” Grinning, I put up my hand.
“Mine too,” Shield said, underscoring his vote with a melodic tapping on his cymbal.
Saber’s brows drew together. “I say you’re in. It’s my band, and I have the final vote. You’re throwing up a lot of roadblocks, Cork. Don’t you want to be in the group?”
“I always dreamed of being in a band.” Cork’s expression turned wistful. “But I let that dream go after my accident, along with a bunch of others.”
“We’d be glad to have you,” Saber said.
Shield wiped his brow with a towel. “Especially if you have more catchy shit like what you added to our single. That riff is pure money.”
“Sure, I do.” Cork’s gaze brightened. It seemed to be sinking in. “I have lots of musical stuff like that inside my head.”
“Fucking A, man. Then welcome aboard.” His brow smoothing, Saber grinned. “Job’s yours if you want it.”
“I want it,” Cork said firmly.
“Always knew you were a big fan.” Saber slapped Cork on the back, wearing an expression of disbelief. “Knew you played some, but never knew you played like that until now. It’s meant to be. You know our catalog better than an outsider like Ted or . . .” Trailing off, he glanced at me.
“I can pick it up fast.” I gave him the middle-finger salute.
He liked my playing, but he got in that dig because he was still sore about me fucking his girl.
“Being that your catalog is so small,” I said pointedly, getting in a dig of my own, “it won’t take me long at all.”
“I’ll work with Journey.” Cork pulled back his shoulders, looking older and wiser than his years. “Teach him what I know.”
“Excellent.” Saber nodded approvingly. “Team player. Best new addition to the band.”
Another dig. I shook my head at his shit.
“Thanks, Saber. But there’s only one problem.” Cork’s lips turned down.
“What is it?” Saber asked.
“My sister,” Cork said. “I’m not legal age. She’s my guardian. I’m not sure she’s going to approve of me being in the band.”
“I’ll talk to her,” I said.
“Why the fuck would you talk to my girlfriend?” Saber came right at me, his nostrils flaring.
“We’re friends, dude. Same as him and me.” I gestured to Cork. “So, chill.” That wasn’t near all the truth, but it was all I was willing to share with him.
“Well, my relationship with her supersedes your friendship.” Saber narrowed his gaze at me.
I rolled my eyes. “You should listen to your thoughts before you speak them. You sound like a douche.”
“Don’t need to do shit,” Saber said. “But I’m keeping it real.”
“And real is what, exactly?”
His eyes narrowed more. “I don’t like you being friends with her.”
“Not up to you to decide,” I said firmly. “That’s up to her.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” He unfastened his guitar and set it in a nearby stand. “You two stay here, hang tight.” He slid his gaze over Shield and Cork before it stopped on me. “Let’s you and me get some things straight about Lotus. Privately.”
“All right.” I was eager to hash it out with him, but took my time unclipping my guitar strap and walking my SG over to its case.
“Keep it out,” he said from the doorway. “This won’t take
long, and practice isn’t over.”
“Not putting my favorite guitar in some cheap-ass studio stand that can easily tip over.” I proceeded to carefully lay my guitar on the velvet liner inside its case. Strapping the Velcro down, I clicked the latches closed before I looked at him.
“C’mon, asshole.” Saber jerked his chin up in the air.
“Where to?” I asked, following him out into the hall.
“Break room,” he gritted out, moving ahead of me without making eye contact.
As I walked behind him, I heard other musicians playing in the recording rooms we passed. But my gaze remained on my brother, noting his stiff shoulders . He was edgy. I had a feeling where this was headed, other than just the break room, and I wasn’t wrong.
“Get out,” Saber growled at the occupants inside it when we arrived.
“What the fuck?” Koa Rossman asked. The pro surfer who had turned Cork’s head rose from the round table where he’d been sitting. Stepping toward us, his expression dark, he looked as confrontational as Saber.
“Cool it.” Diesel Le, the half-Polynesian bassist for the Dirt Dogs, stretched his hand out in front of Koa. “Save the attitude for the competition.” He moved his narrowed gaze to Saber, then to me. “Is there a problem?”
“No problem with you two.” Saber jerked up his chin. “Problem with this asshole.” He hooked his thumb at me. “He fucked my girl.”
“She wasn’t your girl at the time,” I said, getting pissed. He shouldn’t be airing private business about Lotus publicly. And besides that, what was between Lotus and me was bigger than the bullshit lines he wanted to draw around her.
“Ah.” Koa’s dark brows rising, he glanced at Diesel. “Reminds me of how you were when you first started out with Hollie.”
“You never had a shot with her,” Diesel said.
“Keep telling yourself that.” Grinning, Koa ambled past us.
“Good luck, dudes,” Diesel said, following Koa out of the room.
Saber slammed the door behind him and grabbed my shirt, shoving me into it.
Peering down at him, I didn’t even react. “Giving you that that play.”
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