Treble
Page 29
“Call Zero, Mason and Gareth.” Juniper wrapped her arms around both Parkur and Jacoby. “It’s time to record the new Razrs Edge album.”
Chapter Eight
The next afternoon, Jacoby conceded to Parkur and Juniper’s requests. He stood in the recording studio at the Atrius and simply breathed in the aura. Creativity and excitement crackled in the air. Nate’s drive and determination set the wheels rolling to get the contracts changed. In the back of his mind, a tiny voice cheered. Things weren’t completely fixed, but damn if it didn’t feel right to be back. The sight of Juniper at the piano and Parkur inspecting his massive drum set warmed Jacoby’s heart.
“It’s a lot better in here without the tension.” Juniper’s fingers glided over the shiny keys as she practiced scales. “Just like the good old days.”
Parkur tossed his drumsticks in the air and caught them both in one hand. “If I remember, the good old days included fucking on the piano.” He nodded to Jacoby. “How ‘bout a quickie before we play?”
“Later.” Jacoby wrapped an arm around Parkur, snuggling his lover close. Juniper tickled the ivories with a tune Jacoby had never heard before. Her eyes closed and she leaned towards the keyboard.
Caught up in the music, Jacoby also closed his eyes. He breathed in the scent of Parkur’s aftershave. Words formed in his mind.
I remember the taste of your skin, the touch of your hand.
I can’t take our being apart.
I won’t make it without your love.
You both have my heart.
“What the hell is this?”
The sweet music stopped in a slur of contrasting notes. Jacoby opened his eyes and stared at the control room. Rhiannon glared from her position behind the glass. Her dark hair looked green in the diffused light.
“Is it just me, or does she look like Medusa?” Parkur snorted. “Nah, Medusa was probably cuter.”
Juniper smothered giggles behind both hands.
“This is my band,” Rhiannon growled. She pounded both fists on the glass and shouted into the mic. “Why are you here?”
Parkur stood and folded his arms. “We’re recording music for the new album. I believe this is called warming up.” He nodded his head. “You can dick with your techno pop shit next door.”
“So the buzz is true. You’re cutting me.”
Shrugging, Parkur sat back down. “You’ve been doing your own thing for two months now.”
Jacoby let go of Parkur. His stomach clenched. Something in the poison in Rhiannon’s words shook him deep into his core. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He inched towards Juniper.
Rhiannon stomped into the studio room. Her eyes narrowed to slits. “You want to be with him and her, huh? Not me.”
“Looks like,” Parkur snapped.
“If I knew you liked being slapped around and told what to do, I’d have been more persuasive.”
“Just a fucking minute.” Jacoby stepped towards Rhiannon. “Don’t pass judgement on what you don’t understand.”
Parkur put his hand in the air. “She’s right. She would’ve been more persuasive, and I’d have run away.”
“Oh please.” Rhiannon rolled her eyes and tapped her booted foot. “You’re a pussy with five o’clock shadow.”
“The problem is, Rhiannon, you only think about number one. Anyone else doesn’t mean shit.” Parkur stood toe to toe with his former band mate. “There isn’t room in RE for divas.”
“Really? Don’t go there, Parkur.” She circled around Jacoby and poked her finger into his chest. “I’ve seen what you do to your sweet little diva, Jacoby Binder. Beat the life out of him while the bitch watches. That’s fucking twisted.” Spittle flew from her lips. “Any idiot can beat someone, but it sure as shit doesn’t make your music better. It’s still wimpy, whiny shit.”
Jacoby wrapped his fingers around her bony wrist, stopping her actions. “Uh-huh. And you’re here interrupting the session…why?”
Wrenching her hand from Jacoby’s grasp, she turned her attention back to Parkur. “You’re supposed to be in a relationship with me. Kick these assholes to the kerb once and for all.”
“While Hank fucks you senseless? No way, babe. When you signed on to sing backing, you knew I wasn’t interested. This whole changing of the guard crap he’s plugging is a joke. The fans aren’t here for me or my music. They want your stuff. Tits, ass…and your lyrics about sex with your vampire lover.”
“How? He said…” She sank down onto a stool. “I’m a joke?” Rhiannon shook her head. “I mean, yeah, I’ve seen the ticket sales and the loot at the merchandise counter. I know the crowds, but…I won an award. I’m legit.”
“You need direction other than Hank’s hand stuffed in your pussy.” Juniper shrugged. “Someone had to say it.”
“She’s right.” Parkur began to pace. “Razrs Edge was never meant to be your launching pad. Get a couple of your pretty boy cronies, write songs about what you’re passionate about, and go out on your own. You’ve got the following.”
“You sound like a Hallmark card.” Rhiannon giggled. “With piercings and tats.”
“It’s my emo side hitting the forefront. Sue me.” Parkur put his hands in the air. “No, don’t. I can’t afford it right now.”
“Look, you have to pay your dues a little and learn the craft.” Jacoby widened his stance. “Don’t expect Hank to hand it to you—awards or not.”
“He’ll shit a brick.”
“Why?” Parkur stepped shoulder to shoulder with Jacoby. “He’ll still have his money-maker.”
“You’re all being nice to me. I don’t deserve it.” Her shoulder hitched in a small shrug. “Hank set this all up so we’d hate each other. I wish he hadn’t. I might be popular, but you three are off the charts. I’m—I’m sorry I’ve been a bitch.” She raked her blood red nails through her inky hair. “I’m going to take your advice. I’ve got a couple of good friends who would make a fantastic backing band.” A wide smile lit her face. “It’s time to give Lazer a call.”
“Lazer Reinhold?” Parkur clicked his tongue. “Good choice. You’ll have him eating out of your hand.”
“Then I’ve got my plan.” Rhiannon put one finger in the air. “Speaking of plans… Why don’t you three just record your comeback album and get it over with? Everyone wants the next Razrs Edge album…me included.” She snapped her fingers. “Get to work!” She span on her heel and strolled out of the studio.
“I didn’t see that coming.” Parkur turned. “Did you?”
“Spooky.” Juniper closed the lid on the piano keys. “Looks like it’s just the three of us again.”
“She’s warped, but she’s also right. We are off the charts. Together.” Parkur hoisted himself up onto the closed piano lid and grasped Jacoby’s hand. “I said it before and I’ll say it again. My life, the music, all of it wasn’t the same without you two.” He cupped Juniper’s jaw with his other hand. “It’s not run of the mill to be three, but it is our magic number.” He stared at the floor. “That’s why we’re here. I knew if I could convince you to record with me, then there’d be a chance you would save me.”
“Just for the music?” Jacoby turned away from Parkur. Blood pounded in his temples. Fear slithered through his veins.
“The music and the three of us—it’s one and the same.” Parkur spread his hand across Jacoby’s back. “Even if we only recorded for our own pleasure, I couldn’t do it without the people in my soul. I only wish you’d married me, Ju. But I understand and I’m glad you hooked up with him. I acted like an ass before I left.”
“We’ve saved each other.” Juniper tugged on Jacoby’s hand. “It’s time to heal and start again.”
Jacoby shook his head. Time to heal, time to move on… He rubbed his hand over his lips. The smile on his lips was real. Damn it felt good. He grabbed a handful of Parkur’s shirt and met him for a kiss. “Love you.”
“Oh, isn’t this the fucking after school special mome
nt of the year.” Hank sneered from his side of the glass. “You fuckers found a way to get back together. Well, fuck me.”
Parkur slipped down from his perch on the piano. “Hank.”
“Queer bastards.” Hank clenched the mic in a white-knuckled hand. “You want to be a cute little threesome?”
“Don’t do this, Hank.” Jacoby clenched his hand. “Don’t trash it like this.”
“I gave you the best years of my life and you go and replace me with some tight ass lawyer?” He tapped a semi-automatic Glock against the glass. “I don’t lose.” He narrowed his eyes and aimed the gun in Juniper’s direction. “Bitch gets it first.”
“Down,” Jacoby shouted and dove in front of Juniper. As he went down, he grabbed the back of Parkur’s shirt, pulling him to the ground and the tenuous safety behind the piano.
“Mother fucker.” The rest of Parkur’s words were blotted out by the thunder of gunfire.
Juniper curled into Jacoby’s arms. Her hands fisted in his shirt and her body trembled. “I’ll keep you safe, flower girl,” Jacoby murmured. “I won’t let anyone ever hurt you.”
“Bastard. I just had that fixed.” Parkur punched buttons on his phone. “Always ruining shit.”
Adrenaline flowed through Jacoby’s body. His brain couldn’t process the scene fast enough. His heart pounded as he scoped out the room. No windows. No extra doors. Fuck. Nothing to hide behind besides the damned piano. “He’s got us fucking cornered. What the hell do we do?”
“Cops are on the way.” Parkur scrubbed the back of his hand across his mouth. “I had bulletproof glass put in after we shattered the windows during one of Zero’s brawls with Gareth. If we stay put, we should be safer than someone being a hero.”
Fear shimmered in Juniper’s eyes. With each breath, she curled tighter against Jacoby. Parkur gave Jacoby a nod and scooted next to Juniper. He wrapped both arms around them, resting his head on Juniper’s shoulder. In the midst of the chaos, peace settled around Jacoby. They’d found the chance to heal and embraced it with open arms. They might not have forever together, but they had now.
“I love you, babe,” he murmured. Jacoby squeezed Parkur’s arm. “I love you, too.”
Something akin to astonishment shone in Parkur’s eyes. The tiniest smile curled the corners of his mouth.
“You all right?” a voice called out.
The smile on Parkur’s lips broadened. “Zero.”
“Parkur? Jac?” The door rattled and footsteps thunked across the floor. “Juniper?” Zero’s voice cracked and rose an octave. “There you are. Thank God.” He knelt next to Parkur. “I didn’t hear anything and… Y’all scared me. You okay?”
“Yeah.” Jacoby nodded. “What the fuck happened?”
“It’s heavy, man.” Zero shook his head and sank to his knees, the colour still missing from his face. “Hank offed himself in our studio.”
Parkur disengaged from Jacoby and Juniper. He clapped Zero on the back. “Cops should be here any moment.” Drawing a long breath and letting it out slowly, Parkur strode towards the control room. Blood and glass littered the floor. The acrid scent of gunpowder hung thick in the air. He crinkled his nose and peered around the doorway. A pair of legs lay sprawled on the tile.
Bile and the hamburger he’d had for lunch reversed course in Parkur’s stomach. Where Hank’s face had once been was nothing more than a disorganised mass of smeared blood and shattered bone. Parkur covered his mouth with his hands and turned away.
“It’s bad?” Jacoby asked. “He’s gone?”
Parkur shook his head once. “Dead.”
More footsteps pounded on the floor. The scratch of radios and the hum of voices split the silence. “Police.” A man in a navy suit coat strode towards the doorway. “I’m Detective Brennen. We’ll need to speak with all of the witnesses.”
“Sure,” Parkur mumbled.
With Juniper in his arms, Jacoby crossed the room and nodded to Parkur. “I’ll talk to the cops. Hold her. She’s scared to death.”
“Can’t say as I blame her.” Parkur gathered Juniper into an embrace and sat on the righted piano bench. “Sweet girl. No one will hurt us now.” He petted her hair. “No one will separate us.”
“It’s really over?”
Her voice came out ragged and mascara smeared down her pale cheeks. For one of the few times he remembered, she looked more like the girl he’d fallen in love with over fifteen years prior than the road-weary vixen who stood beside him on stage. Jacoby, strong and in control, reminded him of the man who’d stolen his heart nine years before. He’d thought he’d loved them then. But that didn’t begin to compare to how much he loved and adored them now.
“Yup. My studio’s a mess, but it can be fixed.” He wiped the tears from her face and kissed her forehead. “We’re together and nothing less than an act of God or nature will tear us apart. Got me?”
Juniper offered him a wobbly smile. “Did he destroy the recordings?”
Parkur threw his head back and laughed. “Of all the things to worry about.” He kissed her temple. “I’m glad you care. Hell, I’m fucking in love.”
On the other side of the room, Jacoby shook hands with the detective and stole a look at Parkur. He cocked his head.
“I heard what you said when you thought we were all done for.”
Parkur winked. “I love you, man. Yeah, I said it out loud and I’ll do it as many times as it takes, in front of anyone who’ll listen.”
“I see.” Jacoby nodded to the departing officer and started across the room. “It looks like we owe you more than just affection. Your bright idea saved our asses.”
“What?” Parkur frowned. Jacoby’s words weren’t exactly the declaration of requited love he’d expected.
“Your glass idea. The first bullet ricocheted. According to the officers, the bastard didn’t feel a thing. The other bullets were reflex actions.” Jacoby knelt down and wrapped his arms around the both of them. “But we’re safe.”
Juniper sat up and kissed Jacoby on the lips. “Thanks for grabbing me.” She patted Parkur’s cheek and kissed him as well. “Thanks for ducking. I wouldn’t have forgiven you for dying. We have an album to make and a life to start together. Us three.”
“We’ll have to find a place to record.” Jacoby grinned. “I see you have a studio. Might need a little TLC, but Ju and I know our way around tools and paint. We’ll work in exchange for recording time.”
“Hell no.” Parkur slithered out from under Juniper and stood. “You will not fucking work for me.” He forked both hands into his hair. “I make a declaration, pour my God damned heart out and you all think you’ll work for me?” He snorted and knelt down before them. “The Atrius is ours.”
“Ours?” Juniper and Jacoby asked in unison.
“Ours.” Parkur took Juniper’s hand. “Having the studio wasn’t some fucking indulgence. I bought it right before we split. Thought, you know, we could live here, fuck here, make music together—all under one roof.” He shrugged. “When you all were having the emo discussion the other day, I talked to Nate. He got the deed changed. All you have to do is sign. I planned to volley the idea at break time. Tell me you’ll at least think about it.”
Jacoby’s eyes widened. A broad grin twitched on his lips. “What do you think, Ju? Is he worth it?”
Juniper wiped her cheeks once more. She bobbed her head. “I don’t know. He’s been fickle in the past. But…” She blew out a breath, fluttering the lock of hair drooping over her forehead. “Juniper and Jacoby in the morning was good, but Jacoby-Parkur-Juniper all the time sounds perfect.”
Jacoby squeezed Parkur’s hand. “We’re a magic number.”
“Yes,” Parkur replied. “We are.”
About the Author
I always dreamt of writing the stories in my head. Tall, dark, and handsome heroes are my favourites, as long as he has an independent woman keeping him in line.
I earned a BA in education at Kent State University
and currently hold a Masters in Education with Nova Southeastern University.
I love NASCAR, romance, books in general, Ohio farmland, dirt racing, and my menagerie of animals.
Email: wendi.zwaduk@yahoo.com
Wendi Zwaduk loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.total-e-bound.com.
Also by Wendi Zwaduk
Learning How to Bend
Must Be Doing Something Right
My Immortal
You’ll Think of Me
Tangled Up
Careless Whisper
Ever Fallen In Love
RHAPSODY
Imari Jade
Dedication
This story is dedicated to all the women in the world who have ever wondered what it would be like to be with two men sexually, and to those brave enough to do it without worrying what society may think of them. And lastly to all the musical groups that have inspired me all my life and who continue to keep me focused while I write.
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
One on One: Hall and Oates
Out of Touch: Hall and Oates
Proud: TVX
YouTube: Google, Inc.
Sail On: Commodores
Boy Scout: Boy Scouts of America
Victoria’s Secret: Victoria’s Secret, Inc.
Chapter One
“You have to choose,” Axil Simmons told her.
Why should I? Bryanna Trosclair thought. It’s their problem, not mine.
“She’s not going to choose,” Collin Ripley, the falsetto-voiced lead singer of Simmer replied angrily.