by Sarah Tipton
“OK.” How was he supposed to react to that? Quit and let Justin play in his place? They’d sound better without him than they did without Justin.
He looked across the stage. Chey stared at them, the nervousness from earlier replaced by confusion.
He wouldn’t quit and abandon her.
“But I’m trying to,” Justin added.
“Oh. Thanks.” That was good news, right? Maybe he should try apologizing again. No, maybe if they all stopped talking about it, they could move on. Except Zoey seemed to be telling half of Fairbanks about their big breakup.
Justin undid the latches and zippers and removed his blue and white electric guitar. Then he glanced up at the stage, his forehead bunching together. “What’s she doing up there?”
Sawyer tuned in to what Zoey was saying. “But it turns out that being a band isn’t just about music. It’s about relationships—friendships.”
“Yeah,” he heard himself say.
“You agree with her?” Justin looked more shocked by that than when Sawyer had apologized at Rhythm and Notes. “What happened to music being the only thing that mattered?”
Sawyer shrugged. “I was wrong.”
“You really like her, don’t you?”
“What? No.” He stepped back raising his hands, palms out. No need to go there again. “I told you it was a mistake.”
“Not Zoey.” Justin’s voice was sharp and angry at the reminder. “The new girl. Chey.”
“Oh, her.” He looked at Chey again. He felt something lighten inside him. Like helium filled his lungs. Or his heart.
She stared at her keyboard fingering the notes. She was here because of him, and he really hoped he didn’t mess things up and run her off again. “Yeah, maybe.”
A genuine grin cracked Justin’s face, and he met Sawyer’s gaze with that understanding look—the look that said he knew Sawyer better than Sawyer knew himself.
Maybe forgiveness and friendship were possible.
“C’mon.” Justin climbed onto the stage. “Let’s put the crowd out of their misery.”
Sawyer grabbed Justin’s amp and moved to plug it in. The missing piece was finally in place. They were a band again.
“And we’re all friends.” Zoey’s pathetic speech continued. “Well, except for my boyfriend, but who can blame him, since I dumped him three times in as many wee—”
“Sorry about that.” Justin marched up to the mic with the confidence of a rock star expecting cheers.
The crowd was silent. They’d probably fallen asleep listening to Zoey.
But she stared at Justin, mouth hanging open.
“My band mates here were covering for me, since I was late. Thanks for listening to all...that. Anyway, we’re...” Justin glanced at Zoey.
“Uh, You, Me and a CD?” she said.
“Really?” Justin shot Sawyer a look that said, after all the names you’ve shot down, you agreed to this one?
Sawyer shrugged. Yeah, it was lame, but if it brought the four of them together, he’d grow to like it.
“Well, I guess that’s us.” Justin faced the crowd again. “So let’s play.”
Justin, Zoey, and Chey eyed Sawyer waiting for his cue.
He raised his sticks into the air. They were all here, on a stage playing in front of strangers. Nothing could be better than this moment.
“One! Two! Three! Four!”
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