“Alright.” She sighed and moved to the keyboard. “I’ll play it through one time, but I’m stopping if anyone laughs.”
Her jeans tugged tight across her ass as she took a seat. I swallowed and looked away, my eyes colliding with Dizzy’s narrowed, knowing gaze. I ran a hand through my hair, remembering his sobering warning to me: Unless you plan to tell War, you need to put a lid on those feelings, bro. If I’ve noticed how things are between you two, it won’t be long before War figures it out too.
I couldn’t bottle them up. My feelings had gotten way too strong to deny. If only War wasn’t always sending me in his place to smooth things over with her whenever they fought, which was all of the time and if only I hadn’t crossed the line with her on the beach the other day.
The first few notes of a somber cascade of sound reached my ears, demanding my attention. I turned to look at her. Lace’s eyes were closed. Her soprano voice was hesitant, but soft and get under your skin and give you goosebumps beautiful. Vaguely I noted that everyone else was still as statues and staring at her, too.
As soon as she started the lyrics, I knew immediately why she’d given me that look earlier. This song was about us. About hidden passion and a stolen kiss on the beach that had ended way too soon.
Too soon for both of us.
“Lace, do ‘Forbidden’, please.” Sager’s annoying whine brought my mind back to the present. His bass was thrown over his back, his elbows resting on the piano where Lace had taken a seat. “Please,” he said again, putting his hand over his heart and acting like a complete dork. “I love that song. It always gets to me.”
Lace shook her head, eyes sliding to me.
“Please Lace,” King begged, copying Sager as he moved over next to him.
“Oh, alright, just for you two.” Lace ran her fingers over the keys and tapped on the mic. “Test. Test.”
Then she sat back, poised her fingers over the keys, and began to play. Her voice sounded especially amazing over the arena’s sound system as her surprised expression registered. There’s a world of difference between singing in a garage and hearing your voice pumped out through one of these babies.
Straightening her shoulders, she continued. Her amber eyes took on a faraway look, and her voice, well… Holy fucking shit. It was strong, confident, and seductive as hell. The emotion she injected into the song sent a chill up my spine as I listened.
When she finished, I knew just like all the roadies and event staff that had gathered around to watch.
A talent like Lace Lowell’s was meant for center stage.
11
“Brilliant, Lace.”
I smiled absently acknowledging Dizzy’s praise. As the last note on the piano faded out, my mind was already fading too, back to that day on the beach with Bryan, and the kiss that inspired the song.
2 years ago
I peeked over at him as he walked beside me. His black hoodie was pulled back from his head, allowing the breeze to ruffle his long hair, sorting through the light brown strands like I wished I could do. He was staring out at the ocean. It sparkled like his eyes did, reflecting the last rays of the sunset. The waves spilled rhythmically onto the shore like gentle breaths.
I tried to focus on the soothing sound as I continued to watch him. What would he say when I told him? I wasn’t sure. That’s why I’d kept silent for so long. I decided to ease into it. “Have you given any more thought to my idea about a ballad?”
“Yeah, sure.” Bryan turned, his eyes resting on mine. “But I don’t know how the other guys are gonna respond. Have you and War talked about it?”
“He was less than enthusiastic.” I puffed out my chest and lowered my voice. “If you want more time at the center mic, Lace, you should just say so.” I completed my impersonation with one hand on my hip and a finger wag near Bryan’s face.
“Yeah. That sounds about right.” Bryan slanted a brow. “I have to say I don’t think it fits our image.”
“I disagree, Bry. Ballads are some of the biggest hits for your favorite bands. ‘Sweet Child of Mine’ is GNR’s only number one hit in fact. And what about ‘Nothing Else Matters’ for Metallica or ‘Home Sweet Home’ for Motley Crue or…”
“Ok, ok, Lace,” he said cutting me off.
“It’s what sells Bryan.” I pressed. “More women buy music than men.”
“Ok you write one then, and I promise I’ll back you up about it with the band and with War. Maybe together we can win them over.”
Together. Oh, yeah. I liked that idea. A lot.
My heart started pounding hard, and my palms got sweaty. No more stalling. Time to tell him how I felt. That I was in love with him…
Hopelessly.
Helplessly.
Heedlessly.
But I was terrified to say the words out loud.
Because although sometimes I thought he might feel the same when he looked at me with warmth in his eyes or when his touch lingered, there were plenty of other times, like right now when I just couldn’t read him.
And then there was War.
He and Bryan were so close. The bond they’d forged during their years together in middle school was real and strong and obvious to everyone.
And I loved War too. But it was so different with him. He didn’t make my heart pound out of my chest like Bryan did. Sure War listened to me, but Bryan seemed to really hear me and made me feel like my opinions were valuable. With War, and the other guys I’d dated before him, I always held a part of myself back. War never pushed to get past that barrier. More often he just ran over me. Deep down that made me wonder how much he really cared.
The longer I was with War, the more I found myself opening up to Bryan instead. Recognizing this, I’d pulled back from going all the way with War.
I wanted Bryan to be the one.
“Bryan,” I started, putting my hand on his arm.
“Lace,” he said at the same time.
“You first,” I said with a teasing ghost of a smile. Still afraid. Still unsure.
“Alright.” He sighed and stared back at the ocean. “I’ve got feelings for you.”
I froze and held my breath.
“Feelings I’ve got no right to have.” He shoved his hands deep into the front pockets of his jeans and finally looked at me. “War’s my best friend. We’ve gotta stop hanging out together. It’s wrong. I shouldn’t have let it go this far. We can’t do this anymore.”
I shook my head, blinking back the tears that burned my eyes.
No.
I turned and ran back the way we had come, too proud to cry in front of him. I heard his footsteps behind me. I sped up, glad to be wearing lace-ups instead of slip-ons. I couldn’t let him see me like this so I ran faster. I thought I was going to be able to get away when I made it to the stairs. I had my hand on the railing when he caught me.
“Lace.” Breathing hard, he grabbed my arm and spun me around.
My long hair slapped against my face stinging like a whip. “Let me go, Bry.” Stupid, stupid sand had slowed me down. “I heard you. Message received, loud and clear. I get it.” My voice sounded as raw and exposed as his words had made me feel.
“No you don’t, Lace. You didn’t give me a chance to finish.” He scrapped a hand through his windblown hair.
“So finish,” I countered harshly.
“You’re only sixteen…”
“Oh, and you’re such a man of the world because you just turned nineteen,” I interrupted sticking my chin out. “I love you. I’m old enough to know that much. And I’ll be seventeen next month, Bryan. I’m graduating early, same time as you. I’m not a child.”