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“No.” He jerked up his chin. “What about you?”
“I don’t play anything, and I don’t sing.” I shrugged, but it was probably obvious I wished otherwise. “Rachel has all the talent.”
“Can you play bass and keyboards at the same time?” Andy asked my sister, ignoring me.
However, I could feel Collin’s eyes on me. When I looked his way, his gaze was intense. He seemed to be trying to figure me out.
“I think so.” Rachel peeked under the sheet. “I’ve never tried.”
“Let’s do ‘The Chain,’” Andy said. “See how we do.”
“Need a drummer for that tune,” Rachel pointed out.
“I can clap the beat,” I said. I couldn’t play anything, but one thing I did have was rhythm.
“Cool.” Collin lifted his chin. “Start us out, Ears.”
Frowning at him, I began the song. I wasn’t fond of that nickname. It made me sound like a puppy. But as the band followed my beat, my frown became a smile.
They started out a little rough but soon found their groove. All three harmonized so seamlessly on vocals that I got chill bumps. Rachel and Andy played off each other on vocals. Collin seemed content just doing backup. Playing his guitar made him happy. Rachel held her own with the minimal keyboard interludes required.
When we ended the piece, no one spoke a word. Nothing needed to be said, except this.
“I know a drummer,” I said, and Rachel nodded enthusiastically. My best friend was only a sophomore and his home situation was shittier than ours, but he rocked on drums.
“Who?” Collin asked.
“Barry Evans,” I said, and for some reason, Collin’s eyes narrowed.
“Call him,” Andy said firmly.
“Not sure whose house he’s staying at this week,” I said.
Barry’s dad had died in prison. After a short stay with an aunt who had touched him inappropriately, something only I knew, Barry had been couch-surfing from one friend’s place to another.
“He works weekends like me. I can introduce you to him at school on Monday.”
Ipoked my head into the band hall. “Hey, Barry, are you in here?”
The lights were off in the front of the room, but on in the back where the percussion instruments were set up.
Barry walked out of the practice room. “Yeah, over here.”
My best friend cast a long shadow. Shooting up in height recently and putting on muscle mass, he was a lot to take in now. All the girls had their eyes on him, even ones much older. I gave myself a moment to appreciate the way he filled out his tight T-shirt and formfitting jeans.
“What’s up?” Tucking his sticks into his back pocket, he strolled toward me.
“You sure it’s okay for me to be in here?” I glanced around at the rows of empty chairs and stands.
“Yeah,” he said in that low, gravelly voice of his. The changes to his physique weren’t the only changes going on with him this year. “I told Asa I had somewhere to be, and to play my part at the pep rally.”
“You had a solo.” I frowned. “I’ll bet he was excited to have center stage on that piece.”
Barry shrugged, and I got a little light-headed at the sight of his muscles flexing. “You said you needed to talk to me about something important.” He raised a brow and reached for my hand. “Hello ... Earth to Addy. What is it?”
His earth-brown eyes dancing, he stroked his calloused thumb across the back of my hand. His touch made my skin tingle. I should be accustomed to that response since Barry was an affectionate guy and touched me a lot. But I wasn’t. It always seemed to catch me unaware.
But he’s only a friend. My best friend.
