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“After my parents were gone,” he said, “I rarely played guitar anymore. Mostly, I put on my headphones. In my room late at night, listening to my favorite tunes, I pulled apart the threads and analyzed each component. I liked coming up with different ways to put them back together.”
“It became something you could control,” Claire said.
And I’d bet she was right. It had been like that for me, I realized, one of the few things in my life I could control at that time.
Kyle nodded. “Yeah, like with numbers. I think there’s a best way, a logical way, to put the pieces together.”
Another fascinating bit of information I hadn’t known about Kyle that I picked up tonight by eavesdropping. Feeling a little guilty, I resumed filling the glass in front of me to the proper mark and slid it to the waiting customer.
“What about the heart aspect?” Claire asked Kyle.
“Music being feelings?” Kyle asked. “Music making me happy? Music being like air? Breathing? Life?”
“Yeah.” Claire nodded and gave him a look I caught. They were talking about some serious deep shit up there on that stage. It revealed that their closeness was about more than just physical chemistry.
“You gave that back to me, Claire.” Kyle moved closer to her. “Since you, I’ve started playing again with my heart engaged.”
Wow.
The way they communicated didn’t remind me of Collin and me. It was like Barry and me. Since he came back, I was enjoying music at the heart level too. No longer relegated to the corners of my mind, music was front and center again.
“Music is inside you, Kyle,” Claire said to him. “I’m glad you’ve rediscovered it again.”
“It was locked inside me, babe. You’re the key. The key to so many things for me.” He placed his hand on Claire’s shoulder and emotion filled his eyes. “A long time ago, I used to have a dream that I might be in a band someday. Get right the things my old man got wrong.”
Oh my God!My eyes widened.
Maybe more than hope was possible. Looking at them, listening to them, seeing this new generation coming together right before my eyes, I acknowledged that maybe dreams could come true, even in Southside.
Claire nodded approvingly. “And now here you are doing it.”
“Hereweare,” Kyle said meaningfully, and they both got glassy eyes.
I found myself blinking fast to stave off emotion of my own.
“Glad you got that back, man.” Tommy’s voice deepened. “Glad to be a part of something like this with both of you.”
They all exchanged glances, the vibe heavy.
My eyes filled. Blinking wasn’t cutting it.
“Us three against the world,” Kyle said firmly. “We have each other’s back, no matter what. We don’t sell out for anything. We’re friends first, and don’t mess that up like our parents did. You agree, yeah?”
“Yes, Kyle.” Claire nodded.
“Fuck yeah,” Tommy said.
“Don’t forget me.” Missy waved from a small table she’d dragged into position directly below the stage. “I’m part of this us-against-the-world shit too.”
I’d forgotten that Missy had come in during their rehearsal. I’d forgotten a lot of things, but watching them, it all came together in my mind. Togetherness was the key that ABCR had lacked.
“Of course you are,” Claire said, acknowledging Missy.
“Right.” Her friend cranked up her chin. “I’m the official president of the No Quarter fan club. I’m also the stylist for the band. Signing the contract right now.” She mimed writing in the air.
Claire rolled her eyes. “You’re the only fan in the club.”
“So, we agree?” Kyle asked, and everyone nodded. Casting a questioning glance around, he said, “What about the set list? Is seven covers okay?”
