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“You mean like a month, right? Because I went to your New York City show. You were just too drunk to even know we spent the entire evening together.”
I cringed at the sharpness in his tone. “Whoops. Sorry, you know how the tour life goes.”
“Just one big party,” Eli grunted, and I could only imagine that he was shaking his head at me in that moment. “Like I said, one of these days, you’re going to have to settle yourself down before you end up dead.”
“Whoa,” I stopped him. “What the hell, Eli? I’m not doing anything that’s going to get me killed. I’m just having a little fun. It’s not a big deal. I’m only twenty-five years old. I’ve got plenty of time to settle down.”
“You do stupid shit when you drink.” His voice was flat. “You nearly fell when you climbed up the sound tower at the New York show.”
“Meh.” I shrugged. “I won’t do that again. I never realized how slick those speakers are. Turns out they’re not great for rock climbing…” My voice trailed off as there was only silence on the other end of the phone. “Yeah, I won’t do it again. I’ll try to be more careful…Dad.”
“Just looking out for you,” Eli muttered. “But seriously, just be careful—and I am planning a trip out there in a month or two, so maybe we can get together then. I really want you to meet Olivia.”
“Yeah, okay,” I said with sigh, my eyes dropping to my hand in my lap. “We might be taking a late summer tour, but I don’t know. It just depends on how things go. They’re really pushing for another album, but I’ve had bad writer’s block lately.”
Ever since that last show.
“That sucks, but maybe you just need to find a new muse. Maybe try to focus on something else for a change. I don’t know. I’m sure you’ll figure it out. I gotta go though, Olivia just got here.”
“Send her my condolences.”
“What? Why?”
“She’s gotta put up with you.”
“Ha ha. Love ya.”
“Right back at ya. Bye.” I ended the call and took a deep breath, dropping the phone to my lap so I could run my hands over my face—and let out a frustrated groan.
Maybe I do need a new muse.
I mulled over the thought, wondering what could possibly replace my inner-storm-themed lyrics. My eyes dropped to a text on my screen, and my heart stuttered. “Well, speak of the devil.” I swiped up on the phone and opened the message from Genna.
You’re going to Lena Harris’s class tonight at seven. Get ready. DO NOT BE LATE. I’m serious. Everyone is excited to see you there, so make sure you smile. Oh, and take an acoustic guitar. You’re going to play songs for the kids... APPROPRIATE ones.
I laughed at the message, liking the text and setting my phone down. Though, after a few moments, my chuckle faded.
I was going to have to spend the evening with the one woman who I disliked—yet fantasized about constantly. This was going to be interesting.
But maybe I’d just found a component for my next greatest hit.
7
LENA
“You want me to stay for the evening class?” I echoed what Melissa had just told me, the exhaustion already having set in from a long day of classes. “I thought Natalie always taught the evening summer music classes.”
Melissa shot me a gaudy smile. “Oh, trust me, you’re going to want to be present for this. Not to mention, you were specifically requested. It’ll be a wonderful evening. You might want to freshen up though.”
What the heck is wrong with her?
I blinked a couple of times. “Okay…”
“I just don’t want to ruin the surprise. It’s going to be a great evening, promise.” Melissa clapped her hands together and spun on her heels, heading for the door of my music classroom. She had seriously berated me for being late only hours ago, and now, she was telling me there was going to be a surprise.
Life is weird.
My shoulders slouched as I slipped out of the room and made my way to the bathroom. The music academy functioned as an actual accredited high school during the year, but in the summertime, they ran classes for all ages. Honestly, I loved the program.
