“Ry!”Lon scooped him up in a hug.“How’d it go?”
“Good,” he replied, hugging him back.He’d returned to Rosewood to tell his story about addiction, counting it as part of his treatment.The place always gave him peace.
“How was the drive?”Brand asked.
“Not bad,” he said.“Saw a gorgeous sunset.So, are we ready, or are they still tinkering?”
Over the past few months, Alex and Ry had transformed the basement, the thick, grey soundproofing panels lining the walls, a testament to their efforts to contain any errant notes.They were determined not to bethatkind of neighbor.
Brand rolled his eyes.“You would think that after all this time, it would be perfect.Alex asked for fifteen more minutes, but it’s probably for Ella’s sake.”
“She’s a much worse perfectionist.”Ry grabbed a glass from a nearby cabinet and poured himself some water.
Lon nodded.“So, how’s that song coming along?”
Ry smiled.“Got the lyrics and melody written.Alex didn’t give the notes to you?”
“Nope,” Brand chuckled.
He rolled his eyes.“Lemme go check on them and see if I can get you the music before we start.”
“Good thing we’re professionals,” Lon called after him.
He descended into the basement, the air growing cooler and carrying a faint, dusty scent.No sound came from the studio; no hum of equipment or murmur of voices broke the quiet.He tapped on the door to announce himself before pushing it open.
In the control room, Alex, headset on, glared at the computers and read-outs, barely glancing at him.He stood in front of the mixer, a blur of wires covering the back half to the window looking into the studio itself, with the soft lighting reflecting off the wood-paneled floors.
“Still not perfect,” he said, his voice quiet.“Got some bleed-through in the vocal booth.Ry’s here.”
His boyfriend lifted one side off to better hear him.
“Almost there?”Ry asked.
Alex shrugged.“Yeah, she’s been trying to find this stupid leak for the last twenty minutes, and it’s not even that bad.”
Ella, in the main studio, looked at the booth door, hands on her hips.She opened it and ran her fingers along the frame, but couldn’t quite reach the top, not having her brother’s height.She stormed into the control room.
“Hi, Ry,” she said, giving him a quick hug.“I swear it’s got all the right soundproofing, so no idea where the bleed is coming from.I don’t want muddy vocals cuz Lon likes to bang the drums louder than he should.”
Ry chuckled at that.“Maybe the vents?I asked the contractors to put some acoustic padding in there.”
Ella stared at him.“C’mon bro, let’s check that.Just in case they forgot something important.Again.”
“Sure, grab a flashlight and a screwdriver.Should be in the third drawer.”
She smacked him on the shoulder.“Fine, make your little sister do all the work.”
“I won’t fit!”Alex protested.
She stuck her tongue out, leaving the two of them alone for a moment.Ry closed the distance between him and his boyfriend, leaning up to kiss him hello.
“Lon and Brand are itching for the score,” Ry said.
“Ah, shit.I thought I’d give it to them earlier.”He searched the table, shuffling some papers around, and found the sheets they’d been working on for the last few weeks.“Must have gotten distracted.”
“I’ll take them up and entertain the boys, then.”
Passing Ella, Ry shut the door behind him and headed back to the kitchen.Lon and Brand laughed about something, but perked up when they saw what he was holding.He handed them each their own paper.
