Yeah, we'll be there.
I glance at Julian through the glass. "You and the boys free tonight? Drinks at Sonder."
"Have you met these lads? They're always free for drinks," he says.
There's a soft knock at the studio door.
I look up from the mixing board to see Nora standing in the doorway, hands clasped behind her back, avoiding eye contact in that way she does when she's nervous.
"Hey," she says softly. “Sorry to interrupt but I, um... I accidentally broke one of the cabinet handles. In the kitchen."
Julian immediately perks up in the booth, pulling off his headphones with obvious interest.
I raise an eyebrow at Nora, fighting back a smile.
"I'm really sorry. I don't know how it happened. I was justopening it and it kind of... came off in my hand." She's rambling now, guilt written all over her face. "I can replace it. Or pay for it. Or?—"
"Len." I cut her off gently. "It's fine. Accidents happen."
Julian pushes the talkback button, his voice coming through the speakers. "Wait, hold up. You're telling me someone actually broke something in Nate's precious cabins and he's not losing his mind?"
Nora's eyes widen slightly, a flush creeping up her neck.
I shoot Julian a look. "Don't you have a track to finish?"
"Track can wait." He's already coming out of the booth, guitar still strapped across his chest, that easy grin on his face. "Hi, I'm Julian or Thatch, if you prefer. You must be the Nora I've heard absolutely nothing about because this guy is emotionally constipated."
"Julian—" I warn.
"What? I'm just being polite and introducing myself because you seem to have forgotten how to.” He extends a hand to Nora, completely ignoring my glare. "Lead singer of The Row, professional pain in Nate's ass, occasional voice of reason."
Nora takes his hand, and despite her obvious embarrassment, the corner of her mouth twitches. "Nora. Professional cabinet-breaker, apparently."
"Hey, everyone's got a talent." Julian leans against the console, completely at ease. "Though between you and me, I think Nate's just going soft. Last week I spilled coffee on the mixing board and he looked like he was about to murder me."
"That was a forty-thousand-dollar mixing board," I point out.
"See? Soft. A year ago you would've actually murdered me." He turns back to Nora. "He's been in a weirdly good mood lately. Very suspicious."
Nora laughs—actually laughs—and the sound hits me somewhere in the chest.
I haven't heard her laugh like that in so long, unguarded andgenuine, and Julian's ridiculous charm is somehow pulling it out of her.
"So how long are you staying?" Julian asks. "Because if you're here through the weekend, we're playing Sonder Saturday night. You should come."
"Uh, yeah," Nora says, glancing at me briefly before looking back at Julian. "You guys are great. I'd love to hear you play live.”
"Oh thank you." Julian grins, then his expression shifts to something more sincere. "We have a pretty decent producer." He gestures at me with his thumb. “You know this guy, he saved my life. He?—"
"Julian—" I start, heat creeping up my neck.
"I'm serious." He looks at Nora, and there's no joke in his voice now. "He's the reason I'm not still sleeping on someone's couch and playing for beer money."
"Okay, that's enough. I don't think we need to bore her to death."
"You're too humble for your own good, Nathaniel." Julian's eyes meet mine, and there's gratitude there that makes my chest tight.
Then he turns back to Nora with that grin returning. "Anyway, point is, you're in good hands here. Even if you break all the cabinets."
