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“He still writin’?”
“Hell, yeah,” Bullet smiled. “Every day.”
“What would it take to get him here?”
“Say the word.”
“Word.”
When the conversation between Ben and Bullet turned to music, Tucker got up and walked over to Blythe. Jace wanted to follow, but didn’t. He didn’t know jack shit about Bullet’s dad, or the band he was in, but for the time being, he was going to make it look like it was the most fascinating conversation in the world. Bree was watching him; he could feel her eyes on him.
“I’d love to get together with him and Mark. Shit, how awesome would that be?” Jace heard Ben say to Bullet.
“Cochran. That’s right, Mark Cochran was the lead singer of the band. I never put two and two together. Damn, my dad would be all over that. He loves that band.”
“From what I’ve heard from Mark, he’s always wanted to collaborate with your dad. He was Satin’s primary songwriter, right?”
“I’ve tried to pretend like I know what the hell you’re talking about, but I’m lost. Either one of you, willing to explain?”
Ben had the same look on his face Jace saw him get when he talked to his kids.
“Cochran and Satin were two of the biggest heavy metal bands of the seventies. Before your time, but what you don’t realize is Bullet’s dad and Bree’s dad are two of the greatest rock musicians and songwriters of their generation. I’d love to get in a room with the two of them and just watch. Bet it would be magic.”
“Well, hell, let’s do it,” said Bullet enthusiastically.
“Do what?” asked Lyric, sitting down next to Jace.
“Get your dad together with Mark Cochran,” Ben answered.
“Hell, yeah!” Lyric stood up and high-fived Ben.
Jace had never felt so out of a conversation he was physically in the middle of, so when Bree tapped him on the shoulder and asked if they could talk, he had two reasons for being the most relieved man in the room.
“What’s up?” he asked.
Bree had been watching him talk to everyone but her for the last hour, and she was annoyed.
“I told you I didn’t want you to feel as though you have to avoid me, Jace.”
“Wait. What? I’m not avoiding you.” He waved his arm around the dining hall. “We’re both here, with our families.”
“But it feels different.” She couldn’t look at him. If she did, her eyes would fill with tears.
“Hey, come here.” Jace put his arms around her.
She rested her head on his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist, and it felt so good.
Jace held on tight and breathed in the scent of her. He hoped it would be a long time before she pulled away. He never wanted to let go. He opened his eyes and saw Liv smiling at him from across the room, and smiled back.
Seeing her reminded him that he had to do this right with Bree, and that didn’t mean playing games. It meant giving her the space and time she needed.
Unfortunately, it was the game she was responding to, and he didn’t want that. He pulled away, but held on to her arms. Once he started this conversation, Bree was probably going to take it the wrong way. He needed to get her somewhere they could talk, or he could talk, and she’d have to listen.
“Let’s go for a ride,” he whispered.
She nodded and followed him out of the dining hall.
He opened the passenger door of his truck and put his hand on the curve of her back as she climbed in. He drove down the road to Billy and Renie’s place, and parked next to the house.
