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He rolled his eyes, and as much affection as I had for him, the movement made me want to slap the back of his head. The disrespect.
“You got added to the creator’s fund, didn’t you?” I nodded but it was making a couple hundred dollars a month, even now that I was posting every day. “And you get paid to play shows?” I nodded, but those funds were split four ways. “And you’ve gotten offers to collab with bigger artists for more views?”
I sighed. “I see where you’re going with this, but it’s not enough to pay rent or take care of both of us in any significant way.”
“Well, I have a plan for that. I’ve actually been working on it for a few weeks, ironing out the details. I have a solution. We—”
“I’d love to hear this.” I flipped the chicken over with more force than it deserved, then I checked the rice cooker.
“I’m trying to tell you.” Jonah sneered, then straightened his back. I’d seen this pose. Every week he spent a few nights practicing speeches for debate or student council or some shit, and whenever he was in the zone, his entire demeanor straightened so much you’d think he had a stick up his ass. And I meant that in the most loving way possible.
“Sorry. Go on.” I twirled the spatula at him.
“The Devil’s Hands own the pizza place we ate at with the guys a few nights ago. They also own a biker shop, a bar downtown and a strip club. Now, I don’t think any of us should be going to their strip club and I don’t want Astrid there either,” he said through a grimace. “But Angel said they’d bring us on the payroll wherever we want to work. Decent pay, we make the hours. And…” He held up a finger as if the suspense was killing me.
It wasn’t.
“They want you to play at the bar and the pizza place. Between all that, we’ll be able to make enough for you to leave Tippy’s.” He shut his laptop and pushed it away. “If we stay in Colorado, that’s solid employment we can always count on. Astrid said she wants to get a job too and working with us would be perfect for her.”
Man, Jonah really had been putting thought into this. And these were good ideas, so good, they almost threatened to turn my fearful denial into brittle hope. I wanted to believe we could make it work. Shit, I wanted that so bad, but life experience taught me how painful it was to hope.
Then something else he said penetrated.
“Are you serious? I’m all for Astrid working to do something that she wants to do, but not working in one of those places.”
“Why not?” He jerked back as if affronted that I would disagree with him.
“Because Astrid is a people watcher. She prefers to exist on the edges of society. Waiting tables or playing hostess won’t be fun for Astrid. She’d either spill things on accident or bite their heads off when she realizes people are watching her.” I pulled the chicken off the burner, enjoying the heat while it was so chilly inside. Today was a cold day, with more than a foot of snow outside.
Cursing, Jonah got up to grab a couple plates and silverware. “You’re right. I forgot about her aversion to social situations. Let me talk to Angel about other jobs for her. But you have to admit, that’s a sound plan.”
“It is,” I hedged, searching for a hole but not coming up with anything of substance. It was just the fear of the unknown that really got to me. Tippy’s was comfortable. Regardless of Brady’s dickhead ways, I enjoyed the work and I’d always respected his dad.
“Beck.” Jonah’s hand landed on my shoulder, pulling me from my thoughts. “You’re talented. Devastatingly talented. You deserve all the success you can get, but the only way you’re going to get there is to take a chance. I’ve at least thought of all the angles to make the risk as mild as possible. Give this a shot,” he implored, a deep groove appearing between his brows as he watched me.
“I’m not saying no, but let me think about it, okay? This would change literally everything about our lives.”
His mouth pulled up into a smile so wide he resembled the Joker. “Great! I knew you’d see it my way. After dinner, we’re heading over to the compound. Angel and Graves are expecting us. They’re going to fill you in on the possible jobs, pay, and band gigs. Basically, reaffirm everything I’ve told you since you’re an untrusting bastard.”
I pushed at his chest, and he staggered back a few steps. It didn’t faze him or his wild happiness. Whatever.
Grabbing my plate and water, I left him standing in the small, outdated kitchen to eat in the living room. Let him have the table and do his work. With the way he attacked the keyboard I wouldn’t be able to relax anyway.
Jonah didn’t take the hint and joined him on the couch. “What are we watching?”
I glanced at the TV I hadn’t turned on yet, then back to him. “Nothing.”
“Yet,” he finished for me. He snagged the remote off of the coffee table and flipped through the channels. Eventually, he settled on a serial killer documentary about someone named the Judge. I’d never heard the name, but I had never been one to keep up with the news.
“I didn’t realize you were into crime shows.”
He set the remote back on the table and dug into his dinner. “I’m into everything that could provide solid information. It doesn’t matter if it’s about crime, science, or extraterrestrials, knowledge is power.”
Fondness warmed my chest. He was everything I wasn’t, and for some morbid reason, I loved it. Our differences meant he was actually going to make something of himself. Something to be proud of.
“That doesn’t surprise me at all.” I shook my head and finished off the rest of my dinner.
“You ever wonder what our lives would be like now if we would have grown up in the same house?” Jonah asked between bites of chicken.
