AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I told you that’d get in the way,” I mumble against her lips as the tree clatters.
“And I told you to stop being such a fucking Scrooge! Also, I got my flight to Bristol, and so did Al. We’re flying out together. I talked to my mom and Abbie; they’re down to do an early Christmas with just them on the twentieth, so we can get to Bristol on the 23rd.”
“Brilliant. I told my Mum I’d fly out on the nineteenth if that’s okay. She needs some help with the house, and my dad’s getting old. I don’t want him climbing on a ladder and shattering a hip. The last thing we need is to spend Christmas in a fucking hospital.”
“That’s so sweet of you.”
I shrug, “I haven’t been home in years. I kind of owe her one.”
“I bet she appreciates it. I’ll watch Violet until I fly out, so you don’t have to board her for the whole week.”
“Lynds, you’re an angel.”
“It’s nothing. Besides, it’s the perfect excuse to escape my family if they get to be too much. I’ll give you one guess about who doesn’t believe in Christmas cookies,” Lyndsey says with an eyeroll.
“So, that’s still going on?”
“Oh, Vince, they’re engaged.”
“What?”
“He proposed in spin class.”
“I can’t decide if that’s cute or terrifying.”
“All I’m saying is, if you propose to me onstage, I will say no.”
“What makes you think I want to propose?” I tease, although flying out to my Mum’s place early is a bit of a double mission.
I plan on asking her if she still has her grandmother’s engagement ring. It wouldn’t be for a while, but I don’t know how much time my Mum has left, and she’s always joked that she wants to live long enough to see me finally stop fucking around and settle down.
Lyndsey rolls her eyes and kisses my temple, “I gotta go, but I’ll see you tonight, okay?” We’re not touring until Spring, so Lyndsey’s interviewing for an interim gig as a booking agent for a new club that just opened up in the Canyon.
“Good luck with your interview,” I say, giving her a good luck kiss.
“Thanks, babe,” she calls over her shoulder as she slips her shoes on.
I spend the rest of the afternoon writing and taking Violet for a long walk. I work best when I give myself breaks to wander and move.
By the time we loop back to my house, there’s a fully formed chorus in my brain. I unclip Violet’s leash and run up to my room, where my guitar and my notebook lay against the bed, and I quickly jot down the words before fucking around with the chords for the better part of an hour.
A few hours later, Lyndsey unlocks the front door while I’m in the kitchen, cracking open my third sparkling water of the day.
“Vince?” She calls. She walks into the kitchen and plops a white paper bag onto the counter.
“I got us sushi,” she says, kissing my cheek.
“Oh, that was nice of you! I’m starving.”
“Yeah, I thought we could celebrate since I got the job.” Lyndsey tries to be nonchalant, but a smile breaks across her face. I pick her up and spin her around, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss.
“Of course you fucking did! Who are you going to book?”
“I dunno yet. They gave the links to a couple of bands they’re deciding on for their New Year’s Eve show. We can listen tonight if you want. I’d love your feedback.”
“I’d love that!” I say as I open the bag, pulling out two containers of spicy tuna rolls and some miso soup.
Lyndsey grabs bowls from the kitchen cabinets and evenly distributes the soup into each one.
