Page 28 of Midnight Dissonance

“You want me to play for you.” It couldn’t be that simple.

“Private show. You show me yours, and I’ll show you mine.”

“We’re still talking about music.”

“There are many kinds, are there not? Lovemaking is just another form of music. The sighs and moans, the slaps of flesh, the grunts and groans. It’s still music, just of another flavor.”

He had her there.

She assembled the grilled cheeses, pondering his statement. There were two for him, considering he was twice her size, and she was betting the pot had made him extra hungry. And then one for her because it had been a long night, and he was right. After a show, she was always hungry.

“I’ll get us some drinks. What would you prefer?” he asked, sliding off his stool and heading toward the stainless steel fridge.

“Do you have any tea with lemon and honey?” She wanted to take care of her vocal cords.

“Aye, lass, that I can do.”

They moved around his kitchen like they had been doing it for years instead of it being the first time. She served up the grilled cheeses while the tea steeped. And they lit into the sandwiches with relish.

Josh didn’t speak again until he had devoured the first one. “That was bloody amazing. I never would have thought it would taste good, but wow.”

“I know. It’s one of my favorites. Although at home, I usually add blackberry jam, not fig jam, but it really works.”

“So it’s white cheddar, goat cheese, sautéed onions, and fig jam?”

“Yep. I’m just glad you had all the ingredients on hand.”

“And if I hadn’t?”

“You would at least have had bread, butter, and some form of cheese. I would have made it work.” She shrugged.

“I’m sure you would have.” He demolished the second sandwich, slower than the first, but was no less enthusiastic about it.

When she finished her sandwich, she sat with her tea and realized she liked him. And not only in a he’s hot and bangable type of way. She liked him, liked him. And she didn’t know how to handle that newest bit of information.

“Are you going to play for me?”

She debated. “One song. And then it’s time to put you to bed.”

His eyes were already beginning to droop heavily. It was the pot. After the high, his body was shutting down, needing sleep more than anything else.

She rose from her spot and started putting dishes in the sink.

“Don’t worry about those. They can be taken care of later. I want to hear you play for me.”

“All right.” She did it because she still felt bad about getting him high without telling him before he ate that the chocolate was laced with THC.

He followed her into the living room. She took her guitar out of the case and sat on the edge of the couch. She tested the strings, ensuring they were each still in tune.

“This is a song we haven’t sung yet. I’m still playing with some of the lyrics. But this is Wake Me.”

She strummed the first chord and lifted her voice for the ballad.

Just wake me in the morning. Cause I don’t want to sleep without you here.

You’ve caught me in your trap. I’m locked up in you. Tied up in knots. Waiting for you to leave me.

So please just wake me in the morning. Cause I want to make sure this is real. And that I’m not dreaming.

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