Page 122 of Ember

“Haven’t seen these two so happy in ages,” Kinsey jerked his thumb at Rian and Ben.

I beamed. It was nice that it was obvious that I’d had an impact.

Ben juggled his taco and me and hit some buttons. The recording of Rian’s guitar and Kinsey’s vocals came through. All three men had a sudden intense look of concentration on their faces, and I could almost hear them blending the song together.

It sounded flatter and higher than songs usually did, probably because it lacked the finishing touches Ben would add in later.

It wasn’t bad, just rawer.

“What other instruments are going to be part of the song?” I asked, trying to mentally fill in the sound.

“Ben has graciously agreed to help with piano,” Kinsey said. “I was thinking this might be the first single if I can get the…” He gestured with his hand. “The bridge right. And we’ll have some bass added too.”

I listening to Kinsey sing about a relationship burning down. He had the same raw, emotional quality like many blues musicians. It felt like it could be a dive bar anthem.

Kinsey reached the part in the song where the bridge started, the lyrics breaking down as he sang, “We built this love just to burn it down, standing in flames like we don’t know the roof was caving in, the walls crumbling.”

Ben cycled through three different tracks as we ate, listening to Kinsey hit different notes for the bridge each time. The first version was high-pitched and forlorn, the second was lower and angry, and in the most recent he sounded like it was a plea.

Even without the other instruments, I could feel the power of the song. Rian tapped his hand in time with the beat, and Ben still had the same faraway expression.

“What made you write the song?” I asked.

Kinsey blinked, like he was coming out of a nap. “Uhhh, I had a really bad breakup.” He gave me a sheepish grin. “Sort of cliché.”

“Not cliché.” I shook my head at him. “It’s a universal feeling. I love the emotion.”

“If I could find the right…” He gestured with his hand, making his palm tip in a wave motion.

“Let’s just play together,” Rian suggested. “Sometimes it’s easier to work through the song without worrying about tracks.”

“Good idea.” Ben stirred. “I’ll play some piano.”

“Oooooh.” I perked up.

“That okay if I borrow your alpha?” Kinsey grinned at me. “I’ll bring him back.”

“Of course.” I clapped my hands. “My own personal concert. I should have brought a lighter.”

Rian laughed. “We play a lot of music at home.”

“You can sit in the booth with us if you’d like,” Kinsey said.

We finished eating and moved into the recording booth. Ben pushed some buttons, letting the other two know he was recording in case they actually produced something they wanted to keep.

Ben had a keyboard set up, and Rian went back to his guitar. Kinsey picked up his headphones and positioned himself so he was the third point of a triangle, facing Ben and Rian.

“Why does everyone wear headphones?” I took a seat on a soft bench along the wall. “Isn’t it hard to hear yourself?”

“It’s easier,” Rian said, holding his guitar. “I can also hear the backing track, so my mic doesn’t record the same thing twice.”

“Come here.” Ben gestured for me to come over, so I slid onto the bench. He pulled up his laptop and clicked some buttons. “This is how I control the tracks from inside the recording booth, by the way.”

I rubbed my hands together. “I love this behind-the-scenes look.”

“Doesn’t it take away the mystery?” Kinsey looked thoughtful.

“Just because you love it doesn’t mean it’s still not work.” I shrugged.

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