Page 104 of Follow the Rhythm
“Don’t worry, I got it,” Charlie said, smiling, and gestured with his phone. He’d recorded me playing. “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. You’re just very hot when you’re inspired.”
I laughed, delighted. “You’re quite the muse, darling,” I said, and pulled him from the chair over to the couch to show just how inspiring I found him.
Claire and Deb looked older than I remembered, diminished by grief like the rest of us. They stood as I entered Kieran’s apartment, Charlie next to me, and my heart ached thinking about the last time I’d seen them, just after Michael’s funeral.
Claire came to meet me and gave me a warm hug. Her scent was comforting and familiar.
“Hello, dear,” she said. “Don’t worry, Kieran’s told us you weren’t the one who leaked the album. I already knew, of course, but now we can skip that part.”
“I’m so sorry we didn’t tell you about the songs,” I said, looking down at her.
“Well, it’s water under the bridge now,” Deb said, appearing by my side.
“I have something else to tell you,” I said, but Kieran cut me off.
“Ellis, help me make everyone a cup of tea,” he said loudly.
“But -” I gestured to Claire and Deb.
“Now.” He jerked his head towards the kitchen. I followed him.
“You don’t need to tell them,” Kieran said under his breath when we got to the hob. “It’s not going to help anything. It’ll just bring up more pain.”
I gripped the countertop. “That feels like a cop out.”
“Do you think it’ll make them feel better?” Kieran said, his voice a rumble. “Knowing he manipulated you?”
“He didn’t,” I protested.
Kieran sighed. “He did, though, Ellis. And if I wasn’t already so pissed at him for leaving us, I’d be even angrier that he left you with this guilt.”
I wasn’t sure I agreed with his perspective, but I did agree that dredging everything up wasn’t productive. “You’re sure?”
“Jess and I agreed,” Kieran said, as if that made it final. I looked at Jess, talking to Claire and Charlie in the living room, and she met my eyes for a second, the expression full of meaning. And that was enough for me.
We brought mugs of tea out to everyone.
“Lovely, thank you, boys,” Claire said. “Now, what is it you had to tell us, Ellis?”
I froze.
“Does it by any chance have something to do with this handsome man you’ve brought with you?” Claire said with a sly smile.
I latched onto the lifeline and smiled. “I see Charlie’s already charmed you. He’s quite good at that.”
“That he is,” she said. “Jess also tells me you knew each other from school.”
“No embarrassing stories.” I pointed at Jess sternly. “I have a persona to maintain.”
Jess grinned. “Do you want to know about the time Ellis used Wite-out to paint his nails, and all his fingers swelled up like sausages? Or the time he tried to give himself a piercing on his -”
“Jesus Christ, Jess, not that one,” I shouted.
Charlie burst out laughing. “You’ll have to tell me about that later,” he said.
It felt strangely joyous, everyone together and sharing. But at some point, the conversation wound back around to Michael.
“What do you want us to do?” Kieran asked seriously. “We can ignore the speculation, but Charlie thinks that’ll just keep the conversation going.”
