Page 39 of Love is a Lyric
12
Ben
Reaching for his phone for the millionth time, Ben sighed. What had he been thinking, giving it to Piper? Melanie would freak if he didn’t answer her calls, not to mention the people from the label, people who expected him to be in Florida writing new songs right now.
They’d expect something soon, just the first song.
Quinn’s lyrics scrolled through his head. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking of them, of the feelings she was able to bring out in him with her words.
He scrubbed his wet hair with the towel before shrugging on one of the new shirts Piper bought him. How had she known exactly what he needed? The cotton was soft against his skin, a perfect fit.
He removed the tags from the rest of the clothes and bunched them in his arms, kicking the door open. Running down the stairs, he entered his mom’s prized laundry room. She’d built custom shelves over her front loaders. His mom spent her summers doing projects like this. The house was full of furniture she’d crafted or places she’d fixed whatever broke.
He dumped the clothes into the washer and reached for the soap as his gaze found the dials. Too many dials.
When was the last time he’d done laundry? He wasn’t like Quinn in asking Piper to do it. That wasn’t her job. But he’d used laundry services at various hotels and in L.A., he sent it out to get done.
“If you put all the new clothes in the same load, you’ll end up with dye bleeding into the white shirts.” His mom barely contained a laugh as she sidled up to him and bent to start removing the white undershirts from the washer. “I thought I taught you better than this.”
She had. As a teenager, his mom made sure he could take care of himself. Laundry. Cooking. When was the last time he cooked?
“It’s been a while, Mom.”
She shook her head. “If I wasn’t so darn proud of you, I’d whip your butt for forgetting how to be a normal adult.”
He’d never been a normal adult, going straight from college into instant fame. Adjusting his glasses, he peered closer at the dials. “Mom…”
She issued a dramatic sigh. “I take back that pride thing. You’re doing colors so put it on cold.”
He did as she said.
“Now, hit start.”
“Wait, that’s it? Then, why does it look so complicated.”
“Oh, my boy.” She slipped her arm through his and pulled him from the room. “It’s only complicated for those who’ve had their brain cells fried by rock-and-roll.”
“You sound eighty when you say that. You kids and your rock-and-roll!” He did his best to imitate the old man who used to teach history at his high school.
“All right, oh son of mine, you’ve been here for days. Don’t get me wrong, I am beyond happy to see you because you don’t visit your old momma enough, but I only know a little of what happened, just what Piper told Chase.”
“It never hit me before just how close those two are.” He glanced toward the window where he could see Piper sitting across the yard, her back against a tree and a pen poised above a notebook. “They’re closer than I’ve ever been with anyone.”
“That’s because we raised them together. While you were off in the land of frat parties, they were building forts and climbing trees.”
He’d never had that. Sure, Chase was his brother, but they were so apart in age, they’d been siblings but not playmates. He didn’t miss his mom’s comments about frat parties, but he’d let her have her fun. Yes, he’d joined a frat, but no he hadn’t spent every weekend raging.
“Benji, tell me about Quinn.”
He knew this was coming eventually, but the words still clogged in his throat. How was he supposed to admit he’d spent six years loving a woman who didn’t love him back?
“She and Conner…”
“I know that part.” She led him to the back deck and out onto the couch. “What I’m interested in is how it made you feel. How are you doing?”
That was a loaded question. In the moment everything happened, he’d felt alone in a foreign world, but since leaving Quinn and Conner behind, he realized the band wasn’t all he’d had. His family had been right here the whole time. And Piper… she came back for him too.
“I feel betrayed, Mom. Like I’ve been an idiot not to see what was happening right in front of my eyes.” So many memories had come back to him in the days since catching them together. Quinn’s constant flirting with any guy who could help their career. The cold way she’d look at him sometimes.
