Page 50 of Love is a Lyric
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Piper
“She didn’t break my heart. She broke my music.”
Somehow, Piper knew that was worse.
“I know, Mel.” Piper walked into the kitchen as Melanie continued talking in her ear. “I’m looking out for him.”
“You’re a good non-assistant.”
Piper grimaced at the thought she was only in Ohio, only helping Ben because she’d worked forFate. “Just a good friend.”
“Well, whatever you are, it got him to answer my call. I’ve been so worried. Everything is on the line forFate,and I’d hate to see them fall apart because of a little blip like this.”
“A blip? Quinn cheated on Ben. With Conner.”
“Yes, yes. I know, and it sucks. ButFateis a household name now, especially after the tour. People love them. This should be the best time in their lives, not the time for the lead singer to go sulk at Mom and Dad’s.”
Piper stopped at the window and stared out at Ben where he sat hunched over his guitar, the portrait of a hurting man.
She didn’t break my heart.
Those words shouldn’t have filled Piper with a hope she didn’t know she needed.
Melanie was still talking, but Piper couldn’t hear the words as she watched dark clouds build in the sky over the lonely man.
“It’s going to storm.” Jonathan glanced over from the sink as he dried a pan.
Piper couldn’t help feeling like the storm had already come.
“Are you listening to me?” Melanie snapped. “Piper?”
“What did you say?”
“I said you need to do whatever you can to get that man back to L.A., back toFate. He belongs with them. You get that, right?”
“Yeah, Mel.” She tore her eyes from the window. “I know exactly where he belongs.” Not on the peaceful property in Ohio with people who cared about him. Not with her.
“Great, because there are already rumors in the tabloids about a Fate split. I’ll work to dispel them. Quinn has new songs that need Ben’s music. If he’s going to be there, he can at least be working. I’ll send them to you tomorrow. Make sure he gets them.”
New songs, just as Conner said. “Did he agree to this?”
“Of course. Look, Pipes, I’ve got to go. Take care of our guy.”
“Will do.” She hung up and chanced one more look out the window. Ben hadn’t moved, but he’d talked to Melanie, agreed to write music for Quinn again.
Soon, he’d return toFate,and she’d leave for tour with Drew Stone.
She broke my music.
Piper couldn’t get those words out of her head. She knew more than anyone how important the music was to him because her lyrics were everything to her. They allowed her to make sense of the world, of her tragedies and triumphs.
They allowed her to see herself, to accept herself.
Jonathan offered her a smile, but he wasn’t who she needed advice from, neither was Julia. They were the perfect parents, and they’d been there for her, but they weren’t the parents she’d known for the first part of her life.
She stared into the dark clouds outside, wishing for some kind of answers.How do I help him, Mom?She closed her eyes.How do I help myself?
