Page 70 of Love is a Lyric
“Have a seat, Benji.” His mom offered her own seat as she took her plate to the sink.
“Wait.” Drew’s grin widened. “Did she just call you Benji?”
“I heard it.” Noah lifted a brow.
Jo only smirked, and Dax remained stoic as usual.
“Not a word,” Ben growled.
“Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it.” Drew winked. “Benji.”
Ben sighed. “What are you guys doing here anyway?”
Jo cleared her throat.
“And gal.” He threw her a wink. “Something happen with our baby?”
Piper sputtered, spitting mimosa on the table. Drew pounded on her back until she could breathe again.
Ben winced as he replayed the words in his mind and glanced at his parents. “I mean Jo’s baby.” He didn’t know how to explain how this group of rockstars no one knew was friends would be there for the enigmatic drummer. It wasn’t only because the baby’s father was a grade-A douchebag. They had each other’s backs.
“No.” Drew smirked. “He’s right. It’s our baby. Right, Joey?”
Jo’s face went three shades of red. “Um… whatever.”
Drew sniffed. “Our Joey is so eloquent.” He met Ben’s gaze. “But no, we’re not here for our baby. It’s cooking fine.”
“Don’t say cooking.” Dax shook his head.
Drew continued. “We’re here for our little Benji.” He released a dramatic sigh. “We dropped everything, flying thousands of miles despite super important obligations to come see you.”
Noah snorted. “What he means is that Drew had nothing on his calendar this week. I just got back from London and hated the thought of returning to L.A. right away, Jo is all emotional and needed us.”
“Am not,” she snapped.
“Don’t worry.” Drew shot her a smile. “We like emotional Jo. It’s much better than always-angry and silent Jo.”
Noah pointed to Dax. “And we never know what he’s up to.”
Dax shrugged.
Ben’s eyes skimmed the faces around the table. “So… you’re saying you flew to Ohio because you were all bored?”
“And you needed us. Did I leave that out?”
Jo reached out and smacked Drew upside the head.
Drew grimaced. “See? Emotional.”
“No, bro.” Noah laughed. “We all pretty much want to do that all the time.”
Ben, Noah, Jo, and Dax nodded in agreement.
Ben’s dad stood with a laugh. “Well, gents… and ladies, Ben’s mother and I are going to leave you to it. Ben, clean up this kitchen when you’re done.”
“Sure, Dad.”
Once they were gone, an uncomfortable silence fell over the table as the Rockstars Anonymous crew tried their hardest not to stare at Piper. That was when Ben knew. They said they were here for him—it was because of the picture and the media circus.
“Did Mel send you?” he asked no one in particular.
Piper jumped from her chair. “I’ll uh… I need to… bye.” She ran from the room.
Drew jerked his chin after her, his eyes meeting Ben’s. “Go.”
Ben sprinted after her, following her up the stairs and into her room. She knew he was there, he could see it in the tense set of her shoulders.
And as she turned to face him, her calm mask in place, every word he’d wanted to say failed him.
Because he knew in that moment, he was in love with Piper Hayes.
