Page 89 of Love is a Lyric
26
Ben
Making an album was never easy. Not when a label was breathing down your neck.
Not when there were more important things than music.
For the first time in Ben Evans’ life, he couldn’t let the music wipe away the thoughts threatening to drown him.
The white leather couch dipped as Conner sat next to Ben, a hesitant offering of peace. The two old friends had been dancing around each other in the three weeks since the band reconvened in L.A. They’d barely spoken as they pored over notes and lyrics trying to decide which of Quinn’s numerous songs she’d written would fit the tone of their newest album.
A tone they hadn’t decided on.
“You going to play that guitar or just stare at it?” Conner offered a tentative smile.
Ben didn’t want to hate his best friend, not anymore. He wanted to go back in time to when this band was his lifeline, the only thing that made sense to him, not the thing confusing him even more.
With a sigh, Ben set the guitar on the coffee table. “Just a lot on my mind.”
“Like your engagement to Quinn?” There was no hurt in his voice, only concern. Conner found out about the label’s marketing ploy the same way the rest of the world did—in that ambush of an interview. Ben hadn’t had time to explain it to his family, his brother… Piper.
And they’d all been busy in the weeks since. Or, at least, he wanted to believe that was why he hadn’t heard from any of them other than a few texts. It wasn’t something that could be explained over text.
The rumors about his cheating, the pictures of his kiss with Piper, had done more harm than he’d known.
He ran a hand through his hair and pushed out a breath. “So, we’re talking about this now?”
Conner shrugged. “Look, what I did… it wasn’t right, and I’m sorry. I wasn’t in a good place, but that’s no excuse. Quinn and I… we weren’t in love, only lonely.”
Lonely. Ben’s girlfriend had been lonely. “I’m sorry too. If I’d been a better friend to you both…”
“No, don’t do that. Don’t take the blame for our betrayal. Ben, you’re good in a way neither me nor Quinn can hope to live up to. This engagement… are you sure it’s what you want?”
No. He didn’t want it at all, but the label threatened to pull their deal. Some morality clause BS. A fact he hadn’t told anyone other than Quinn. “It has to be.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, desperate to talk to Conner like he used to, to share everything. Every thought. Every memory he couldn’t get out of his head.
“Do you really believe that? You don’t plan on actually getting married, do you?”
He hadn’t thought that far ahead. The fame ofFatewas in part due to the love story between the two leads that the world clamored for. A wedding would solidify the band’s standing. It would be a giant affair. “I don’t know.”
“She doesn’t love you.”
“Yeah.”
He paused, lowering his voice. “You don’t love her.”
A shiver raced up Ben’s spine as he buried his face in his hands. “I don’t know what to do.”
“I’m going to show you something." He pulled his phone out. “I know you and Quinn have been on your weird internet hiatus while in the songwriting cave she calls this big fancy loft, but a couple weeks ago, there was a video that went sort of viral.” He held out the phone.
Ben took it, his eyes trying to register the video on the screen. He recognized the pub right away. Tommy looked into the camera. “Okay, world, I need you to see a special girl. She doesn’t want fame or to be a singer, but she has the kind of talent you see few times in your life.” The video focused back on the empty stage.
“Ben?” Quinn walked into the room, and Ben paused the video. “I have a new—” She stopped when she caught sight of Ben and Conner side by side—a rare sight of late. “What are you guys doing?”
Conner grinned. “This is something you should see too.”
Skepticism flashed across her face, and she narrowed her eyes but didn’t argue as she sat on the other side of Ben.
“What is that place?” she asked.
