Page 63 of Love is a Drum Beat
Dax used a bite as an excuse not to respond right away. “You won’t owe me anything.”
She sighed. “Dax, I’m… difficult. I have been my whole life. Me being here… I know it’s upended your world. It’s okay for you to admit that.”
“Well, a few things have changed.”
“Do you remember when you barely spoke to me? Good times.”
“You were—are this pink-haired rocker who never lets anything get to her. And me… I’m a music nerd who never knows what to say unless I’m singing.”
“And now, look at us. We’re buddies. Who would have thought?”
Dax met her smile. If buddies was all he could have, he’d take it. He just wanted to be around Jo, to see things the way she did—with a brutal honesty and an intense loyalty.
They ate for a few moments in silence before Jo spoke again. “So, how was your day?”
Dax lifted one brow. “You want to know?”
“Sure. This is what buddies talk about, right?”
“It’s what married couples talk about over the dinner table.” His face heated. He couldn’t believe he’d just said that out loud.
She took a sip of her water, ignoring his comment. “It must have been a good day to be in the mood to eat wings.”
He smiled, thinking about the song he and Marco finished. That was what he loved. Creating songs from nothing, having a hand in every beat of music. “I finished a new song for the album.”
“Dax, that’s awesome! Do I get to hear it?”
“Definitely not.”
“What’s it about?”
Dax thought for a moment. He couldn’t tell her the truth, not yet. “Just life.”
“No song is ever about just life, but I’ll let that slide. I can’t wait to get back into the studio with Noah.”
Talking of resuming their real lives reminded Dax how temporary their situation was.
“Will you hang out with me for a while?” An uncharacteristic vulnerability rang in her voice. “We can watch a movie or something.”
He didn’t know if he’d ever be able to say no to her. His nod earned him another smile. “What movie?”
“You’re going to laugh at me.”
He met her gaze. “I won’t.”
“I want to watchMiracle.”
“The hockey movie?” He didn’t know she was a hockey fan. “Drew been rubbing off on you?”
“No. I don’t care about the hockey so much, but the story is uplifting. I think my kid likes sports because I’ve watchedsomany sports movies. Earlier today, I watchedWe Are Marshall.Talk about sad.”
“Jo Jackson, you continue to surprise me.” And he continued to surprise himself. He turned off the voice-activated lights as Jo found the movie. When he settled back on the bed, he marveled at how comfortable he felt. The barrier of his awkwardness no longer stood between them. Just like his music, being around Jo now gave him confidence.
The movie started, but he barely paid attention as he watched Jo, sneaking glances at her when she wasn’t looking.
But the smile on her lips told him she knew.
About halfway through the movie, Jo burrowed under the covers, her eyes sliding shut. That should have been Dax’s cue to leave, to gather their plates and take them to the kitchen.
