Page 30 of Lies and Lullabies
I cleared my throat. “You don’t seem lonely now.”
“Really?” His eyes fell to the towel. “I have the band, and as long as I keep writing hits, they love me. But I don’t make new friends. Actually, Kira, you’re the last new friend I ever made.”
“What? Why?” That didn’t make any sense to me. “A guy like you? You’re surrounded by people who love you.”
“That’s not how it works. I’m surrounded by people who want a piece of me, so they can brag about it to their friends. Or who want money. I’m telling you this to explain why I gave you the name John Smith the summer I met you. It was the best summer of my life. And I think about you all the time.” He raised his eyes to mine, and they were the color of a tropical sea.
I swallowed hard.Then why didn’t you answer my letter?The question was on the tip of my tongue, but I knew I wouldn’t ask. It would make me sound petty. Besides—ignoring my letter wasnothingcompared to my whopping sin of omission.
Just then, Ethan came around the corner of the lodge holding a picnic basket.
“Thanks, man,” Jonas said, reaching for the basket.
“You guys need anything else, just holler.”
Jonas opened the basket and peeked inside. “This looks great.”
“Don’t mention it. But…” Ethan pulled out his phone. “It’s almost ten past the hour. Jonas, your single is going to debut in a minute. I told the local station you’d call them after they played it.” He held up the phone.
Jonas shook his head. “No way, man. Not now. Besides, you can’t get a connection out here.”
Ethan squinted at the phone. “I’ve got four bars.”
“Really?” Jonas met my eyes. “There’s a signal here now? That’s just plain wrong.”
“Come on, dude,” Ethan argued, folding strong arms across his stomach. “It’s a two-minute phone call. They’re making a big deal about the single, which you want, right? Quinn’s setting up some speakers to blast it right now. I thought it would be fun. And then when the song ends, this phone is going to ring. It will be the producer.”
“Quinn thought it would befun,” Jonas repeated, sitting up quickly. “Hell, Ethan. Don’t play that shit right now. Tell Quinn that’s not cool…”
Even as he said it, the sound of a radio station could be heard from up on the deck. The low, even tones of the DJ’s voice floated on the breeze. “…brand new single from Hush Note, the first off their new album. And the title isSweetness.” A drumbeat faded in under the DJ’s last words.
Jonas’s jaw got tense. “Ethan, now is not the time. Please turn that shit off.”
Ethan gave an exasperated sigh and lumbered off toward the deck.
The song continued to play, a guitar riff coming in on top of the drumbeat, and after a moment, Jonas’ voice began to sing:
It was many years ago now
That summer was my saving grace
We were so much younger then
But I will not forget her face
Goosebumps beganto crawl up my spine. And then the chorus made my heart absolutely stutter.
Sweetness…
I let the good one get away
Wherever she is, I pray she’s okay
My only sweetness
Sweetness.That’s what Jonas used to callme.
Suddenly there didn’t seem to be enough oxygen on the beach. Maybe it was the song, or maybe it wasn’t. All I knew was that there was pressure in my chest, and there was no way I could sit still anymore.
