Page 97 of To Bring You Back
She rested her arm on the wall and supported her head. “What’s on your mind?”
A smile lifted the corner of his mouth. “I should be asking you. You’re the one sitting out here alone in the middle of the night.”
No, not so soon. She’d already hurt him enough. Why couldn’t she go along with him on this? See where romance took them?
God, how do I know for sure what You’re saying?
Crickets chirped, waves fell against the cliff, and aspen leaves shimmied, none of it whispering an answer. She skirted the subject. “Hardly feels like the middle of the night, since I slept until noon.”
He nodded.
She nudged his arm, hoping to get him to answer her question. He turned his head with more intense focus than she’d intended to draw.
She folded her hands in her lap. She could tell him she’d played, but then he’d want to hear, and she’d rather wait until she’d reclaimed more of her skill. Besides, what would trusting him with music say about their relationship? That she was as in as he was?
“Harper and Matt went out together, drinking,” he said.
Of course something new had happened with Harper. The development served as a reminder to keep her head, not get carried away. “You’re worried?”
“I called the police because I think she’s driving drunk. It’s in their hands and God’s now. I brought it up because you’ve had enough surprises. If their escapade turns into something, now you know.”
“Thanks.”
“Whatever happens, she’s not coming back here. Staff packed her bags and are keeping them at the gate to send her off when she arrives.”
“She won’t take that well.”
“She had warning.” He pulled his arms off the wall and crossed them over his chest. The movement was steady, more like a defense mechanism than a response to the cool air. “What’d you think of the songs?”
She’d loved them, loved everything about them. But telling him as much would be committing to a relationship she wasn’t sure was best. For either of them. He deserved someone who could give her whole heart with no lingering worries about navigating his world. “You can use them. I have an idea for a bass line for the phoenix one, but I can’t make it work.”
“Rusty?”
She nodded. She’d expected more of a reaction when she’d dropped the hint that she’d played again.
“It’ll come.”
She’d practiced, driven by the same conviction, but to hear him say it, low and calm and full of confidence, renewed her hope. “When Matt heard me work on it, he seemed relieved I’m not here to replace him.”
“Replace him?” Gannon scoffed. “He got it in his head today he was going to quit drugs, drinking, the whole nine yards. I knew there had to be a reason.”
“I was the reason? Then when he found out I wasn’t a threat …”
“He lost his motivation.” Gannon shook his head, clearly annoyed. “One of the high schoolers’ dads is a cop, isn’t he?” Arms still folded over his chest, he looked her way, annoyance fading. Points of light reflected off his eyes as he studied her, but not enough that she could lose herself in the color of his irises again.
It was probably better that way.
“Olivia’s dad, Joe Cullen. He showed up at the fire.”
“Matt and I had a run in with him after I left your house last night. Matt was about to get behind the wheel drunk, even with Cullen right there. I sent him home with my driver, took his car myself. He had drugs in there. The officer didn’t see, but he said he’d watch for the car in the future.” Gannon tightened his arms, biceps flexing. “I hope he does, because this needs to stop. Better with an arrest than an accident or an overdose.”
“Any of those could cause problems for the band, though.”
“Yeah, but an arrest is one of the best outcomes I can see for Matt. He was onto something when he mentioned replacing him. The next album is our last chance to make a mark before our contract is up. We need it to be the best it can be, and he hasn’t been his best in years. We should have someone waiting in the wings to take his place.” He slid her a loaded glance.
“Not me.” Playing with the band would mean spending so much time with Gannon that she’d never get the rest of her life in order. Besides … “You need someone better.”
“Nah. It’s bass. Doesn’t take that much skill to play the same three notes over and over.”
