“Yeah, it wasn’t too bad.” I rub the back of my neck. “Nothing like how we are on stage together.”
“Don’t forget about us when you’re famous,” he smirks. He always acts like I’d leave them behind. That’s not happening.
“And what is up with hanging out with one of them employees late last night?” Trey strums on the guitar strings and grins. “My sister said you had a pretty blonde in the truck with you when you went through the drive thru.”
“That was Lisa. She is one of the hosts at the bar.” What is with them being all in my business? They aren’t usually ones for town gossip. “And we’re friends. So, whatever you think you have to say…don’t.”
“It was just a question.” Trey holds his hands up. “We were just wondering if you finally found a girlfriend so you’ll stop writing sad, sappy shit. It’ll be nice playing something upbeat.”
“We have upbeat songs.” I don’t know why I’m arguing with this man. “Even if we were dating, I’d probably write more love songs. So, I don’t know how that would fix the problem.”
“He likes her,” Cash points a drum stick at me. “Who is this girl? I’ve only recently seen her at the bar.”
“She worked there last summer before leaving for a trip. Now she’s back.” Maybe giving them some information will keep them from asking more questions. Or even insinuating there’s something more than there is, no matter how much I wish that were true.
“I see,” Trey wiggles his eyebrows up and down. “I think someone has a crush.”
“Don’t start, Trey.” I roll my eyes. “She’s my sister’s best friend. That’s the only reason I know.” A small lie never hurt anyone. The less they know, the less can get back to my sister. Lisa wasn’t wrong about that. She’s never been great about sharing.
“Who is my best friend?” Delilah calls from the open garage door. It’s like talking about her summoned her.
Trey opens his mouth, but I speak before he has a chance. My sister doesn’t need to know Lisa and I went for a drive last night. “Lisa.”
“Oh, yeah,” she smiles. “She’s actually the reason I’m here.”
Shit. Did she say something to her? This can’t be good if she did. She doesn’t look mad. At least, I don’t think she does.
“What about her?” I think my voice went up an octave at the end of the question. I hurry over to the fridge along the back wall and grab a water. My desperate attempt to act like I’m only thirsty.
She steps further into the garage. “I want to throw her a welcome home party since she’s back for good. But I need some help?”
“Your friends at the bar can’t help?” There’s no way she actually thinks I’d have anything to offer. The one time my parents roped me into helping plan something special for Delilah’s birthday, I totally screwed it up. Normally, they combine our parties because we’re twins, but that particular year, they wanted to split them up. I get it. My friends didn’t exactly mesh with her and her friends. It was better all the way around, but I slipped about the party and my mom got mad.
“It’s an all hands on deck situation,” she points toward the fridge, “can you toss me a water?”
I do as she asks and grab her a water. Her personality now is completely different than when we were teens. Hell, even from a few months ago. Love looks good on her, and it’s someone who was a part of my inner circle which makes it even better.
“Between work, practice, and playing at the bar, I don’t know when I’ll have time.”
“Please, Dev.” She sets the water down and holds her hands together. “It would mean a lot to me, and I’m sure it’d mean a lot to her.”
Both of my band mates look at me and I shrug my shoulders. There’s no way she can know I was seeing Lisa last summer. We were careful. “If I have time, I’ll help.” That should appease her for now.
“Thanks, bro,” she throws her arms around my neck and hugs me, “you are the best.”
“If you say so.” She won’t think that if she finds out about my past with her. I wanted to talk to her about it, but not now. She’s happy, and I refuse to do anything to make my sister sad. Not after my last screw up. Maybe Lisa is right. I need to have a heart to heart with my sister. But not now. Not here with the audience we have.
“You’re playing tonight, right?” She eyes the three of us.
“Hell, yeah we are,” Trey pumps his fist in the air. “We are going to rock that stage.”
Delilah laughs and shakes her head. “Calm down. I know y’all will do great. Especially if you play the way you did on New Year’s Eve.”
“We can do that.” Cash hits the cymbal with the drum stick.
Ugh. She’s getting them all riled up. Now they’ll be insufferable while we practice for tonight’s set. She turns toward the door, and I call out her name.
“Del, are you working tonight?”
