And they’re both gone.
Chapter 16
Tate
Iwatch them throughthe window, trekking up the grassy knoll towards the house until they’re out of sight, then I turn back towards Levi.
“What in the world got into you?”I snap, but he’s gone.He’s in the all-too-convenient soundproof booth, poking around.I should probably head back to the house too, but I don’t want to leave him in here by himself.I know he’s a big boy, but still...Plus, this place is awesome.I follow in after him, the door squeezing the air out as it closes.
“This is so cool.I wonder if us four are the only ones who know about it?”He looks over at me, expression painted with unmatched joy.A joy I haven’t seen in him since...actually, I’ve never seen him looking as happy as he does now.It’s palpable and consuming.I want to be mad.I should be mad at him.But seeing him in his element is nice.
“Do you want to put the headphones on and give it a try?”I ask, unhooking a pair from the wall and handing it to him.
“Nah, it's quiet enough.”He pauses with a far-out stare.“You wanna hear what I’ve got so far?”
“I would love to,” I say, and mean it, taking a seat on a stool in the corner.He takes the center stool, his feet still on the floor when he sits.He closes his eyes briefly, then he starts.
A couple lines in, I stop him, “Wait, pause for a second.”I hold up my hand.He looks startled but doesn’t protest.I drag my stool over until it just about collides with his.His knees bump into my shins as I take a seat.He looks down at them and then looks back at me.The column of his throat shifts beneath thin skin.He’s still in the same T-shirt and jeans from earlier with a ball cap twisted backwards on his head.His signature look.
“It feels like your pacing is off...”
“I know,” he says through a heavy breath, his shoulders folding inward with his exhale.
“Take a deep breath,” I say, surprised when he actually does.“All you need to do is slow it down.I feel like some of your twang will just naturally come through in your voice that way.”I consider something before asking, “Who is your favorite country singer?”I watch as his jaw ticks, but he plays along anyways.
“Hmm.Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Willie, Merle, George Jones...”
“Great.Channel any one of them.That will be your alter ego.”
He shoots me a skeptical look, one of his brows going into his hairline as his forehead bunches.
“Here, I’ll show you.”I pull my phone from my pocket, finding the lyrics online.“Alright.Follow me.”The warmth of his voice slides in with mine.It’s abrupt at first but after a few lines, we just blend and bend together so nicely.He continues to slow, working to match my pacing.
“That was perfect!”I say.“The chorus is next and we don’t want to lose the flattened vowels, but add the punch...ready?”
“Always.”And this time Levi leads, performing every word perfectly.I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun, and judging by the smile in his eyes, he’s having a good time too.
