“So,” Zack said, pushing syrup around his pancakes, “song choices. You said you’re cool mixing classics with newer stuff?”
“Yeah,” I said, biting into the burger. I had to admit, the burger might actually be life-changing.
I continued, “I figured we open upbeat, then slow it down later. You’ve got great harmony control. We should use that.”
Zack blinked, surprised. “You really think so?”
“Of course,” I said without missing a beat. “I have a great ear.”
He ducked his head, pretending to focus on his food, but I caught the faint pink at his cheeks.
“Flattery will get you everywhere, Mark,” he finally said.
“Noted,” I answered.
We spent the next half hour tossing around song ideas, scribbling on napkins, humming snippets to each other. We clicked without even trying.
Zack and I had the same rhythm, same instincts.
The songs practically arranged themselves. When we finished, Zack leaned back, sipping his drink with a satisfied sigh.
“You know, we make a pretty good team,” Zack remarked.
“Guess so,” I said, grinning.
I hesitated, then decided to ask what had been nagging at me.
“So, uh… what happens if your other bandmates change their minds and want back in for New Year’s?”
Zack’s smile dimmed, but he didn’t look away. “They won’t.”
I frowned. “You sure?”
“Yeah.” He toyed with his fork. “They’ve got their own stuff going on. Noah’s spending the holidays with his mate’s family in Silvercrest. And Ethan’s head healer now, and between that and everything else, he barely has time to eat, let alone play gigs.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I get that. My brother Devon’s a healer too. Not exactly a job with set hours.”
Zack’s head tilted. “Oh right. I almost forgot Devon’s your brother.”
I laughed. “You know him?”
“Not personally, but Ethan talks about him all the time. Says Devon’s one of the most dedicated healers he knows and he’s such a great and patient mentor.”
That made me smile. Pride and affection swelled in my chest.
“Yeah, that sounds like him. He’s always been that way. When we were kids, he’d patch up anyone who got hurt. Us, strangers, whoever. Didn’t matter if it was a scraped knee or a broken heart. Devon had a fix,” I said.
Zack laughed, eyes warm. “Are you guys close?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Devon and Chris, especially. We were always getting into trouble. Once, Chris dared me to jump off the shed roof into a pile of leaves. Spoiler, the leaves didn’t help. Devonspent an hour scolding us while wrapping my ankle. Said next time, he’d put me in bubble wrap.”
Zack’s grin widened. “Sounds like a good brother.”
“The best,” I agreed.
The conversation drifted easily from there. Stories, songs, laughter that came easier with every minute. Zack’s walls were gone now.
The guarded, cautious guy from before was replaced by someone playful and open.
