I lean in and whisper,
“Try not to embarrass us.”
There’s awe in his eyes.
And a whole lot ofwhat the fuck.
I feel it, but I pretend I don’t. Same way I pretend not to notice how his eyes are holding me tight, and the way I pretend I don’t feel the start of a new story being written across my bones.
“Alright, Madame President of the Useless Aerosmith Trivia Club,” he amuses. “Lemme hit you with a real one… Out of all the songs, whyAngel?”He tips his chin at me. “That one’s usually not in people’s top ten.”
“Would it be a cop-out if I saidjust ‘cause?”
“Yeah. And it can’t be only for the intro.”
I pause before pulling back, rewinding.
“Nah. You don’t get the deep shit this early.”
“Deep shit?” he says, eyes lit up, a wicked grin hooking at the corner. “Nah, nope. Don’t tease me with‘the deep shit’,then walk it back. Now you have to tell me.”
I reach behind me for my coffee.
“Oh, Ihave to, huh?”
He leans in, like he’s letting me in on a secret. “We’re in it now. No way out,” he says, our gaze tangled up. Then his voice slows— “Thing is, I'll get it outta you. You'll tell me whyAngel, and whatever you say? It’ll tell me exactly who you are.”
He shrugs. “Might as well skip the mystery and get there now. Saves time.”
My smile stretches.
I should keep it light.
But it’s fucking Aerosmith.
You don’t skim Aerosmith. You drown in it.
“Alright. I’m only saying this
“because it’s Aerosmith.
“Not ‘cause you earned it,” I say. “They deserve honesty.”
Andrew grins. “More. They deserve more.” His hand cuts the air. “No half-volume. No half-feeling.”
Okay. He gets it.
“It’s my soul song,” I finally say.
But the expression he’s wearing says those four words aren’t enough.
“You know those songs that don’t take you back, they just… take you out?”
He doesn’t answer, waiting for me to continue.
“It’s this ache I can’t trace. Like the song’s pulling it outta me. It hurts. Almost as if… I lost something before it was ever mine. And the songknows. It remembers for me.”
Yeahhh.Let’s bleed gibberish all over the floor.
