We’re seated side by side on the sofa, our legs touching, but there’s no sexual tension. She’s a friend. Heads bent over our notes, the sides of our heads are nearly touching as we inch closer together, humming in harmony, striving for the perfect pitch. It sounds fantastic. Finally, we’re making progress with the melody of the song—the lyrics, not so much. And as weharmonize, our closeness increases, melding our musical genius into something magical. I’m lost in the sound, and my heart flutters with the beautiful melody we’re creating.
“Hey, guys,” Lunar calls out.
There’s a sternness to her voice I haven’t heard before, prompting me to look up. The harsh glare she’s sending our way makes me shift away from Effa, a sudden realization dawning that our closeness must look suspicious.
Dammit!
I stand, walk to Lunar, and press my lips to hers a little too enthusiastically, hoping to alleviate her concerns. I know Lunar is wary of the friendship Effa and I share, perhaps due to the similarities between Effa and Ella, but Lunar has nothing to worry about. Effa and I connect solely on a platonic and musical level—nothing more.
Lunar giggles and pulls back. “What’s gotten into you?”
I lift my shoulders into a shrug before speaking, “We’ve been more productive today. Gotten a few more lyrics down and more of the tune.”
“Oh, you did? Amazing! Can I hear?” she asks excitedly.
“Sure,” Effa says.
“No!” I blurt out in a hurry.
Lunar looks at me, her brow furrowing in confusion. She takes in a deep breath and swallows hard. “Okay…” She exhales, seeming to accept my response.
I rub the back of my neck. “It’s not that I don’t want you to hear it, Lunar. It’s just that I want it to be the best it can be when you finally hear it.”
She purses her lips. “Why? It’s not like it’s about me or anything?”
Her words cut me deep and make me feel like everything I worked on today was for nothing. “No, I wouldn’t write about you,” I reply.
Effa looks at me and winces, then she stands. “I’m gonna go. Good work today. I look forward to breaking down some more walls with you,” Effa says.
Lunar scoffs under her breath, but I don’t miss it.
“Thanks, Effa, you’re a great help.”
“Bye, Lunar,” Effa offers nicely, and Lunar simply waves Effa off as she walks out the hotel door.
Taking a deep breath, Lunar looks at me and stiffens her stance, folding her arms over her chest and tilting to one side. “I’m gone for two hours, and you guys are practically all over each other?”
“I’m sorry… what?”
“I walk in, and you’re against each other, heads practically touching, bodies aligned in every way. You’re half-naked, too, by the way. How am I supposed to take this?”
I snort out a laugh. “Well, for starters, we were harmonizing when you walked in… you know, matching pitch. If you bothered to learn anything about my world, you’d understand that singers must get in sync with each other, Lunar. It doesn’t just magically happen. And secondly, you should try some trust. Like I trust you.”
“Right, so if you saw me like that with a half-naked Nate, you’d be fine?”
“No, I wouldnotbe fine because he’s purposely trying to find a way to break us up. But maybe you’re gonna do that all by yourself.”
She stops, her eyes welling with tears. “You wanna break up?”
“No, I don’t. Lunar, Effa, and I are friends. That’s it.”
“You better bloody swear!”
My cock strains in my shorts, and I smirk. My chest swells in appreciation for my woman. “Fuck! I love it when you go all Aussie bogan on me.”
She laughs, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Why is your shirt off?”
“Because it’s February in Australia.”
