“Oh, it worked,” Gus agrees. He looks at us. “How did it feel?”
Jess is still bouncing on the balls of his feet and looking at the ground when he says, “That was insane,” like he’s lost in his thoughts. But when he looks at me, he grins and says, “We can’t go back to what we were doing. This feels right. Right?”
Without a doubt. “This feels right.”
Gus walks toward Keller, shifting his guitar to his back. Keller holds out his cell and says, “Goose bumps.”
Gus brushes his hand over the back of Keller’s forearm and laughs. “Holy shit, you do. You’ve officially passed the test, boys.”
Keller hands off the phone. “That’s lightning in a bottle.”
Gus is typing on his phone, but says, “Franco, remember when we recorded ‘Redemption’?”
Franco nods. “Yup, that’s exactly what it felt like.”
“Can you send me that video?” I ask.
“On it,” he says, and my phone vibrates in my pocket.
“Gus, you think Joe would let you guys play tomorrow night? Just a short set, unannounced?” Keller asks.
Gus glances up from his phone. “That would give the girls a chance to see them live in front of a crowd.”
Keller nods.
Gus looks over at us and tips his head in Keller’s direction. “That’s why he’s a professor with a PhD. He’s the smart one.”
Franco adds, “Joe never has live bands on Wednesdays, so the schedule should be open.”
“You guys up for playing a few songs with us tomorrow night at a little dive bar nearby? It’s where we got our start a century ago, and the owner is an old friend. I can give him a call now and set it up,” Gus offers.
I look at Jess and say, “I’m in,” without hesitation.
He nods. “Definitely.”
Gus makes a quick call, and in under a minute, we’re committed to playing a gig with Gus and Franco in less than twenty-four hours.
“I guess we’d better put a setlist together. What’s next?” Franco asks, twirling the stick in his right hand.
“You guys mind if I do one on my own? For Soph?” I ask.
“What are you thinking?” Franco asks.
When I tell them, Gus looks at Franco. “Scout fucking loves that song.” Then he looks at me. “I see you, Everton.”
Jess corrects him, “Evermore.”
Gus’s head draws back comically in surprise, and his eyes widen. “You’re shitting me? Your name’s Evermore?”
“Yeah.”
“Christ, that’s a great name,” Franco says.
“Raven. Nevermore. Evermore. That can’t be a coincidence?” Keller asks. I like him. He’s quiet and curious.
I smile. “Nope.”
He smiles too. “I love Poe.”
