“It’s boring.”
He snorts. “Nothing you do is boring. You’re fascinating.”
“Fascinating? Me? I think you’re confused.”
“Fascination is in the eye of the beholder.”
I strum my guitar. “This isn’t the best time to observe me. My song isn’t working out. I’m frustrated.”
He leans forward. “Play me what you have.”
I hesitate. I wasn’t being modest. The lyrics are seriously not working. I don’t want Gage to be disappointed in my songwriting abilities. I want to impress him.
I push those thoughts away. Impressing a man is not on my agenda today or any other day.
“Come on. I won’t make fun of you.”
“You better not. I might not be fast or as strong as you but I’m a smuggler. Revenge is my middle name.”
He feigns gulping in fear. “Understood.”
“You’re not going to leave, are you?”
“Not if you’re here.”
Those words cause my pulse to race again. Gage seriously wants to be with me. Boring me? Friends, I remind myself. We’re just friends.
“Laugh and you’ll spend the rest of the summer hairless with intestinal problems.”
He holds up his hands. “No laughing.”
I play the melody and start singing.
You said you’d stay, but you walked away
Left me standing in the same old place
I gave you everything I had to give
Guess love’s not enough to make you live
I stop after the verse. “Told you it’s not working.”
“I disagree. It’s good. Catchy.”
“No. It’s boring and generic.”
He drums his fingers on his thigh. “What now? How do you improve?”
“The words should be more emotional. Personal.”
Personal? Huh. A trickle of an idea taps at the back of my mind. I play the notes and hum while I let the idea ferment. I don’t push it. Trying to force the lyric out before it’s ready doesn’t work.
You said you’d stay but I didn’t ask you
No. Almost there but not quite.
You said you’d stay if I asked you to
