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Sydney takes a vicious bite of her nugget.
I wait three seconds.
“Did he reject you?”
She throws a fry at my head.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Cal
On Luca’s last full day in Mountain Springs, he’s lying upside down on my couch with his feet over the backrest, scrolling through his phone while I listen to the third demo we’ve finished this week.
Three demos in seven days.
Not rough voice notes or half-built ideas I’ll never open again. Actual outline of songs that could make the album. Bass, guitar, vocals and enough structure to send to Eli and Harrison without attaching a paragraph of excuses.
Luca came here claiming he needed the college experience, but most of his visit has been spent in this apartment with a bass across his lap, arguing with me about bridges.
The remaining portion appears to have been spent at Kappa.
“You should get tested,” I tell him.
He lowers his phone. “For what?”
“Everything.”
“I wrap up, brother.” He gives me a smug smile.
“Gross, but good.”
“Every time.” He puffs out his chest.
“That should be the norm, bro. Not something to be proud of.”
“Look, I’m reckless, not stupid.” He goes back to scrolling. “Those Kappa girls are fun, though. You should come over tonight.”
“Nah, I’m alright.”
“They have a hot tub.” He grins at me. “One of them gave me head in it last night.”
I stare at him. “And you think that makes me want to get into the water?”
He shrugs. “Just sayin’. It’s a good time. One of them keeps asking about you. She’s pretty cute.”
“Tell her I’m not interested.”
Luca twists his head to look at me. “Oh, right. I forgot.”
“Forgot what?”
His face rearranges itself into exaggerated tenderness.
“You’re in lurrrrve.”
“Shut up.”
“My little Cal has a girlfriend.”
