Page 69

Jay gave her a rueful look. ‘Yeah. It’s not a big leap really. Rock band, and alcohol and drugs. But, uh, this was more depression and anxiety. Stress. Burnout, you know?’

‘I can imagine it would be very stressful if you’d just split up with your wife.’

Jay looked uncomfortable.

‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up.’ Frankie took a gulp of gin, aware everything she said was clumsy.

Jay smiled. ‘No, it’s nice you were looking out for my sobriety, but you’ve no need to worry on that front. I mean, we did a lot of partying at the start. It was all so new and exciting. Cole didn’t though, he’s always been a stickler for staying within the recommended weekly units of alcohol. Si went a bit too gung-ho on the partying, especially the drugs at one point and that’s when Cole began spouting health warnings on what cocaine and ecstasy and pretty much every other substance was doing to him and the associated elevated risks to his health. It kind of put a damper on the party atmosphere. And don’t even get me started on the STD facts Cole would lecture Si with. He even had pictorial evidence.’

‘Sounds… interesting!’

‘Yeah! But Cole probably saved Si from going down a rather dangerous rabbit hole with the drugs. And Si also promised to always use a condom.’

‘And you?’

‘Using condoms?’ Jay went even redder.

Frankie felt her face flame also. ‘I actually meant the drugs and partying, but you know, sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll and all that.’ She tried to appear nonplussed but Frankie didn’t want to know about Jay’s conquests. Her stomach felt hollow at the thought of how many groupies he’d slept with.

‘To be honest, apart from Si’s initial benders, the rest of us kept it quite tame. I mean, we weren’t saints but… we didn’t want anything to get in the way of writing and recording and performing. It was like we’d been given this chance and we didn’t want to waste it. And our schedule was so mental, we worked constantly. As well as all that, Arlo’s big into his fitness and meditation.’ He gave a little self-conscious laugh. ‘We sound so dull; a long way off the likes of Led Zeppelin or Mötley Crüe with their legendary antics. There were plenty of folk around offering us anything we wanted. But that made us all a bit more stubborn to ignore it. And, around that time, there was another band on our label just starting out, like us. We were on the same billing and after their set one of the guys overdosed. Died. That really brought it home. We didn’t want that being us.’

They sat for a moment, drinking their drinks, then Frankie asked, ‘And how are you feeling now?’

Jay gave a decisive nod. ‘I’m in a much better place. Taking time out was the best thing I could have done. It’s given me space and perspective. I had a lot of therapy. A lot. Coming back here has also helped.’ He looked at Frankie with such a raw intense look she had to drop her gaze.

She stabbed the slice of lime in her drink with her straw. ‘Well, you know you can talk to me if you need to. I’m no therapist, but I am your friend.’

She tried to put the emphasis on “friend”, although right now a whole host of other sensations coursed through Frankie’s body and they went quite beyond a chummy platonic relationship as Frankie could see Jay’s T-shirt was stretched over some well-defined pectorals too.

Jay’s phone vibrated on the table.

He looked at the message. ‘Si. Says he’s hungry. And thirsty.’ He put it back on the table without replying.

‘Do you think Cole and Si will stay long?’

‘I have no idea. I first thought they’d be a couple of days, but I’m starting to think they may never leave! I tried to persuade them to check into the Drumkeldy Arms but that didn’t go down well. Si’s enjoying tinkering around in my studio, even with its limited tech. He said the back-to-basics equipment has helped his creativity and that can strike at any hour of the day or night. And Cole hates hotels. It freaks him out to think of so many people having slept in the same bed over the years. He even bought himself a black light torch when we were on tour. You know?’

Frankie nodded. She’d read enough crime novels to know the sorts of stains and bodily fluids a black light showed up.

‘I suppose Cole has his camper van to sleep in.’

Jay gave a little chuckle and shook his head. ‘It’s far too cold for him.’

‘But where are they all sleeping?’ Frankie knew Ivy Cottage was a two-bedroomed house after the box room had been converted into the music studio.

‘Cole’s in Mum’s room and Si is sleeping on the sofa downstairs. I guess I’ll have to buy an inflatable mattress if Arlo comes up.’

‘Is that likely?’

Jay pulled a face. ‘I don’t know. I hope so. Apart from anything else, Arlo’s so much better at smoothing things over when Cole and Si start squabbling.’ His expression softened.

‘Well, if they’re still here on Thursday, bring them to my mince pie party.’

‘Oh God, I love them dearly, but I hope to hell they’ve gone by then!’ Jay flashed her a grin and Frankie felt her insides go a bit fluttery.

Jay dipped his index finger in a little drop of spilt Guinness and drew a circle on the table. ‘So, tell me about your Canine Cupids Christmas Club.’

And Frankie did, going into great descriptions of the dogs and their owners that were getting on well together.