to stare, but my eyes didn’t listen to the stern warning. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the elegant and sexy bend where her neck met her collarbone. Her skin was a pretty golden color that set off her warm, golden eyes. She looked like she’d been dipped in honey, and this wasn’t the first time in my life that I wanted a taste.
“Both my folks had shitty childhoods. My grandparents on both sides are trash. The twins and I have never been allowed to have anything to do with them. I think when our parents were young, they really only had each other to rely on. They found family with each other because their real families let them down pretty consistently.”
“I guess that makes sense. Daire and I see our grandparents on my dad’s side all the time, but the ones on mom’s only like once or twice a year. They’re so uptight. It’s never a very good time.” I pulled my eyes off her bare skin and cleared my throat. “Don’t let me interrupt you. As you’ve so kindly reminded me, I wasn’t invited to stay here. I don’t want to get in your way or infringe on your time. You can keep practicing or whatever. I’ll play a game on my phone or something and stay out of your hair.”
She reached up and fiddled with the ends of her ponytail while averting her gaze. “Did you hear any of what I was playing?”
She seemed nervous, which was very much not like her, especially when it came to music.
“I caught the end of it.”
“What do you think? This is the first time I’ve written music with an actual band. It’s normally just me and a guitar. Having all the other instruments and the opinions of the other musicians is a whole different experience.” It was her turn to tap her fingers on the counter. “I always wanted to be in a band like my dad, but I guess I didn’t realize how challenging it could be.”
I lifted my chin a bit and looked down at her consideringly. “It sounded good. But I only heard your part. I think everything I’ve heard you play sounds pretty good. I’d have to hear the whole song or the whole band play to tell you if I liked it beyond your part. You’re very pretty and obnoxiously talented. You have that certain something that makes people want to watch you and listen to whatever you’re saying. You pull people in without trying. I don’t know why you need to be in a band. You could be successful all on your own.”
She seemed to be pondering the words when she had a lightbulb moment. Suddenly, she reached across the space, separating us, and grabbed my bicep.
“Come to practice with me the next time I go, if you’re still here. You can listen to a couple of songs and leave. You don’t have to stay long. I’ve had a few friends swing by to get their opinion, but I know you’ll be honest. You won’t be nice just to avoid hurting my feelings. Please, Ry. I really need the feedback before we start playing in front of big groups of people. We’ve had a few small gigs here and there, but we’re about to open for a pretty well-known local band at the end of the month. I don’t want to be embarrassed. I don’t want to stumble before I even get started.”
I was taken aback by the request. I had no idea she trusted me or my input that much. In the past, she always acted like she couldn’t care less about my opinion on any subject. Like when I told her I wasn’t sure hooking up was a good idea, she informed me that I was an idiot and refused to listen to my reasons.
“Sure. I’ll go with you and listen to your band. I wasn’t planning on heading home tomorrow anyway.”
She bounced up and down on her toes and clapped her hands together, looking happier than I’d seen her in a while.
I really hoped the rest of the band didn’t suck, because I didn’t want to stomp all over her dreams and enthusiasm. She already had a lot to hold against me. I didn’t want to stack the deck even more, not when it finally felt like some of the distance she’d forced between us had started to fade.
The last thing I wanted was for her to be out of