her head, her expression not confrontational but contemplative.
“I watch. I observe. It’s part of my loner nature, as Cork insightfully pointed out today.”
Her lips curved, but her gaze wasn’t on me. It was on her brother.
“He’s smart,” I said, pressing my point.
“He is.”
“And you gotta give him some credit for that.”
“But—”
“But nothing,” I said, cutting her off. “He’s got his whole life in front of him. You gotta let him see what he can do, not hold him back because of the things he can’t.”
Her brow furrowed. “The restrictions are to keep him safe.”
“Too many restrictions will stifle him. Cars and surfing, I agree those activities require supervision. But too many beyond that, and he’ll get frustrated. Like he did earlier when you almost didn’t let him go with me. He doesn’t need to be restricted from hanging out with a friend.”
As she searched my features, I held perfectly still, allowing her that time. I wasn’t in a hurry. I was perfectly content just to hold her.
“Maybe you’re right,” she said.
“I am right,” I said firmly.
“You seem to know something about it.” She tilted her head. “About having too many rules, I mean.”
“Not a big fan of rules. I think some are necessary, but not too many. Cork needs to have the freedom to make his own choices within the boundaries you set.”
“Like a trellis for a climbing vine,” she said. “The vine ultimately chooses where to go, but along the framework the gardener has set, since the gardener knows the best and safest places for it to grow.”
Giving that some thought, I nodded. “Something like that.”
“I can do that.”
“I know you can. You already do great with him, great with all the responsibilities you have.”
“Thank you.” Her expression softened, and I liked it a lot, her looking like that at me, her eyes warm and approving.
“You’re welcome. I’d better get going.” I reluctantly released her and lifted a finger in the air while walking toward Cork. “Let’s move out.” To Lotus, I said, “I’ll leave you your board, but we’ll take ours so we can do a little surfing later after the studio if we get an opportunity.”
“Not near the pier.” Her warm eyes went cold with icy fear.
“Not going to surf under the pier again.” Cork frowned, and I wondered how much of my conversation with his sister he’d heard.
Though he probably didn’t appreciate being referred to as a vine, I didn’t think it mattered. The conversation needed to be had. He was already chafing under her restrictions like I had underneath my old man’s. She would lose him entirely if she held on to him too tightly.
“Of course you wouldn’t,” she said. “I’m sorry I worry so much. You guys have a good time. I’ll see you later at the Deck Bar. Food and drinks on me, okay?”
“Sounds great, babe.” I scooped up my board, and Cork got his.
I could feel Lotus watching as we moved away on the worn path between the cliffs and the road, but I didn’t let on. I figured it was a growing process for both of them . . . him stretching his wings, and her letting him.
• • •
“You look like shit,” I said when Saber wandered into the studio an hour later than he’d told me to. Shield and Ted had yet to show.
“Hey, Cork.” My brother acknowledged him before he put his sunglasses on his head and fixed his red-rimmed gaze on me. “I don’t believe I asked your opinion about how I look.”
“Fair enough. Your business if you wanna stumble in hungover when we’re supposed to be working.” I shook my head in disgust. “But I don’t get it. All you have—huge-ass deal in hand, etc.” I didn’t specifically mention Lotus. I didn’t want to validate, let alone acknowledge his claim on her.
Stiffly, he moved toward his guitar. “I gave you a task—”
“We have a task,” I said, cutting in. “As a band.” This high-handedness of his was bullshit.
“Fair enough.” Saber threw his glasses on a side table, squinting as if the bright light streaming in from the large window hurt his eyes. Probably did. “Did you make any headway before I arrived.?” He dipped his gaze to my guitar, then Cork’s borrowed bass. “Or are you guys just fooling around?”
“Cork came up with a hook,” I said. “A killer one.”
“That’s great. Let me hear it.” Saber took a seat in a club chair and leaned forward, his elbows on his thighs.
“Okay. I guess I’m doing the