tryout. Journey and your brother were messing around, working on the new single, and Saber heard them. Ted came in and acted like an asshole. Then everything else just clicked into place with the others like it was meant to be.”
“It’s not meant to be.” My stomach churned and bile rose to my throat. This would be as hard or harder to refuse for Cork than the surfing. “You know the problems he has.”
“I do know.” Ash’s features firmed. “But I also know you have to let him at least try this. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“He can’t, Ash. I want his life to go back to normal. I want him to have everything he had before.” My fingers curled into fists. “But he can’t. You and I both know he can’t.”
Ash shook his head. “I think he can do this. I truly do. With any other label, maybe not, but I love him and you. You’re like family. Saber’s your boyfriend. Journey and Cork are friends already. Being bandmates will just add to that. I promise that I’ll get someone we can both trust to go out with them, if and when they tour. Cork will be okay. It will be okay. Maybe better than that.”
I shook my head. This was too much. I just let Cork go surfing for the first time without me, and Ash wanted me to consider this? I couldn’t. I just couldn’t.
“Don’t be afraid, Lotus. Take a chance.”
“Ash, please. If you care about me, don’t ask me to do this.”
“I do care.” He covered my hands with his and squeezed. “Just listen. Watch him up there and keep an open mind. That’s all I ask.”
Feeling sick, I nodded. “Okay.”
Ash took a seat in an empty bar stool in front of me. He turned his gaze to the stage, and so did I, along with nearly everyone else in the bar.
It was OB Hardy. We all knew them. They were good, a local band with a local sound. I could almost smell the ocean and hear it when they played.
Tonight was different. Tonight, there was some of that but more—so much more that I was blown away. I’d heard the song they played before, and it had been solid.
But the song was at a whole other level now, and it was because of a bass groove. It was catchy, carefree, and compelling, which was my brother’s personality captured in a tune. There was also a complementary guitar riff that was serious and sexy at the same time, and that was all Journey.
Even Saber sounded different. His voice was better and stronger with the addition of Journey’s vocals. Shield had added more snare to the song, a subtle addition. It was unusual for him to do anything subtle, but he was now, and I liked it.
From the opening chords to the closing ones, I listened. OB Hardy was polished and professional, delivering the best performance I’d ever witnessed.
And my brother looked like he belonged with them. His grin wide, he looked happier than I’d seen him look in a long time. Stunned, I realized that Cork must have just been going through the motions before. Like my father when my mother left him. Like I’d been doing for a long time.
I knew then what had been missing for Cork. It had been missing for me too.
Hope.
Hope for a brighter and better day in front of him, rather than behind. Cork had found hope up there with a bunch of guys, and a place to fit in.
And then I knew.
I couldn’t tell him no.
Storm
I KEPT MY eye on Lotus as she watched her brother during the performance. Her thoughts and emotions scrolled clearly across her pretty face like a slideshow.
Surprise. Pride. Then fear, which was quickly smothered by a determined resignation.
I’d wanted to talk to her about Cork being in the band, but Ash had insisted on doing it himself. Had he gotten through to her?
Cork’s performance should have done it all on its own. He was an accomplished musician and a natural. He had a feel for the music, but more importantly, he had a passion for it like he did about surfing.
Lotus had to know that and had to let him do this. But she was afraid. She’d been afraid earlier to let him go with me without her supervision. I understood that because I understood her. She wasn’t hard to read when it came to her brother.
We ended our short