in a studio re-recording our first album with Bria singing.
I sang with her. Even put on a pretty good act onstage. But that’s all it was, an act. I even quit riding to and from the city with her.
But the truth is, I’m not sure if I’m avoiding her to validate my proclamation that we’re not together, or if it’s because I really don’t want to be with her.
Bria and I signed the addendum, along with the rest of the band, even though everyone knew it was meant just for us. We also signed something else that day, a three-year contract with Indica Record Label. Jeremy is introducing us to our label rep next week.
This should be the best week of my life. I glance over at Bria. So why isn’t it?
I screw up on the keyboard, and Garrett throws a drumstick across the barn floor. Everyone stops playing. “I’m so tired of this shit,” he says. “We all are.”
I walk over and flick his snare. “Like you’ve never missed a goddamn beat before. If I called you out on every one, we’d never get anything done around here.”
“You’re kidding me, right?” Garrett snaps. He turns to Liam and Brad. “Are you hearing this?”
“Crew,” Liam says, putting down his guitar.
“What?”
“Garrett’s right. The three of us are tired of this.”
“Tired of what exactly?” I say, like I don’t know what’s going to come out of his mouth next.
He motions between Bria and me. “You. Tiptoeing around each other because of the goddamn addendum. For the love of God, will you two just get over yourselves and fuck already?”
Bria’s jaw drops. I step forward, wanting to punch him. “What the hell, Liam?”
“I’m only saying what everyone else is thinking. Get over your shit and do something, because the two of you avoiding each other is not working. You sucked at our gigs last weekend. If Jeremy had been there, he’d have torn you each a new asshole.” He turns to Bria. “No disrespect.”
“Right,” she says dryly.
“We did not su—”
“Shut up and let me talk, Crew. This conversation is long overdue. You’re damn lucky you two recorded in separate booths at the studio, or that shit would have sucked, too. Whatever is going on with you affects all of us. We have four weeks before we go back to the studio to record our new stuff. Four weeks, and you’ve still got two more songs to write and three to complete. Not to mention the time it’ll take me to put them to music and for us to rehearse them. So yeah, go fuck—then write a song about it. Then fall in love and write a song about that. Then break up and write another fucking song. I don’t care as long as you both get over this shit and do your damn jobs.”
Bria sits on the couch. “Maybe my joining the band was a mistake.”
Garrett hops off his stool. “It wasn’t. We’re ten times better than before. This is going to work. You need to figure out how that’s going to happen.”
I pick up the mic. “Stopping in the middle of rehearsal is not going to help.”
Liam turns off the amps. “We’re finished with rehearsal.”
“We’re not even halfway through,” I say.
“We’re done until you finish the songs.” He goes to the door with Garrett and Brad. “Do whatever you have to do to make that happen, and don’t come back until then.” He gives Bria a sharp look. “That goes for you, too.”
“What about work?” Crew asks.
“Leave that to me,” Liam says. “Dirk knows the band is what’s important.”
“Seriously?” Bria says as they leave. “Are you tough-loving us?”
Liam looks guilty. He knows this is my fault. Everyone here knows that.
I narrow my eyes at her. “Tough-loving us?”
“Cutting us off until we do what they want.”
I sit on the chair across from Bria and let my head fall back. “Fuck!” I shout into the rafters.
“What do we do?” she asks.
“We write the damn songs.”
“You realize that means spending time together. Lots of time. A car ride to the city isn’t enough.”
“I know.” I try to think of a solution that will work. “I guess we could go to my place.”
She shakes her head. “We’re talking ten- or twelve-hour days, Crew. Liam’s right. We have to finish. I’m not about to sleep on your couch. You’ll have to come to the city.”
“We can’t work at my mom’s place. My stepdad works from home.”
“We’ll use my apartment then. You can sleep at your mom’s. It’ll