Page 42

We sat on the beach as the rain soaked us. Feeling him in my arms as the rain fell was like the universe was giving us its blessing. Laughing and holding each other as the sky cried was a unique experience.

When the showers moved farther inland, we stood, wrung out our towels, and I took Jordan’s hand, leading him back to the house. It had been an incredible experience to share with him, but there were a lot of experiences I wanted us to have together.

Chapter Fifteen

JD

I sat on the stool next to Goldie as we listened to the playback for “Come Back,” our tribute song to our deceased bandmate, Hardy.

ComeBack

(verse)

Together we were magic

The days we ruled the sun

We walked the road together

And on the way we had some fun

Without your steady beatto guide us

We have lost our way

The time we had with you beside us

Will never fade away

(chorus)

Wewish you could come back

We really need you

We wish you could come back

We really love you

We wish you could come back

We really miss you

When the last chord faded, I glanced at my bandmates to see we were all in tears. How we’d gotten through the song without having to take a bawl break was a fucking miracle.

River slid off his guitar, resting it on the stand to his right. “I say we use it. It’s raw and emotional, which is what we want it to be, right?”

I glanced around, and everyone nodded, so who was I to rock the boat? “Okay. Let’s move on to—”

“—I have an announcement.” Arlo stood from the piano bench and stepped into the middle of the studio.

He turned to the control booth and motioned for Lerner to come into the studio, so they hurried inside, phone in hand. Goldie stepped over to Arlo, and the two of them got into a heated whisper-fight as though they were the only ones in the room.

I turned to River, who was busy texting as Skylar and Uncle Tony left the studio through the side door. Uncle Tony went outside to smoke, and Sky pulled his phone from his pocket and began texting, probably with Sandy, who hadn’t made the trip with him.

“What the hell is going on?” I shouted. It seemed as though I was the only one who wasn’t in on the plan, whatever the plan might be. I hated that feeling.

River shoved his phone into his pocket from where it was resting on the music stand. “I think Arlo and Goldie are going to finally tell us they’re a couple, but I can’t imagine why, because they fight like brothers.”