Page 21 of Fallen Stars

Sucks about work. Band practice tonight.

Mind if I watch?

Fire licks my skin from head to toe. I fucking love when Levi watches me play, whether it’s with the band or solo in my houseor his. If only I were brave enough to tell him half the songs I write are centered around him or us.

Not at all. Same time as usual.

He reacts with a thumbs-up but doesn’t say anything else.

“Who ya chatting with, Ollie?” Skylar singsongs. “You look a little flush.”

I lock my phone, shove it in my pocket, and chug the last of my coffee. “No one.” I set the cup on my plate with my napkin and utensils and push it away. “Just wondering how long movie night will last before one of y’all starts making out.”

Skylar sets her fork down, her expression deadpan. “Really, Ollie. You were thinking of your friends making out? And blushing because of it?” She shakes her head. “Doubtful. But I’ll let it slide.” A wicked look takes over her face. “For now.”

“Whatever.” I rise from my stool and walk around the counter until I’m opposite her. Pointing at Skylar, I add, “No romance movies. Seriously. I’m not in the mood to watch you guys get handsy.”

I take my dishes to the dirty bin then return to wipe down the counter and put out a new place setting.

“Ollie?”

Tossing the rag in the water, I meet Skylar’s waiting stare. “Yeah?”

Her features soften. “Do we make you uncomfortable?” She waves a hand animatedly. “When all of us get together, I mean.”

Yes. No. Sort of.

I shake my head. “Of course not. I’m just giving you shit.”

The look on her face says she isn’t buying a single word. The corner of her mouth twitches, but she doesn’t smile. “Please tell us if we do.”

I swallow and shove down the emotion building in my chest. “Promise I will.”

“Love you, Ollie.”

Warmth wraps around me at her words and that she didn’t push the subject. “Love you too, Sky.”

Hair damp and clinging to my forehead, I slam my sticks down on the drums again and again. Trip plucks the strings of his base, occasionally leaning forward to belt out the chorus. A powerhouse as always, Hailey assaults the strings of her guitar as she bounces inches from her mic and belts out lyrics. Individually, our music sounds questionable. But once everything comes together, it is rock and roll perfection.

Our followers say it’s the quintessential blend of alternative and contemporary rock with a dash of classic.

As our last song for today’s practice starts, the side door of the garage opens. I falter a moment as Levi walks in with three large pizza boxes but quickly get back in my groove. And for the rest of the song, I keep my head down and focus on playing.

It isn’t long before the song ends and the hum of the amps fills the garage. As per usual, at the end of practice, Hailey, Trip, and I discuss what we loved and what needs work. We aren’t perfectionists by any means, but we also want to play music we are proud of.

Grabbing waters from the fridge, I join everyone on the couches facing our makeshift stage.

Initially, my parents weren’t keen on turning part of the garage into my band’s studio. But the more I played and loved music, the more willing my parents were to gift us the space. Especially after we struggled to find places to practice. Being anonly child, more often than not, I tend to get what I want. In the end, they agreed to let the band use the last bay of our three-car garage as long as we kept it clean and didn’t let our stuff drift into the other bays.

I hand Trip and Hailey water bottles before I take a seat next to Levi. Opening my water, I guzzle half the bottle then sigh in relief as my body cools. I twist the cap back in place and set the bottle on the floor between my feet.

Sweeping my sweaty hair off my forehead, I turn toward Levi. “Hey.”

Half a slice of pizza in one hand, he covers his mouth with the other. “Hey.” He finishes the bite in his mouth. “Good set?”

I shift my focus to the three boxes on the coffee table in front of us. After a quick mental game of eenie, meenie, miney mo, I grab a slice of veggie lovers and sit back. “Yeah. Still some shit we need to tweak, but we’re pretty solid otherwise.”

I shove the pizza in my mouth and moan when the salty cheese hits my tongue.

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