Page 5 of The Drummer's Heart

“Nicole, I think.”

“How come I’ve never seen her before?”

“She’s hot, right?” Julian blew out some smoke. “Cassius said they just moved back to Monksville. Her father had a job out of state, but now they’re back.”

I was afraid to ask. “How old is she?”

“You mean, is she eighteen?” He smirked.

At nineteen, I was the oldest of the group. Cassius was eighteen, and Julian sixteen. They were both still in high school while I’d graduated a year ago.

He shrugged. “I actually don’t know how old she is. I haven’t seen her at school, so maybe that’s a good sign?”

That didn’t mean anything. There were private high schools, including a prominent all-girls one the next town over that many of the girls from Monksville attended.

I threw the cigarette on the ground and stomped on it. “We should head back inside.”

The girl was sitting in the same spot when we returned to the basement. My eyes met hers for the first time. I nodded and smiled. Her cheeks immediately turned pink.

Damn.

Vowing not to be distracted, I did my best to focus on our next set. At one point, she got up and left, and I was actually relieved because I no longer had to give a shit about how I was playing. Ironically,shewas the distraction causing me to play like crap today.

Not long after she disappeared, though, Julian said he wanted to head home, and Cassius announced that he needed to study. So we ended for the day.

When I got to the top of the basement stairs, I wasn’t expecting to see his beautiful cousin sitting at the kitchen counter.

“Hi,” she said.

The sound of her gentle voice startled me. She hadn’t said anything all day.

“Hi.” I swallowed. “You’re still here…”

“I am. This is my uncle and aunt’s house. Not sure if you knew who I was.”

“Julian said you’re a cousin?”

“I’m Nicole.” She nodded. “Cassius’s dad and my mom are siblings.”

“Ah.” I cleared my throat. “I’m Atticus.”

“I know.” She smiled. “But it’s nice to meet you.”

“You, too.” I nodded, unsure what to do. I wanted to talk to her, but the whole thing made me nervous. What if Cassius came in and thought I was up to no good?

“You’re heading home?” she asked.

“Yup. Everyone bailed on me. Can’t exactly jam on my own.”

She stepped down off the stool. “I’ll walk you out.”

Um…“Okay.”

When we got to the front of the house, she asked, “Are you walking?”

“Yeah. I don’t live too far from here.”

“Where do you live?”

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