Page 41 of Broken Chorus

“I wouldn’t count on another invitation to play with them anytime soon,” Cade remarked as Aaron picked himself up and fished around in his pocket for another joint. “It’s too bad too, you didn’t sound half bad tonight.”

Whirling, Aaron glared at him, stung by the implication that he wasn’t every damn bit as good as he’d worked his ass off to be.

“Thanks for fuckin’ up my night,” Aaron growled as the adrenaline crash began to hit.

“Pretty sure you managed that all on your own,” Declan said, wheels moving in Aaron’s direction. He did the only thing he could do at that point, which was turn tail and scurry off down the block. Wasn’t fast enough to avoid the echo of Declan’s parting words when he called Aaron aFuckin’ asshole.

Maybe he was, but he sure as hell hadn’t gone out of his way to be one tonight. Hell, he hadn’t gone out of his way to do anything but come down here and play.

And just look where that got you, his inner voice laughed. Yeah. Just look, indeed.

Chapter 10

Aimlessly Spinner Beneath Solar Lights

“So, tonight was the worse session yet, thanks for that,” Kelly griped as he and Aaron flopped on opposite deck chairs after Declan and Micah had taken off.

They’d cut the session short after Aaron had snapped a string, lost his temper and cussed his guitar out while he was restringing it, insulting the whole line of guitars, its makers, themanufacturers and even the folks at the string company when he realized he’d pulled the wrong one from the pack and had to start all over again.

Sighing, Aaron ran his fingers through his hair. “Thanks for making it my fault, again.”

“Because it is, and you know it.”

“It’s not deliberate.”

“I’m beginning to wonder about that.” Kelly admitted.

“Don’t, okay. I’m trying. I am. You could seriously help me ease up by not talking to Hawk about every disaster, real and imagined, that takes place when we play. It’s just creating more distance between us, which is the last thing I need right now.”

“Then what do you need?” Kelly asked.

“If I knew that, I’d have it by now,” Aaron admitted with another heavy sigh as he rolled onto his back to stare up at the stars overhead, a long sliver of light from the solar bulbs slashing across his face. “I’ve been working on something. Well, finishing it anyway. Hawk asked me to, only I don’t know, I’ve been playing with different chords, but nothing is vibing with the rest of it. I’m starting to think it’s a lost cause.”

“Why, because it’s requiring more effort than you want to put in?”

“It’s not about effort! I’m just not feeling it, okay? Not the sound, not the words, not any of it!.”

“Not okay. That tells me something is wrong that goes a hell of a lot deeper than what you can or cannot create.”

“No shit.”

“So talk to me,” Kelly insisted.

“Why? So you can judge me more?”

“I’m not judging you, dammit. I want to help if you’ll let me.”

Aaron let out a miserable sigh and flung one arm up to rest on his forehead. “Not sure anyone can help.”

“Is that you giving up?”

“No, that’s me being honest.”

“Okay, honesty is good. Let’s say you keep it up and tell me why you feel that way?” Kelly asked.

“What are you, playing shrink now?”

“Do you need me to?”

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