Page 39 of One More Song

“Play what?” Dusky asks, coming into the kitchen, tousling her hair before walking to the coffee pot. He’s a natural with Cadence, and it turns out he grew up with lots of siblings. Synn, Saint, and Ash enter the kitchen as if on cue. The six of us have fallen into a morning routine. The guys start practice right after I take Cadence to the bus each day and wrap up their work about the time she gets home.

“Pizza and board game tonight?” Cadence says, her voice full of hope looking at the world-class rock band as if they are members of her extended family. “Or Pictionary. What about Pictionary?”

“I love ‘em, lass. I’m in.” Dusky’s smiles causes one to break out across my own face. It feels so good to see my little girl so happy, it’s all I’ve ever wanted for her.

“Sounds great,” Saint says, offering her a high five.

“I don’t know,” Synn says with an exaggerated frown. “I’m not that great of an artist.”

Cadence takes his comment utterly seriously. “Oh, I’m not either, Synn. Not like my mom. She’s the best at drawing, in the whole wide world, but we just have to do our best. That’s enough, Mom says so at least.”

“You’re an artist?” Saint asks, turning to me in surprise. I meet Ash’s eyes for a split second, realizing he is the only person in this room who has seen my sketches. While the guys practice during the day, I usually find myself slipping to my bedroom, letting my mind go and my hand move to the music the band makes in the living room.

“I wouldn’t say artist.” I busy myself with pouring another cup of coffee. “I like to sketch house plants. Nothing fancy.”

“House plants?” Synn lifts his eyebrows.

“It’s silly, but you know that coloring book craze a few years back? I quickly realized I didn’t like coloring within the lines, so I started drawing the first thing I saw. It was a bright green succulent sitting on this very kitchen counter. I realized it was really relaxing so I went with it.”

“She’s really good,” Ash says. “You should show the guys.”

I feel my cheeks redden and I try to laugh off the suggestion. I am nowhere near ready to show these talented men my drawings. “How about I show off my skills tonight at Pictionary?”

“If it’s showing off skills we’re after,” Ash says. “Can I make the pizzas?”

Cadence’s eyes grow big as saucers. “You can make pizza?”

“Yeah, but I’ll need some help.” He twists his lips, acting like he isn’t sure who to ask. “Not sure if I can find anyone,” he says, looking right at her.

“Oh, I can help! I even have an apron!” Cadence’s eyes are so bright I swear the kitchen collectively melts. Which is saying something for these rough and wild guys.

“Perfect,” Ash says. “It’s a date.”

* * *

I step into the kitchen with a smile, my heart so warm at witnessing this unlikely pair. Ash has Cadence in a fit of giggles, and they are both covered in flour. Pizza dough is spread on cookie sheets and they are adding cheese and pepperoni to the pies.

“No moms in the kitchen ’til dinner!” Cadence says, waving me away.

“Wow, bossy,” I say with a laugh. “But I was just getting myself a glass of wine, then I’ll be out of your way.”

Ash’s eyes meet mine and warmth runs up my spine. He found me in the garden this afternoon during the band’s lunch break and told me there was only one thing he wanted.

“What’s that?” I’d asked, garden gloves on, a spade in hand.

“To make you come tonight. Over and over again.”

I’d wanted him to take me then and there, but Saint called for him from the back porch; their break was over.

My mind has been distracted for the last several hours .... because every time I see Ash, all I can think about is his tongue running up and down my slit.

Even now, I feel hot thinking about it. I reach for the white wine in the fridge, needing to cool off instead of warm back up. After pouring myself a glass, I lift it as I walk out of the house to the back yard. “I could get used to this, you know,” I say playfully to Ash and Cadence. “Having in-house chefs isn’t too shabby!”

They laugh and I close the door behind me, moving to a lounge chair and taking my phone from my pocket. I call Millie, having missed her the last few days. Her family took a long weekend trip to the coast, and I miss my girlfriend time.

“Hey,” she says, picking up right away. “How’s it going with all the testosterone in the house?”

I fill her in on the last few days, even sneakily taking a photo through the window of Ash and Cadence in the kitchen together.

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