Page 68 of Keep It

It’s fascinating to see Danny in this environment. I only really know what he’s like on set with people he’s only just started warming up to, and what he’s like with me. I know who he really is underneath and it makes my heart swell to watch him banter with Pip and Cassie.

“I just think—” Cassie starts before she’s interrupted by the buzzer.

“I’ll get it.” Pip jumps up quickly running from the room. “Wait,” I hear. “Anya, what do I do?”

I follow her with a laugh and see her holding the dated intercom phone with confusion.

I take it from her, “Bonsoir,quatreetagesi’lvousplait.” I place it back on the receiver.

“I wish I could speak French,” Pip says wistfully.

“I can teach you if you like.” I offer.

Pip grins. “It’s a date!”

The food arrives and we tuck in, eating out of foil cartons, not bothering with dishware. I would have thought this group would only eat off fine china and fancy silverware, but it all feels so…normal.

“How’s the album going?” Danny asks Cassie.

She groans. “It’s going somewhere. I was so sure I wanted to do this one on my own and now that I am, I realize why I’ve always worked with a bunch of people.”

“Have you finished any songs?” Pip asks, around a spring roll.

Cassie shrugs, “A few. There’s one in particular that is really pissing me off. I’ve got the gist, but can’t figure it out.”

“Maybe we can help,” Pip says. “We’ve had enough to drink that I’m sure we’ll be helpful.”

Cassie laughs and I pipe up. “I have a guitar. Danny plays it all the time.”

Pip and Cassie look at Danny so fast I’m surprised they don’t get whiplash. “He does?” Pip blinks owlishly.

Danny ducks his head. “Only a little.”

I furrow my brow. “You’re really good Danny.” It’s his sister, surely she’s heard him play before.

“I didn’t know you were playing again,” Pip says.

There’s a telltale blush on his cheeks. “It’s a uh,” – a glance at me – “recent thing.”

It dawns on me. Although Danny and Pip are close now, there’s a very big part of his life that he’s kept to himself. Until now.

“Well, let’s see,” Cassie says. “Maybe you’ll be able to pick up on what I’m missing.”

I glance at Danny trying to apologize with my eyes. His crinkle softly at the corners and I know I’m forgiven. I grab Claudette’s guitar and I hand it to Cassie.

She strums a tune and sings along, the lyrics sound disjointed even to my amateur ears. “And then I have this riff but no lyrics yet.” The tempo changes and she hums along.

I try to remain cool, but when the biggest pop star in the world is workshopping her newest song in my living room, it’s almost enough for me to pinch myself. I sit back resting my arm on the top of the couch and sipping my wine, hoping I’m portraying my nonexistent aloofness. I look at Danny. He’s leaning forward, staring intently at the guitar on Cassie’s lap as if he can see the sounds coming out of it.

He sits back and pinches his lip with his fingers. Sat on opposite sides of the couch, he catches my eye. I lean my head on my arm and smile at him as Pip and Cassie talk quietly over the gentle music she plays. I feel like I can read his mind.Should I?I smile at him. This is it.

He nods to himself and clears his throat. “May I?” Cassie stops playing and looks at him.

She hands the guitar over, and I watch as he settles it in his lap. “Sing what you have,” he tells Cassie.

She looks at me and I shrug.

Danny starts playing. I would have thought he’d seen the sheet music, but knowing this is Cassie’s demo, it’s impossible. He parrots the chords Cassie played earlier. Her surprise leads her to stumble on the first line, but she picks it up quickly. When it gets to the empty refrain, Danny opens his mouth.

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