Page 75 of Resurrection
We didn’t do much. Sageview Ridge wasn’t a place of variety. We'd hang out at Ernie's mostly, but occasionally, we'd hit Palm Springs for some better food and a movie night in a proper airconditioned movie theater. We'd check out local museums and go on a hike when the weather permitted. When I had enough to buy tickets, we'd see a band or hit up a music festival.
Once, Naomi’s mom took us to Riverside to the amusement park. Pretending we weren’t a couple in front of Letty Medina was hard. Since we were minors, we couldn’t get into any casinos in the area, so we’d chill in the parking lot people-watching, debating how much money they’d lost as they left.
Naomi still hadn’t told Adri we were seeing each other, but I think the entire Coachella Valley knew Tyler Brady and the girl from The Gobbler were an item. We didn’t really hide it well. I didn’t want to. Neither did she, despite all that scary talk about her overprotective older brother.
Adri was barely home anyway.
"Remember, I can’t go with you this weekend," Dad said, biting into a piece of meatloaf. "I’ve got that job to finish up at the country club."
"Yeah." I nodded, tossing the food around on my plate with my fork. "Nobig deal. Jon’s dad will be there to help us with the gear." We had another gig this weekend. Got booked for some wedding in Desert Hot Springs. Someone from the bride’s side saw us live once, and they liked what we did. The groom’s family gave us a list of covers to prep, and me and the boys have been at it all month. A high school band playing a wedding wasn’t the norm, but we took this stuff seriously. After three years together, we were tight. Our setlist was good and our instruments sounded sharp.
"You’re bringing Naomi again?" Mom wondered casually while scooping mashed potatoes onto her plate. She seemed awfully interested in how much time we spent together. She probably knew it wasn’t just a friendship between two neighborhood kids anymore, but she never asked me outright, which suited me fine.
"If I need help with merch." I shrugged. "I don’t know if they’ll let us do it. It’s a wedding."
She smiled at my dad, and he just shook his head. I got the feeling they were reading my mind like it was the morning paper.
"Doesn’t hurt to ask, right?" Mom supplied.
I grunted out something, not wanting them to bring up Naomi anymore. It seemed that if I shared what she and I had been talking about all senior year, it would disappear. Yes, she’d have to tell her parents eventually. Because there wasn't much time left—four more months only until graduation. We'd be gone then. The only other thing I was looking forward to in the meantime was our birthdays. Mine was coming up in February and Naomi’s in March. We’d be both eighteen at prom. Which was great since I'd had plans for us.
Mom grabbed my plate and filled it with more food until I couldn’t see the bottom. It was her special way of making sure I didn’t starve to death before dessert.
"Mom, come on," I protested. "That’s too much."
"Oh, shush." She plopped another spoonful of potatoes. "Boys your age should have some meat on them. And you’re skin and bones."
It wasn’t true. I was fine. I lifted some weights and did cardio. I didn’t feel the need to look like some fancy puff roll. But mothers saw things differently, and changing Collette Brady’s mind was impossible.
"You two spend an awful lot of time 'studying' in the garage," Dad said all of sudden.
"What?" I looked up at him, wondering where that’d come from.
"I’m talking about the Medina girl."
"So?"
"You’re seventeen, Ty," Mom chimed in.
"I know."
"Have you thought it all through? Your plan after graduation?" she clarified.
Oh God. Not again. We’d discussed this last year. I didn’t want to have to repeat myself. "I told you. I’m going to LA to play music."
"Honey." Mom took a deep breath. "You’re very young. You can play music at any age. Going to college will be difficult later on if you change your mind."
"Have you seen my grades, guys?" I muttered, my gaze bouncing between them. "I suck at studying. The only thing I’m good at is the guitar."And kissing Naomi Medina. But I didn’t say that out loud.
My parents exchanged a dejected glance, like they were finally giving up on trying to influence my decision about my future.
"Did you tell that to Naomi?" Mom asked.
"What?"
"That you plan on going to LA."
"We talked about it. Yeah."
