Page 64 of Let Me Love You (Excess All Areas 5)

Ben picked up his guitar, a new Taylor 814ce. It was a beauty made from spruce, rosewood and mahogany with a sound so balanced and warm it gave him shivers when he played it. The low notes were so throaty. Perfect for what they were trying to achieve. “Okay, so I think we had the basics down last play through, but I think the drum might have been a bit busy with the pared-down guitars.”

Jase nodded. “I think so too. Although, it’s amazing the sounds you can get out of that thing.”

Luke rhythmically patted the Cajon. “Bass tones in the centre, snare tones that get higher in note the further to the corners you get. I prefer the use of the sixteenth note variations in this song to fill in the spaces. What do you think, Alex?”

“Normally, I’d agree, but if this is a pared-down acoustic version, they might have a point. It’s Jase’s song, though, so if he says it’s a bit much, it probably is.”

Ben played the first four bars, slap-strumming every fourth note. “I like the hard finish to the notes when I play it like that, might free up some space in the song a little, give it some room to breathe.”

Jase sang along, his voice failing to hit the high notes, making him cough. “This fucking throat. Anyway, I think I’ll sing it lighter too. Maybe I’ll drop the note down instead.”

“You mean, like this,” Ben said, playing the chords and singing Jase’s lyrics.

I’m waiting for, that mortal sign,

That I’m gonna screw it up again.

And so I wait and I kill time,

Wondering if I’ll fall in love again.

I try not to fall too fast,

But only think of her

I’m not ready I tell myself

But I can’t let her go ‘cos I think I’ve fallen.

Matt raised an eyebrow, and Jase looked at him funny. “I’d forgotten how well you sing,” Jase said.

He’d wondered when to tell them about his thoughts for the new album but now seemed like a good time. “I’d like to do more of it, I think. I enjoy it. Not necessarily front of stage stuff, but the harmonies.”

“Why don’t we do it on this one?” Jase asked. “It’ll help me hide the fact my voice is still shot. It won’t be back to full strength by the time we record this. You cool with that, Matt, seeing you usually sing back-up?”

Matt shrugged. “Yeah. I don’t mind one way or another.”

“Great, let’s play around with it.”

Two hours later, they stood to do one last play-through. He’d forgotten how good it was to just fuck around with instruments. To play without worrying about the audience or whether it sounded any good for that. And singing, focusing on the melody with Jase had cleared his mind.

“Nailed it,” Alex said when they finished. “I think we’re done.”

“Thank goodness for that,” a grumpy male voice yelled over the fence.

“Sorry, Dennis,” Jase yelled back as the others laughed.

Luke shook his head. “Fucking Manchester. Never lets you get too big for your boots.”

Ben began to place his guitar back in his case.

“Look who came for a visit,” Cerys said, holding on to Nan’s elbow as she led her into the family room.

Ben jumped out of his chair so Nan could have it, while Jase hugged her and then Cerys.

“I told Nan you were rehearsing, and she wanted to see you all.”

“Nan,” Alex said, falling to his knees by the chair and hugging her. “We missed you.”

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