A Song For Us (Fallen Tuesday Book Two) (A Brothers of Rock Novel) (9 page)

“I couldn’t do that,” Carina said.
“Not with your band.”

“Then can you at least do me one
thing?”

“If it involves the bed…”

“There are plenty things that
involve the bed,” Gray said. “But this isn’t one. I want to know what you want
out of it all. What you want from the music. From life. There’s something
hiding in there, Carina. I know it. I can sense it.”

“Right now I want you to hold me
before you leave,” Carina said.

Gray couldn’t pass that up. He
wrapped his arms tight around her. Her head felt so good against his chest. He
looked at the keyboard and pretended a song was playing.

There was something really special
about the woman in his arms; special enough to let a one night stand slip away
because maybe these feelings could be more. Gray was willing to wait.

*

Luke sat and listened to the music
play back. It sounded good. It sounded really good actually. All the pieces
were there, except one. Jake had recorded both guitar parts for the sake of
getting the song together. Jake was an amazing guitarist, but he wasn’t Gray.
There was an instant and obvious difference when Gray wasn’t there playing
guitar. 

The song ended and Luke tapped his
pen to his notebook. He had the lyrics. He sang with the song a few times, but
he hadn’t actually recorded with the song yet. Nerves had gotten the best of
him it seemed, and he worried that he wouldn’t be able to deliver the same
vocal quality as before. He was also worried that he would get through a song
or two and his throat would get hurt again. With such a bright future waiting,
the last thing Luke wanted was to set the band back again.

“I’m loving that song,” Jake said
as he walked by Luke holding a bottle of water. “Good riffs, great beat, good
feel.”

“Just missing two pieces,” Trent
said. He took his bass off and stretched his back.

“Two parts?” Jake asked.

“Luke and Gray.”

Jake stared daggers at Trent and it
made Luke shake his head. Jake and Trent had a history that always saw them on opposite
sides of the line between love and hate. Brothers for life, brothers in music,
but outside that, who really knew how they would function together.

“He’s right,” Luke said. “You know
Gray has a sound of his own.”

“I agree,” Mack called from behind
his drum kit. He started to play for about five seconds before stopping to
adjust the stands and drums. “We need Gray.”

“Seems to be the trend,” a voice
called out.

Everyone jumped up as Gray stepped
into the studio with a guitar around his neck. He walked to a head and cab
stack and plugged in his guitar. With the flick of a switch and his wrist,
sound roared from the speakers. Mack began to whistle and smack his drumsticks
together. Gray nodded and with a simple four count, Gray was back in business.
He went right into the new song the band had just finished recording. The sound
was damn near flawless, and they all had goose bumps.

Trent put his bass back on while
Jake ran to his guitar. In a matter of thirty seconds, Fallen Tuesday was back.
They ran through the entire song without stopping, Gray came in on the parts he
was supposed to come in on, Jake created solid back riffs. Trent pounded on the
bass with enough chunk to make anyone’s heart rumble, and Mack carried the song
with the addicting drumbeat. Luke didn’t move as she stared at his dream before
him, still alive and well.

They ended with a deep crunching
sound and Gray let his guitar ring out until feedback overtook the room. He
then switched to a clean sound and the feedback instantly stopped. He looked at
his hands and exhaled.

“Shit,” he said. “That felt
amazing.”

“That sounded amazing,” Jake said.

Jake looked at Luke and nodded.

“I think we should record,” Luke
said.

“Is your voice ready for this?”
Gray asked.

Luke rubbed the back of his neck
and said, “There’s only one way to find out.”

(10)

Gray sat behind the soundboard and
listened to the finished product. It could damn well be the best Fallen Tuesday
song yet. It was so thick and so alive, the perfect song for both radio play
and live in concert. It was the type of song that was impossible not to turn up
and sing along with. Luke’s voice was back and maybe even better than before.
Maybe all those years of living like hell, and drinking and partying, and not
taking care of himself caught up to him with his throat. But that was all gone
now. He knew how to prepare for shows and the studio, and it allowed him to
sound like he did.

The song faded and Gray’s fingers
twitched with excitement, wanting to play the song again.

Luke sat next to Gray and between
them was a cell phone.

Jake, Trent, and Mack were on a
long leather couch, their heads back, smiles grazing their faces.

They all knew they had a hit.

“That sounds like a hit to me,” Frank
said from the cell phone, calling in from New York City, where he had spent the
better part of the late morning and early afternoon talking with the record
company about the future of Fallen Tuesday.

“And that was through a cell
speaker,” Gray said. “You can’t imagine this thing in the studio. Right in your
damn ears.”

“Not to mention playing it,” Luke
said. “and singing it.”

“Hey, hold up a second,” Frank
said.

There was a few seconds pause. Gray
looked at Luke and smiled. It was finally all coming back together. It felt so
damn good. He didn’t expect to go right into a recording session, but that was
the job of rock stars. He didn't mind and he certainly wouldn’t trade it for
anything.

Waiting for Frank to talk again, he
thought of Carina. He barely slept, tossing and turning, thinking about her.
When he called the hospital that morning to check on Peter and the condition
was the same, Gray had enough. He needed to get back with the band and get in
the studio.

Guilt ran through him though,
wishing he would have called Carina first. Maybe he could have convinced her to
get the hell out of that shitty apartment building for a couple nights and
embrace the truth and power of music. It would also give him a chance to finish
what had started in her bedroom.

“Okay, can you guys still hear me?”
Frank asked.

“We’ve got you,” Gray said.

“We’re all very excited right now,”
Frank said. “We talked about your ideas for releasing a song or two and playing
smaller places first. I love it. They did too. We can get you on radio, TV,
anything you want. I need you, Luke, to gauge your voice and tell the truth. No
bullshit.”

“Got it,” Luke said.

“Right now, I want you guys to do
what you need to do with that song,” Frank said. “Personally, it sounds great
to me. But you’re the rock stars. When it’s done, get it to me. I’d love to
play this for the record company. I want to see the look on their faces.”

“I love it,” Gray said.

“Luke, I’m in an empty office right
now,” Frank said. “You’re in front of the guys you call brothers. Tell me how
your throat feels.”

“It feels good,” Luke said. “Really
good. I’ll be honest, I was nervous to record. I was sort of pushing it back.
Then Gray showed up today out of nowhere and everything came together for me.
I’m not going to record anything else today though. I’ll keep it one day at a
time.”

“Finally,” Frank said, “he gets a
half decent brain. Must be that woman you fell for.”

Luke raised his middle finger to
the phone. Gray laughed.

“Thanks for your input, Frank,”
Gray said.

“You guys take it easy. I’m going
to go back up there and tease these guys with the song I just heard.”

“Sounds good,” Luke said.

The call ended and Luke stood and
threw a fist in the air.

“I think we’re golden,” Mack said.

“Yeah. We just need, what, twelve
more of those?” Gray asked.

“We could knock them out in two
days,” Trent said.

Gray spun around in his chair.
“Hey, can we get serious for a second here?”

“Sure,” Luke said. He sat back
down.

“I only came back here on a whim. I
just couldn’t stand being in Liering anymore. It was dark, and depressing.”
Gray left out the details of Carina and how she was more of a reason he left
than anything else. Staying near her would push him over the edge for sure.
“Peter is in the same condition and it’s getting to a point where a decision
will need to be made. I needed to come here and have a day like this.”

“Are you going back?” Luke asked.

“Not today,” Gray said. “But all it
takes is one phone call, you know?”

Mack stood from the couch and
sighed. “Damn, brother. Damn. I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want to hear that anymore
either,” Gray said. “No more apologies. I’m just doing my job as a brother to
Peter. I’m heavyhearted right now because I wish I could have stopped him from
this again.”

Luke punched Gray in the leg. “You
can’t beat yourself up. Whatever fate waits for Peter is his fate, not yours.”

“I know. I just want to make sure
you guys understand my position here. I have to go back to Liering. I’ll bounce
back and forth for as long as I need.”

“If you take a plane, man,” Trent
said, “that won’t take long.”

Gray nodded. “Yeah, that’s what
I’ll probably do. I hate to be like that though. I don’t like getting private
jets and all that shit.”

“We’ve earned it,” Luke said.
“Plus, with a song like we just recorded, I’m sure the record company would do
anything to keep us happy and recording.”

Mack laughed. “Sounds like Luke has
a scheme in mind.”

“Just stating the truth,” Luke
said. “Hey, why don’t we take a ride and get a bite at Tommy Two’s? My treat.”

“Your treat,” Mack said. “You just
want to see Amy.”

“Of course I do,” Luke said. He
stood up and looked down at Gray. “If you love someone, don’t you want to see
them?”

Gray nodded. “Yeah.”

The band filtered out of the studio,
but Gray hung back. He took his cell phone from the soundboard and looked at
his recent calls. He saw Carina’s number and his finger flirted with the
screen. A knock made Gray jump. He looked up and saw Luke in the doorway.

“Brother, you coming?”

“Yup,” Gray said.

He tucked his cell phone away and
left the studio.

Since he already made his peace
with using a private jet to fly back and forth between Liering and the studio,
Gray had no problem jumping into the back of a car with the rest of Fallen
Tuesday.

A short drive later, they were
parked out back of Tommy Two’s. Luke looked like an eager kid that had just
pulled up to a candy store. He opened the door and took off from the car,
obviously seeking out Amy. The band followed, minus Mack, who sat across from
Gray. When Gray tried to move, Mack gave him a shove in the shoulder.

“Hey, look at me.”

“Yeah?”

“Are you okay?” Mack asked.

“I woke up today, Mack. I can walk.
I can breathe. I’m okay.”

“Yeah, that’s good,” Mack said.
“What about upstairs? How you handling all this around you?”

“I’m handling it,” Gray said.

“You look a little distant right
now. Watching you watch Luke…”

Gray put a hand to Mack’s leg.
“Thanks for caring, man. Let’s get some food.”

Mack nodded to the open door and
Gray climbed from the car. The band, without Luke, stood in the parking lot.
They waited a few minutes before Gray started to walk down the alley that
separated the restaurant and the bakery Amy had opened. The smell of chocolate
and warmth flooded the air, already making Gray’s stomach growl. Luke was in
the bakery, behind the counter, embracing Amy when Gray walked inside. He
stopped and looked, feeling a slight sting of jealousy. Being a rockstar came
with perks, but there never seemed to be any connection until they were on
stage playing for the fans. The fans understood and appreciated their music.
The women waiting in the dressing rooms were just looking for a story to share.

Gray wasn’t some punk kid moving from
garage to garage with a guitar slung over his back anymore. He felt like there
was more room in his heart now.

“Damn, does it smell good in here,”
Mack said as he inhaled the air.

The embrace between Luke and Amy
ended. Amy wiped her hands on her apron and came around the counter. Luke
couldn’t keep his hands off her. Touching her back. Touching her waist.
Touching her hand. There was no stopping him. He was madly in love with her.

“Hey Gray,” Amy said.

Gray smiled at Amy. She was
definitely a natural beauty. “How’s business?”

“Crazy,” Amy said. “I think it’s
the smell.”

“I can see that,” Gray agreed.

“You mean, smell it,” Mack said. He
began to unwrap a cupcake. “I’ll pay for this. Start a tab.”

“Oh boy,” Jake said. “This is why
this place is making money.”

“I can’t help it,” Mack said. He
took a big bite of a cupcake and smiled, showing his chocolate teeth.

Gray laughed. If only Mack’s obsessed
fans could see him now, acting like a child over a cupcake.

“We’re heading over to Tommy
Two’s,” Luke said. “Any chance the love of my life can join us?”

Amy opened her mouth and a buzzer
went off. “That’s your answer.”

She kissed Luke on his chin.

“She kills me,” Luke said. “Kills
me.”

“I can see why,” Gray said.

Amy backed away and tended to the
ovens as they baked delicious smelling desserts. Mack finished the cupcake and
shook his head. He grabbed another one.

“Whoa,” Luke said. “Another one?”

“I’m a grown man,” Mack snapped as
he began to open the cupcake. “Leave me alone.”

Everyone laughed. Amy worked her
magic behind the counter. Gray couldn’t keep his eyes off her and it was in no
way to disrespect Luke. He appreciated how hard Amy worked. It was no wonder
why Luke fell for her the way he did.

When she turned, she wiped a few
strands of hair out of her face. “Not to bring up a bad subject,” she said,
addressing Gray, “but how’s your brother?”

“Still in the hospital,” Gray said.
“Still out of it.”

“Oh. I’m so sorry. I thought since
you were here…”

“I just needed a break,” Gray said.
“That’s all. I needed to get out of that town for a day or two. When I go back,
there might be some big decisions to make.”

“I’m just sorry,” Amy said. “I wish
there was something else I could say.”

“There’s nothing else to say,” Gray
said.

“Okay, guys,” Trent said. “If we don’t
leave now, Mack is going to eat himself sick.”

Everyone looked at Mack as he
shoveled half a cupcake into his mouth in one big bite. As he chewed, brown crumbs
of chocolate sweetness fell from his mouth to the counter and floor.

“Mack, you’re making a mess,” Luke
said.

Mack put a finger up as he chewed
and swallowed. “Okay, now I’m done. Amy, do you have something to drink?”

“Sure,” Amy said. She grabbed a
notepad and wrote something down on it. She tore the paper from the pad and
handed it to Mack.

“What’s this?”

“Your bill for the cupcakes.”

“And my drink?”

Amy leaned across the counter.
“There’s a wonderful restaurant right next door.”

Gray let out a laugh and clapped
his hands together.

“Amy, I love you so much,” Luke
said. He rushed back behind the counter and kissed Amy.

When Gray saw their mouths open, he
became flooded with jealousy again. He turned and pointed to the door.

“Jake, Trent, follow me,” Gray
said. “Mack, pay your bill. And Luke… well, maybe you’ll make it to the
restaurant.”

Luke arrived ten minutes after.
When Mack saw him, he said, “Did you get a special dessert?”

They erupted in laughter, calling
even more attention to the band. As Gray looked around, he began to realize
something he wasn’t quite used to. The people weren’t really staring at them.
It was obvious who they were, but nobody bothered them. Not that Gray would
have minded and not that he expected to be bothered for an autograph, it just
felt a little strange to actually have the opportunity to be in public.

“You’ve got that look again,” Mack
whispered.

“I can’t believe we’re sitting in a
restaurant and everything is normal.”

“It happens,” Mack said. “I think
everyone is just used to seeing us here, you know?”

Gray nodded. He appreciated it.

They ordered, they ate, and at one
point, Amy’s uncle, Tommy, joined the table for a few minutes to chat. The food
was delicious, not that Gray would expect anything else from Amy or her uncle.
When the band stood from the table, Gray took the bill and paid.

Luke met him at the bar as he
waited for change. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“My treat,” Gray said. “You don’t
know what seeing you kiss Amy, seeing Mack eat cupcakes, and being in this restaurant
means to me. All these little things keep me together.”

Luke stared at Gray. “All these
little things keep me together. Sounds like a premise of a song.”

“You’re the lyrical madman here,
Luke, not me.”

Luke patted Gray’s back. “Don’t say
that. Some times the most beautiful things happen when we’re at our weakest.”

“Now that sounds like a lyric,”
Gray said.

Luke smiled and walked away.

A few minutes later, Gray was back
in the black car, going back to the studio. The band played a few more songs
together, piecing together riffs that would hopefully become Fallen Tuesday
songs. The writing and recording process wasn’t on fire like it had been
before. Some songs were right on the tips of their fingertips and tongues. Others
were a long process that would start with a riff or a lyric and then the band
would build around that. A couple times, they hated then when it was done, so
they would take it apart and try something new.