American Love Songs (3 page)

Parkers blush took up all the space on his face and overflowed to his ears and neck. “Man, I dont even know the name of the band!” This kept getting better and better. Jake turned left down a side street, Parker following. “So when you came up to me on the street….” “I was going to ask you for directions,” Parker admitted.

Jake cackled.
If there is a God
, he thought,
the guy has one hell of a sense of humor
. “How serendipitous. You need a job, we need a guitarist. Its fate.” Parker gave him a surprised look. “Oh, shut up, my moms an English teacher.”

Parker finally smiled at that, though the expression wasnt entirely convincing. “So are you going to tell me the name of the band Ive just joined, or what?”

“Right, obviously.” Back to business, then. Jake led them down the street that would take them to his apartment. “So were the Wayward Sons. Which was kind of awkward with our last guitarist, who was a chick, actually.”

“A Kansas tribute band?” Parker asked with his eyebrows raised. He didnt seem to disapprove, exactly; he just wasnt entirely onboard yet.

“Nah, we just called it that cause were boys
from
Kansas,” Jake told him. He could see his building in the distance, so he dug in his pocket for the key. He needed some new boots; his feet were freezing. “And yeah, were pretty small-time, and most of what we play is covers—not just Kansas ones,” he amended when Parkers face squished up a little. “We have a bunch of our own songs, and we always play a few every gig just to get our sound out there, but people want to hear what they know.”

“Makes sense.”
“That said, I better lay down the ground rules,” Jake said. “Chris wouldve done this himself—actually, he
always
does this himself— but he and Jimmy were gonna be late for work.”

“Ground rules? Did I just join a cult or something?”

Jake wasnt entirely sure if the guy was joking, so he put on his best reassuring face. “Relax, its not that bad. Theres two main rules. The first one is no drugs. Jimmy breaks that one all the time, but just with grass. Anything stronger and Chris will toss you out on your ass, metaphorically speaking. Actually, maybe literally speaking. I dont know; nobodys broken it before.” Chris was kind of scary when he was mad.

Parker looked half surprised, half offended. “Thats not going to be a problem.”

 

Yeah, Jake didnt think so, either. Parker had definite “good boy” vibes. Theyd have to work on that before Thursday
⁷
.

He opened the door to his apartment building and let Parker in ahead of him, then pushed the button for the elevator. He usually took the stairs, but that was because the elevator was usually broken.

The elevator opened and let them in; Jake hit the button for the second floor. “Whats the second rule?” Parker asked when the doors opened again.

“No sleeping with anyone in the band,” Jake said, unlocking the door to his apartment. That rule was also probably unnecessary now that Kylie was gone. “Jimmy broke that one too.”
⁸

Parkers face looked kind of pinched. “Yeah, I… guessed.”

“So did Chris, actually, which was probably another part of the problem. Break the rule, I mean, not guess. Kylie was kind of… well, anyway.” The door to the apartment always stuck, even in the winter, though it was worse in the humidity of summer, and Jake nudged it with his hip until it shuddered open. “Sorry about the mess.”

He really did need to get around to cleaning up once in a while, Jake reflected. With the late afternoon sun slanting in the window the way it was, he could see all the little dust motes floating around in the air. Some of that was not his fault—Kylie had stirred up a lot of dust when she was packing up her shit—but still. It was kind of embarrassing. There was an empty pizza box on his tiny coffee table, the couch cushions were crooked, there were three odd socks and a pair of boxers scattered across the floor of his living room-slash-kitchen, and the pile of dishes in the sink was poised so precariously he was actually afraid to start washing them lest they come crashing down.

⁷
Later, the only person who would be more surprised than Jake that this actually worked was Parker.
⁸
The rules were really more like guidelines. Vague ones.

Parker said, “Dude.” He gingerly walked into the apartment, elbows tucked in like he was afraid to touch anything
⁹
.

“Yeah, I know. Im not used to cleaning up after myself yet.” He gestured at the couch. “Have a seat, I just have to go dig out my laptop and a blank CD. You want a drink?”

“Do you have any clean dishes?” Parker asked. His tone wasnt bitchy, just curious and a little teasing.

“Thats what plastic cups are for,” Jake told him. “And beer bottles, but I dont have any of those.” His twenty-first birthday wasnt until August. Hed swiped that beer from earlier in the day from Chris and Jimmys fridge, not that they would care. “Cups on the fridge, drinks in it if youre interested. Ill be right back.” Maybe he was being a shitty host, but if Parker was going to be around, he needed to learn to make himself at home. Jake didnt serve Chris or Jimmy, either, his theory being that they were grown men and could help themselves.

Parker was perched precariously on the couch when he got back, like he was afraid it was going to give him cooties or herpes or something. Not that the herpes thing was out of the question, Jake thought with an internal grimace, thinking of Chris and Kylie. He put his laptop on the table and popped in a blank CD to burn. “So practices are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at four at Chris and Jimmys. Which reminds me—do you have an electric guitar?”

Parker flushed, which Jake took as a “no.” “I used to,” he said. “Ive kind of been on the road for a while. I dont take that much with me.”

There was definitely a story there, between Parkers lack of material possessions and his claim that he couldnt go back home, but they had just met, like, five minutes ago. Jake was not going to give him the third degree yet, and only partly because he wasnt sure hed be comfortable with all of the answers. “Its no big. Kylie left hers as her last months rent when she moved out. She was even left-handed.”

⁹
Because I was! The place was a dump!—PM

 

“Serendipity strikes again, huh?”

“Yeah,” Jake said. “About that.” This was probably a really stupid idea, especially since he didnt really know Parker, and for all he knew, they were going to end up hating each other and breaking up the band. And hey, Parker could be an asshole, or a thief, or an axe murderer
¹⁰
, but Jake didnt think so.

Besides, the door to his room locked.

Still, he had some experience dealing with guys who were used to not having very much, and he was pretty sure hed pegged Parkers pride right on the money. He treaded very, very carefully. “I kind of need a roommate.”

Parker met his gaze evenly. If he was surprised or offended, he didnt show it, but the look he gave Jake was pretty calculating. “Yeah? I kind of need a place to live.”

Jake said, “Imagine that.”

The CD finished burning, and the drive popped out, whirring cheerfully as the disc spun. Jake got a couple of Cokes out of the fridge and put them on the table. Parker flinched. God, he was totally the kind of guy whod use a glass and coaster. This was going to take some getting used to. “Rents three hundred a month each, inclusive,” Jake told him, popping the top of his Coke and taking a long sip. “Pays fifty bucks each a night for gigs, drinks not included, so you might want to look into something else in your spare time. At least, if you dont want to be sleeping on Kylies pink sheets for the rest of your life.”

He didnt miss the completely uncomfortable look on Parkers face at that. Okay, so he was in a worse situation than Jake thought. He took a deep breath. “Tell you what, though. You clean up the apartment, and well call the first month even.”

Parker protested, “I dont want—”
“To live in this slovenly hellhole?” Jake let him splutter for a moment, then took pity on him. “You think I could find someone to clean this place for less than that? Youre nuts. You can owe me one.”

¹⁰
Or, as it turned out, a closet homosexual.

Parker tilted his head to one side like he was considering. He wanted to say yes, Jake could tell. “Youre not a serial killer or anything, are you? Because I honestly dont think Im this lucky.”

Jake leaned back on the couch with a smile, though that didnt last for long when he got a whiff of it. He definitely needed to buy some Febreeze. “Something tells me our luck is about to change for the better.” His stomach growled. That reminded him—”So, are you hungry?”

“
M
AMA, Im home!” Jake announced his presence in the house the same way he had since he was six years old. He was neater when he took off his shoes now, though, careful not to track mud on his mothers hardwood floors after the time she made him wash them on his hands and knees. “I brought a friend,” he added, looking over his shoulder at Parker.

Parker closed the door behind him quietly, actually bent to take off his shoes, and placed them neatly on the rack. Jakes mama was going to love him. “Are you sure your mom wont mind—”

“Jacob!” his mom said, practically sprinting into the room. It was hideously embarrassing, but she was his mom, so Jake submitted to his full name and having both cheeks kissed affectionately. Then she mercifully turned her attention to Parker.

Or, you know, not so mercifully, because the next words out of her mouth were, “And whos this? Jake didnt tell me he was seeing anyone!” She then proceeded to
hug Parker
, full on mashing him into her body. Jake could actually hear the breath whooshing out of his lungs. Hed known Parker for all of two minutes, and already Parker knew he was a) a total spaz, and b) gay, which, okay, it wasnt like Jake was in the closet or anything, but there was such a thing as tact when it came to broaching the topic of sexuality with your coworkers. And roommates. This was so not fair. Jake liked to ease people into his complete dorkiness gradually. Although, okay, yes, he maybe should have come out to Parker before theyd decided to live together.

“Hes not my boyfriend, mama,” Jake protested when he finally found his tongue. He could see Parkers eyes over his mamas shoulder; they were bugging out like he couldnt breathe
¹¹
. “Hes our new Kylie.”

If anything, Mama Brenner just hugged Parker harder. “Another starving artist!” she exclaimed when she finally released him. Parkers face was a study in blues and purples. “I had better start dinner. Jacob, baby, get your guest something to drink.”

“Yes, Mama.”

Jake had a pretty awkward childhood—he never knew when to keep his mouth shut, for one thing—but he couldnt ever remember feeling quite
this
awkward. Well, maybe that time hed “accidentally” walked in on Chris jerking off. He rolled his eyes a little. “Sorry. Total spastitude runs in the family.”

Parker just smiled wryly. “So I noticed.”

 

It sucked, but Jake had to ask, anyway. “You dont… mind, do you?” Because itd suck to lose another lead guitarist so soon.

“What, that youre a total spaz?” Parkers expression said that that was not what he was talking about at all. “Please. You think
you’re
awkward? You havent seen me do anything but play guitar yet.”

Jake mustered a smile, relieved. That was one less thing to worry about, anyway. “My mom thinks I need a boyfriend,” he confided, leading Parker down to the basement where the beverages lived.

“Having seen your apartment, I cant imagine why,” Parker drawled, sprawling on the sofa.

Jake tossed him a beer and grabbed a Dr. Pepper for himself. “Its your apartment now too, bitch. Take some responsibility.” He grinned and dropped onto the battered armchair by the television. “I keep telling her Im too young and have too much promise to ruin my life by falling in love with anybody, but she doesnt listen.”

¹¹
Think Kermit the Frog.—JB

 

“She sounds pretty awesome.” He didnt sound like he was being sarcastic.

Jake grinned wider, stoked that Parker actually
got
it. “The best. Well, except for the meatloaf. Dont ever let me invite you over on meatloaf night. I need to stay on your good side.”
¹²

Parker smiled back and cracked open his beer. “Noted.”

It wasnt long before Jakes mom called them up for dinner, and there was a noise like a stampede of wildebeest going by overhead, racing in the direction of the kitchen. “Looks like Beccas got friends over,” Jake said drily, offering Parker a hand up. “Brace yourself.”

“Younger sib?”

 

“Shes the baby,” Jake confirmed, pausing at the top of the stairs to shut off the light. “Not done high school yet.”

“You didnt mention anything about having to deal with teenagers.” Parker wrinkled his nose, but his eyes were twinkling behind the plastic frames. “I may have to rethink being friends with you.”

Jake rolled his eyes and closed the door to the basement. “Save your judgment of my family until after dinner, okay?”

 

“Hmm, deal.”

 

Leading the way into the kitchen, Jake sneaked up behind Becca and covered her eyes. “Guess who!”

 

Becca squirmed, laughing and trying to pry his hands from her face. Then she gave up and stepped on his foot, hard. “Oof!”

“Jerk,” she laughed as he released her, turning around for a hug. For such a little girl, she had a grip of iron. “How come you never call me, huh?”

“What, your fingers dont work all of a sudden? I dont think Sara and Carrie would back you up on that.”

 

Beccas two best friends waved at him from the table, where they were already seated, giggling.

 

¹²
I should have said, “Never let me eat here on meatloaf night.” Its not the meatloaf thats the problem.—JB

 

“Oh, whatever.” She released him and pushed at his chest. “Oh my God, who is that?”

Apparently she had noticed Parker. Jake glanced back at him and smiled. “This? This is the guy whos going to make me famous, Bec. Meet Parker McAvoy, guitarist extraordinaire.”