Love Rock'ollection: The Brutal Strength Rock Star Trilogy, books 1-3 (17 page)

“Hey, cool. Thanks.” Unaware of her fixation Marcus pried one of the to-go cups from her hand.

He seems to be in an unusually good mood
, she noted.
Must be post
workout endorphins. Not me. I need more caffeine
.

Distracted by his physique, she took too big of a sip, sputtering as the hot coffee burned her mouth.

“You ok?” Marcus inquired looking concerned.

“Yeah, yeah, it just went down the wrong way.” She forced a smile.

“Ok, well if you’re sure you’re alright, let’s get to it.” Marcus headed to his studio. Avery followed him resolutely. The sooner they finished the better. At least that’s what she told herself.

THEY WORKED INCESSANTLY and productively over the next few days. For Avery, time rushed relentlessly forward like the waters of a spring flood, toward the moment that she would have to tell Marcus the truth.

Working with him in close proximity, day after day, hour after hour, with the deadline looming over her head was difficult. She found it hard to concentrate on the task at hand. She spent just as much time committing the things she would miss about him to memory as she did working on the lyrics. The deep timbre of his laughter. The way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. The scent of the woodsy bath soap and aftershave he favored.

Periodically, Marcus would catch Avery looking at him with a wistful expression. He knew it wasn’t just his imagination. He recognized that some subtle change had occurred in their relationship. Avery was uncharacteristically reserved and distant. The youthful exuberance and optimism Marcus found so appealing had all but vanished.

His clunky attempts to lighten things up were largely unsuccessful. That was Avery’s forte, not his. And the closer they got to finishing the album, the more somber his guitarist’s mood seemed to become.

PLOWING AHEAD DESPITE the inner turmoil neither realized the other shared, they were almost finished with the album by Thursday morning. Marcus was working on finalizing “B Jezebel,” a discordant, clearly autobiographical tune, judging from the venom in his lyrics.

“Not all women are like that, Marcus,” Avery said softly as she read over his shoulder.

“You’re young Ace.” Marcus turned to give her a wry look. “Just wait. You’ll find out. Love’s all a game to them. Women think differently than men.”

The bitterness he clearly felt toward the opposite sex reminded Avery why she had undertaken this disguise in the first place. She asked him if Veronica had inspired the subject matter for the song.

He nodded.

“Did you love her?”

“I believed I did at the time.”

Lucky girl
, Avery thought.

“But now, I’m not so sure. I was on my own a lot then. Dwight had just met Lisa.” He stared down at the fretboard of his guitar. “I don’t know. Tell me again, why are we talking about all this sentimental crap? I never even talk to Dwight about this kind of stuff.”

“Yeah, well, it’s for the album. Consider us even now. I never told anyone what happened to me when I was a kid, either.”

“That’s way different though, Ace.” He gave her a gentle smile. “Ok, I admit physical attraction was definitely a big part of it with V. You’ve probably seen pictures of her.” Using both hands he made the universal gesture for a woman with large breasts. “She’s definitely hot. The thing about it is, even though I was stoned most of the time, I can’t remember us ever talking to each other. I don’t think we had anything in common except for the drugs.” He shook his head and shrugged.

They were having all sorts of trouble with “Love Evolution.” As the title song, it had to set the mood for the entire album. They wanted the lyrics to be about the transformative power of love. How love changes gradually over time from a simple attraction to a deeper, more complex form. “Marcus, do you believe that kind of love is possible?” Avery mused out loud.

“It better be, Ace. I definitely don’t want to end up like some of those seventies rockers you find so fascinating, sixty years old and still chasing after groupies young enough to be their children.”

She shook her head, thinking that scenario was unlikely for him. She felt certain he would settle down when the right woman came along, but it made her chest hurt thinking about it.

“I think it’s possible, Avery.” His tone turned serious. “My parents have that kind of love. They’ve been married forty years. They’ve had their ups and downs, sure, but my dad always says love is a journey, not a destination.” He glanced over at her, “How about you?”

Avery stopped scribbling in her journal. She lifted her head, green eyes warming as she studied him, committing to memory every nuance and expression of the man she’d come to love. “I hope so, Marcus.” Rolling her pencil between her hands, she frowned as she looked away. “I really hope so.”

FRIDAY MORNING ARRIVED with a fog blanketing the downtown area. Avery stepped out onto her balcony, willing the low clouds to disappear. In spite of the circumstances, she was looking forward to meeting Marcus’ parents.

Fortunately, as the morning progressed, the sun began to peek out from behind the grey veil. And by the time Marcus called to let her know they’d arrived to pick her up, the fog had completely burned off.

Avery flung a backpack full of clothes over her shoulder, picked up her guitar case, and headed down to the lobby. She said hello to Ray as she came around the front of car, thumping the open window on the passenger side where Marcus sat resting his elbow.

Her emerald eyes were bright with excitement when she jumped in the backseat with Dwight for the short drive a couple of blocks downhill to the Harbour Air seaplane terminal. “I can’t believe I’m finally going to fly in a seaplane,” she exclaimed, squirming around on the seat cushion full of nervous energy.

Marcus twisted around, glancing at them with amusement in his eyes as he raised a dark brow. “Sushi, synthesizers, seaplanes. What more is left to teach my young apprentice?”

“Whatever, sensei.” Avery rolled her eyes and reached forward to push his shoulder.

At the dock, they stored the luggage away in the pontoons of the plane, except for their instruments which they brought aboard the cramped twelve-seat cabin.

Marcus suggested that Avery take the seat at the front next to the pilot. Apprehensive when they first took off, she quickly succumbed to the spectacular panoramic views the perch afforded.

Marcus leaned forward and shouted over the engine noise, “On the way back, we’ll get great views of Stanley Park and the Lion’s Gate Bridge.”

The twenty minute flight took them over the Inside Passage between the mainland of British Columbia and Vancouver Island. On the smooth ocean surface below, they observed cargo ships, several sailboats, and the British Columbia ferry which would transport the production crew and fans for the video the following day.

“Whoa dude!” Avery exuberantly hollered as they bounced softly a couple of times on their landing in Nanaimo Harbor. The baggage handler unloaded their luggage out onto the dock. When they exited the small terminal, they were greeted warmly by Marcus’ parents and Dwight’s wife, Lisa.

“We brought the minivan so all of us could fit,” Marcus’ dad informed them before embracing each of his boys.

Avery stood back, watching the happy family reunion.

Marcus’ dad slapped both his boys on the back once more before stepping toward her. “And you must be Avery. I’ve heard a lot about you. Aren’t you a spiffy dresser? Boys, this one might be too cool for the old van.”

Avery smiled. His corny humor and his sparkling blue eyes were all Marcus, but his features and frame were more like Dwight.

“I’m Don.” He extended his hand to her. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

When she reached out to clasp his hand, Don caught her by surprise when he pulled her in for a real hug, nearly as exuberant as the ones he’d given Marcus and Dwight. Touched, she returned it warmly. She’d almost forgotten what it was like to be around a loving family.

“I’m willing to tone down my coolness level, if it means these two geeks,” she gestured to Dwight and Marcus, “won’t feel so awkward.”

Her bandmates bumped her shoulders playfully.

Marcus’s mom came forward wearing an easy smile. She was a tall, stunning woman with auburn hair, who could easily have passed for someone twenty years younger. She gave Avery a kiss on the cheek. “Welcome to Vancouver Island. I’m Rheta Anthony. We are so glad you could come.”

They stuffed the luggage in the trunk, and then everyone clambered into the minivan for the drive from Nanaimo to Duncan that would take almost an hour. Don drove, and Rheta sat upfront beside him. Dwight and Lisa, a petite beauty with her long black hair pulled back in a ponytail, occupied the middle captain’s chairs, sharing long lingering glances and holding hands. Marcus sat beside Avery in the third row bench.

Once they were underway, everyone started talking and catching up. Avery mainly listened, trying not to feel left out, as she looked out her window as they meandered through rich rolling countryside, dotted with farms and vineyards.

They exited the coastal highway in Duncan and drove ten more minutes over a winding narrow farm road that ended at the Anthony farm nestled between two hills in the Cowichan Valley. The sign at the gate read ‘Anthony B&B.’

“Where are the water buffalo?” Avery asked eagerly as soon as they were parked.

“He’s been dying to see them, Mom,” Marcus explained. “I’ll take him down to the pasture and bring him right back up.”

“Sounds like an excuse to avoid carrying in the luggage,” Dwight grumbled. Marcus threw up his hands, feigning innocence.

Marcus opened a gate that led to a series of connected pastures.

Avery shot through it when she heard the water buffalo bellowing in the back meadow.

Marcus grinned as he watched Avery pull up succulent pieces of grass to feed them. Smiling from ear to ear, Avery stroked their big soft heads as they took her offerings. Marcus was relieved to see his guitarist looking happy again. He’d hoped getting away from the city would restore Avery’s mood. This place always had a healing effect on him.

A clanging bell in the distance signaled their time in the field had come to an end. “Hey,” he called to Avery, “we better head back up. You think Mary’s bossy? She’s got nothing on my mom. That’s the bell for dinner. She’s a real stickler for being on time to meals.”

The two-story New England style farm house with its huge columned front porch beaconed invitingly. Rheta showed Avery upstairs to a cozy room with a full-sized bed, white and beige striped wallpaper, and antique mahogany furnishings.

“Avery, both my boys have told me a lot about you,” Rheta said lingering inside the doorway. “And I wanted you to know how glad I am that you’re part of the group.” She tucked her hands in the front pockets of her jeans. “I was worried about Marcus going back to work so soon after he got discharged. I didn’t think he was ready before, but now…with you in the group, well anyway,” she cleared her throat, voice changing to a more businesslike tone, “the bathroom is just down the hall, and I expect you downstairs as soon as you’re settled to help out with dinner.”