Out Of Place (Face the Music Book 2) (21 page)

“You sure?”

“Yeah. There are only so many names I can remember at a time.” She really didn’t want this to feel like a big deal, but already people were noticing.

He gave her hand a squeeze and then they walked over to the barbeque where a group of guys were loitering.

Ed could feel his mates’ curious stares. They could be curious a little longer. He loaded up a bun with cheese, sausage and sauce before handing it to her. “It appears we’re out of onions.”

“That’s fine. Thank you.” She smiled at him but her gaze flicked to the guys who had now turned their attention from the hot plates to her.

Ed really hoped that none of them remembered Olivia from the nightclub.

Luke frowned and his eyes narrowed. “You’re handcuff girl.”

Damn it.

Olivia blushed. “Yeah, that would be me.”

Luke looked at Ed. “You’re dating handcuff girl.”

“I’m dating Olivia. Olivia, this is Luke.” The first introduction was over and suddenly he didn’t want to do any more. He wanted her to himself, but that cat had fled the bag. He introduced her to the other guys standing there, pointing out the relevant girlfriends who were sitting at the outdoor setting where the bottles of wine were.

“Is she the real reason you aren’t coming to Bali? I might be able to forgive that.” Luke couldn’t drop Bali for one night.

It would be nice to go, but he couldn’t justify it and now he had something happening with Olivia. While he knew he was going to have to leave her when he went over east, throwing a surfing holiday in didn’t seem like a great idea.

“If money is really that tight, you can pay me back later. We want you there, man.” Luke slapped him on the arm. “One day you’ll be so famous you won’t have time for us. You’ll be surfing in Hawaii and Mexico.” Luke was smiling, but there was an edge of seriousness.

Ed knew he’d hardly seen his friends all year. If he didn’t make an effort, he’d lose them and next year’s party would be smaller. Now he was adding a girlfriend in the mix.

He glanced at Olivia, she really didn’t need to be involved in this. Sometimes Luke could be a tool. “Come on, you can meet the band.”

Dan was already glassy-eyed, but he managed to behave—he’d be passed out before New Year’s. Gemma smiled and acted as though him having a girlfriend was a rare occurrence.

Most of his friends were surprised. Had it really been that long? He didn’t think so, but then, he had filled in the gaps and they didn’t know that. Olivia leaned close to him. The heat of the day had faded away and the breeze was in, creating a perfect summer evening, but he doubted she was cold.

His arm slid around her waist. “I’m glad you could come. My friends might have thought I’d made you up otherwise.”

“I got that.” She smiled. “They seem to think you work too much.”

“Yeah. That’s because most of them have nine to fives and don’t understand what it takes.” It was hard work and odd hours. And sometimes sitting around looking as though he was doing nothing but playing the same few chords repeatedly. It was also tho best job when it was all going well and everything was gelling. He glanced at her. Did she want more of his time already?

“I think you should take that holiday. The rest of the year will be busy, won’t it?”

He wanted to say no. But once they’d recorded there’d be video clips and promo for the next single, then tours. It had been almost a year since their last album and by the time this one came out, a year and a half would’ve passed. The first one had taken a while to get up to a simmer, snagging the support act gig had helped. The ARIA nominations meant that people were expecting something bigger this time. He felt the pressure closing in acutely.

He nodded. How much time was he going to be at home next year? “But I want to spend the time I’m here with you.”

“I want that too, but I have commitments that I can’t drop either.”

“Are you trying to break up with me again?”

“No.” She laughed. “That happens after we have sex.”

“Phew. At least we get to have sex first.” He kissed her, hoping that she was kidding about the breaking up part.

She cupped his face. “Seriously. What is the holiday? A week?”

“Five days.”

“That’s nothing. I’ll be here and so will your music. From the sounds of it, Mike needs time anyway.”

He rested his forehead against hers. It wasn’t just the time or the need for momentum. “If I keep spending my savings I’m going to be living at home for another year.”

Last year he’d promised himself that he’d move out, but then he’d hardly been here.

“I’ve already resigned myself to that. I have a job interview next week. If I get it, it’s a part-time job share so not enough money.”

Someone called, “Get a room,” but he wasn’t sure if it was aimed at him or someone else. “I’m sure you’ll get it. Are you going back to uni?”

“Yes. I’ve applied to study externally.”

“It’s all happening for you.”

“I’m not going to wait around anymore. I have to get out there and make the most of it. Losing my job might have been a good thing.”

“I think your car breaking down was better.” He kissed her again. Slower. Her tongue met his as she pressed her body to his. Despite the troubles they’d had, that they both kept coming back for more had to mean something.

“Promise me one thing,” she whispered against his lips.

Uh-oh. “What?” He tried not to sound concerned.

“No dodgy Bali tattoos.”

He laughed. That was already on his hell-no list. “I can make that promise easily.”

The call went out for them to play something. He tried to plead it was impossible without Mike, but that was a lie and they all knew it. “Do you mind?”

“No.” She smiled. “It’s what you do.” She let him go so he could get out the acoustic gear.

Some of the tension he’d been carrying faded. She was fitting in…and she appeared to be coming around.

It had become an informal tradition that they play something at the party. Their friends had sat through enough bad covers and bad originals at the start. It wasn’t fair to stop now they were half decent.

“Nothing from the new album.” He gave Dan and Gemma a look. They didn’t want that hitting social media before they’d recorded, and there was no guarantee that someone wouldn’t whip out their phone.

“Start with a cover?” Dan suggested.

They did a quick debate about which song while some smart ass yelled out, “This year.” Then they launched into the song. Given that they’d covered the album at the Basement it was an easy choice. It had also been a charting single ten years ago and people sung along. One song done and the nerves diminished. Their first paying gig had been a wedding for one of his parents’ friends, then a fiftieth birthday party that had involved a lot of old Aussie covers. They’d always slipped in a couple of songs they’d written but only after everyone had been drinking.

Another quick debate followed about what else to play. One single and a band favourite that hadn’t made the cut on to their first album—but that had never stopped them from playing it live. Because people recorded concerts on their phones it was online. This time in the studio it might be nice to record it properly and make it a bonus track.

He glanced around slowly, looking for Olivia. Hopefully she wasn’t standing alone. He shouldn’t have worried. Olivia was with his sister, and they were talking. He tried not to think about what K was saying.

They finished off the last song. Did they have time for one more? “What time is it?”

“You have ten minutes.” A guy called out.

Dan’s fingers hadn’t been so nimble. He was too pissed to play properly, but then most people here were probably too tipsy to notice. He glanced at Olivia again. There was one song no one had heard.

He should play it.

What if it was crap?

It wasn’t crap. But it was personal.

“One more?” Gem raised both eyebrows.

“I’ve got this one,” he said quietly. Immediately the nerves were back. Choking him. He picked up his beer and took a drink. In a louder voice he said, “This is something I’ve been working on. It won’t be on the next album so don’t get all excited.”

A couple of people laughed.

He should play something old. But he wanted to play this. He wanted Olivia to know that whatever happened, they had now and he was happy with that. With her he had stopped looking at the future and what might happen.

“It’s called
We Are Right Now
and it’s a little rough.” There he was, making excuses before he’d started. “Tell me what you think later. After I’ve had a few more beers so I won’t remember.”

There were a few laughs then it all went too quiet. He was sure he could hear actual crickets. He glanced at Olivia, then decided he couldn’t look at her so he looked down at his guitar as if his fingers needed help to find the chords after fifteen years of playing.

He felt like he was sitting under hot stage lights. Sweat formed.
Get on with it
. He closed his eyes. Then he started to play. It was the melody he’d thought of when he’d seen her in the café. So quiet and peaceful. When he was out on the water thinking of her. There was no way anyone would miss that the song was about her.

But it was bigger than that too. It was about living in the moment.

She was right. He should take the holiday.

He would enjoy the wedding as he’d be with her. Who knew what next year would bring?

        Not the right man, the one you wanted,

        But I could be what you need right now.

He might have been stung about the breakup when he wrote the chorus…but it was all true. She could’ve been married to someone else, living a different life, and instead they were together. He finished the song—more like half a song as it was less than two minutes—but it was never going on an album so it didn’t matter how long it was.

Ed opened his eyes and looked up. His sister was hugging Olivia who was brushing what he hoped weren’t tears off her cheeks.

“That was awesome and you’ve been sitting on it.” Gemma punched him in the arm.

“Thanks. It’s not quite what we are doing.” It was too much of a ballad.

“Two words. Bonus content.”

He wasn’t sure about that. It was too personal, but then wasn’t
Seppuku
personal for Dan? Where did he draw the line? Did there need to be one?

“I’m going to pack up.” He didn’t want to leave equipment lying around. He grabbed Dan’s bass. Dan had already melted away into the shadows. Gemma followed.

“Two minutes.”

Was it that close? He wanted to be kissing Olivia at midnight.

He put the two guitars in the garage and turned, but it wasn’t Gemma holding her guitar standing behind him. It was Olivia. He wanted to know what she thought of the song but didn’t know how to ask. He locked the door so they wouldn’t be disturbed. She watched him, then her gaze skimmed over the converted garage.

The space was cluttered. It wasn’t ideal, but it was good enough for getting together to write and rehearse. His parent’s old brown sofa was against one wall. A couple of power boards snaked along the floor. There were amps and guitars, keyboard, drum machine and drum kit—although it was a spare now. This was a house deposit or a new car right here. The garage had been insulated so it didn’t get too hot, and rugs had been thrown down to dampen noise.

It wasn’t particularly romantic, but they were alone and there was a lock. Right now that was all he cared about.

She looked at him as if not sure what to say.

Outside someone yelled, “Sixty seconds.”

“You don’t want to be out there for the countdown?”

He didn’t care where they were. “I want to be with you.”

Olivia took a step closer. Hearing him sing had been amazing, and she’d known that it was about her and him and how nothing quite clicked at the right time and yet here they were. “I got that…that’s what the song was about.”

“Yeah.” He shoved his hands into his pockets as he watched her. He actually looked uncertain.

Her lips curved. “I liked it.”

No one had ever made such a big deal about wanting to be with her, it had always been kind of assumed. This had to be tended and coaxed along. But she liked that her relationship was within her control instead of just happening.

He smiled. “I wasn’t sure you would.”

“I’ve listened to some of your music.” She looked away. “I bought a couple of songs.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

She swallowed, now wasn’t the time to be holding back. “I wanted to hear your voice.” That wasn’t hard to say. She slid her hands over his shoulders and her lips brushed his. “But I do need to know how much of this is going to end up in the music.”

“I don’t know.” His hands touched her hips then pulled her closer. “I got frustrated with the way you kept pulling away.”

Outside the countdown started. The last few seconds of the old year were vanishing. They would have a fresh start. Next year would be different. No more hiding and running.

“I’m not pulling away now.” She was where she wanted to be. It didn’t matter that there was no guarantee about where they might end up. All they had to do was make the most of what they had.

“Neither am I.”

She let herself drown in the kiss and the warmth of his touch. As the New Year started she knew she was where she should be. For the first time in three years she was no longer waiting for something to happen.

It was hot in the sun and Ed hated wearing suits at the best of times. Sitting on fold up chairs on the lawn of a winery was not his idea of a good time either. The wine was inside and the white wine would be chilled. Now he was thirsty. Next to him sat Olivia’s very jetlagged younger brother Rhys. They had been unofficially paired up for the day. That gave him someone to talk to while Olivia did the bridesmaid thing. She looked beautiful. The dress was sunset orange and revealed enough of her shoulders that he wanted to kiss the exposed skin before sliding it off her altogether.

Not that he’d get that chance today. Today was a day of being on his very best behaviour as her family pretended not to size him up and compare him to her ex. He didn’t know much about Miles, and he didn’t feel that he needed to. The guy had been stupid enough to get behind the wheel and drive, risking the lives of his fiancée and unborn child.