by Dana Piccoli
“Really? Because according to Oliver you had an absolute meltdown at the suggestion of going on tour with Melissa again.”
Paul’s words cut through Nat like a hot knife. First, she was angry that Oliver had shared the details of their meeting, but they were after all, The Nat Chambers Band. Paul and Jackie were just as invested in their success as Nat was. Then the reality of Paul’s suggestion, that she wasn’t really over Melissa washed over her. If she was truly over Melissa, would she have agreed to go on tour? Or was self-preservation her right no matter?
“Would you really want to go on tour with Melissa again, Paul?” Nat snapped.
“No, he doesn’t,” Jackie added. “She sounds like an absolute twat, Paul. Why are you pushing this issue?”
“I’m just trying to figure out where your head is, Chambers. I don’t want you marching into something you aren’t ready for. I’m looking out for you.”
“You want to know where my head is? Just watch.” She pulled out her phone and texted Maddy about the show and how she couldn’t wait to see her. Maddy responded with a unicorn emoji and a thumbs up. Followed by a heart. Nat smiled and showed the texts to Paul and Jackie, trying to prove the point to Paul. She then rose and took her place in front of the rehearsal mic. She swung her guitar across her chest as Paul and Jackie set themselves up as well.
“Okay, let’s try ‘Damned if I Do’ again. Jackie, please give me two choruses at the end, okay? Paul, can you count us off?”
He clicked his sticks together.
Chapter Fourteen
Nat arrived at Haven, where she was recognized by Tim the bouncer. He gave her a big squeeze that lifted her clear off the ground. “Looking good, Nat,” he said mid hug.
Truth be told, she had gone through four outfits before she decided on a well-worn and fitted pair of Levi’s, a black V-neck and collarless leather jacket. At least Tim liked it.
“Flatterer,” she playfully responded as he ushered her past the crowd gathered outside.
Inside the club young and attractive hipsters milled around with glasses of whiskey and cans of High Life. At the end of the bar stood Paul, Jackie, and Maddy. Nat felt the air rush out of her when she saw Maddy, a drink in her hand, her head thrown back laughing at something Paul said. She looked stunning in a simple vintage forest green dress that perfectly complemented her hair and hazel eyes. Paul caught sight of Nat and waved her over. Maddy smiled as Nat neared and greeted her with a tight hug and kiss on the cheek. She smelled faintly of rum and coconut shampoo, and Nat wanted to breathe her in all night.
“Hi.” Nat took a step back to admire her up close. “You look…incredible.”
Maddy bit her lip to help stifle a smile. She tugged on Nat’s jacket and pulled her close. “And you look like a goddamn rock star tonight,” she whispered in Nat’s ear, brushing her lips against Nat as she pulled back. Nat swallowed hard as she felt a jolt in her jeans.
“So, what are you drinking?” Nat motioned to Maddy’s glass.
She swirled the brown liquid and ice and offered it to Nat. “Mt. Gay Manhattan. The mixologists here are top notch. They even make their own bitters. Try it.”
Nat took a small sip of the sweet and strong cocktail.
Maddy leaned in closer. “I already ate the cherry,” she said, causing Nat to choke on the liquor.
Maddy giggled. “You okay?” Nat nodded. “Sorry, this drink is really strong. What was I thinking? I practically get drunk off the smell of vanilla extract.”
Nat took Maddy’s hand and interlocked their fingers. “It’s totally cool. Have fun. I’ll make sure you get home safely.”
Maddy perked up. “So, no slumming it on the F line?” Nat shook her head. Maddy leaned in and gave her a quick but wonderfully soft kiss on the lips. Before Nat’s head even had a chance to swim, she was interrupted by a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see her old friend Steve from Redfern. They embraced and Steve fist-bumped Paul.
“Goddamn, you guys got old!” Steve observed before Nat punched him lightly in the shoulder.
“It’s only been two years and we look fucking flawless,” responded Paul as he gave Steve’s mustache a pull. “Oh, Steve, speaking of fucking flawless… This is our bandmate, Jackie Adeyemi. She’s from London. Plays a mean cello.”
Steve extended his hand to Jackie, and as their hands met, it had to have been obvious to everyone in a ten-mile radius that sparks were flying. “Jackie Adeyemi from London, it’s a real pleasure. We’ve got to hit the stage, but I’d love to talk to you after the show. Will you stick around?”
Jackie demurred and flashed him her million-dollar smile. “Yeah, sure. I’ll be here.” Steve kissed her hand and walked toward the stage, while Jackie watched him go. “Good god, those pants are tight,” she observed.
“Told you,” Paul replied, tossing back the remainder of his drink.
Nat, who got a big kick out of the whole exchange, ordered another round and settled in with Maddy to watch the show. She slipped her hand around Maddy’s waist, and Maddy leaned against her in response. She thought about Maddy’s warm skin just below her fingertips, wishing there was no barrier between them.
The pulsing of the kick drum roused her from her daydream as Redfern launched into their first song. The band was tight, more together than Nat remembered. Maybe getting the hell out of Dodge was just what the guys had needed. The crowd ate them up. Nat and Maddy swayed and rocked to the beat and Paul mouthed the words to one of their songs. With each song, Nat and Maddy found new ways to touch each other. A caress on the cheek, a nuzzle to the neck, hands on thighs and the small of a back. Soon enough, the electricity between them could barely be contained. Nat took Maddy’s chin in her hand and pulled her in for a slow kiss. She brushed her tongue against Maddy’s lower lip and Maddy welcomed her. It could have gone on forever if Nat had her way, except for the jarring sound of Steve’s voice over the microphone.
“It’s great to be back home! You are all fucking gorgeous. For the love of god, keep drinking! There are a few special folks in the audience tonight, and I want to invite them to join us on stage. Ladies and gents, The Nat Chambers Band!”
As the audience erupted into cheers, Nat felt Paul’s hands grab her shoulders and pull her toward the stage. She looked back at Maddy, who was clapping and smiling from ear to ear. When they got on stage, Steve passed Nat his electric guitar. Paul joined Ari at the drum kit, and Steve motioned to Jackie to join him at his mic. Steve covered the mic with his hands and shouted over to Nat.
“How about ‘Speak’? I know the harmonies for that one and Andy knows the bass line.” Nat blew a kiss to Andy and nodded to Steve. Paul and Ari counted them in and the audience responded with whoops and cheers to the familiar opening chords. Nat’s fingers flew across the guitar as she leaned into the mic.
You speak in tongues and every one of them lies.
You say my name, and every part of me dies.
I just want you to tell the truth, to want me back, to face me
But you don’t and you won’t and can’t and it breaks me!
She growled the chorus and Steve and Jackie joined in on harmonies. Paul was wailing away on the kit, while Ari switched to hand percussion. Andy laid down a stellar bass line, and for a moment Nat wished she had stolen him away from Redfern back in the day. The audience bopped their heads and spilled their drinks as they danced. She caught sight of Maddy, who had come closer to the stage, her eyes as big as saucers, smiling wide. She crouched during the chorus, took Maddy’s hand and kissed it before returning to the mic to sing the bridge.
All the times I couldn’t speak,
You said that I was so damn weak,
But now I know what you’re about,
Now I don’t have a single doubt.
Both bands kicked it up through the final chorus, and afterward, the audience went crazy. The Nat Chambers Band took their bows and exited the stage.
Maddy greeted Nat when she stepped offstage and wordlessly wrapped
her arms around Nat’s waist. Some fans came up to Nat, and Maddy graciously stepped aside to let them get in a few words.
After the crowd cleared, Nat took Maddy’s hand. “You wanna get some air?” she asked.
Maddy nodded and they stepped out of the club. Paul was standing outside smoking with a handsome man in a tight T-shirt and vintage jeans. He gave Nat a wink. Nat led Maddy to an empty piece of sidewalk where they could catch their breath. She was buzzing from the evening, the drinks, the performance, but mostly from Maddy. Her chest tightened at the image of Maddy twirling in that green dress.
Maddy’s face shone under the East Village lamplight as she let out a giggle that turned into a small shriek. Nat laughed in response to her exuberance.
“That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen,” Maddy declared, taking Nat’s hands in her own.
Nat was used to compliments for her performances but hearing it from Maddy caused her cheeks to pink and her heart to race. “Thanks, I mean it wasn’t my best. I’m pretty sure I was a little sharp on the last note and I nearly missed a key change during—”
“Stop! Nat Chambers, you blew me away. And you know what else?”
“What?”
“I’m going to kiss your stupidly talented mouth right now.” Maddy closed the distance between them, reaching up and tugging a handful of Nat’s hair as she pulled her closer in one quick move.
If Nat thought their first kiss in the bar was magical, this one transported her to a place she only felt when she was on stage, endorphins popping and a blissful light-headedness. Maddy made sweet little humming noises of approval as their lips passed over each other. Nat ran her tongue over Maddy’s full bottom lip. It tasted of booze and beeswax, and she wanted more. As they were about to deepen the kiss, a high-pitched whistle pulled them both out of it. She snapped her head around to see Paul, now joined by Jackie and Steve. Paul had his fingers in whistle formation at his lips, while Jackie cuddled closer into Steve, who had his arm over the petite cellist.
“Traitors!” Nat shouted in their direction as they laughed and gave her the thumbs-up. “Sorry about my friends. They are beautiful assholes.”
“Natalia?” Maddy grabbed lightly at Nat’s jacket again.
“Yeah?”
“I’m kind of…a little…” whispered Maddy.
“Yeah?” Nat leaned in closer.
“Tipsy,” laughed Maddy as she put her hand to her head with embarrassment.
“Well, those Manhattans pack a punch.”
“I might be a little drunk on that kiss too. I had an amazing time tonight. You’re something very special and if I don’t go home right now, I won’t stop kissing you.”
“Is that such a bad thing?” Nat asked with a twinkle in her eye.
Maddy suddenly got a serious look on her face, and lifted her hand to Nat’s face, tracing the line of Nat’s lip with her thumb.
“Yeah, it would be, because I think there’s something special here and I want to savor it. Is that okay?” Maddy’s fingertips fell heavily onto Nat’s jacket.
She was a bit taken aback. Maddy was saying exactly what she was feeling, and it was weird. But weird in the best possible way. “Yes, that’s more than okay,” she assured her and placed a small, sweet kiss on her forehead.
“Can I see you later this week?” Maddy asked.
“Absolutely. Let’s get you a cab back to your place, okay?”
Maddy nodded and slipped her fingers through Nat’s as she lifted her other hand to hail a cab.
Savor. What a perfectly perfect word, Nat decided.
Chapter Fifteen
Nat’s finger hovered above the send button on her phone. What was she so nervous about? It was just a text, and Maddy was just a human. No, she was an angel food cake come to life topped with delicate powdered sugar and full of wit and charm. Now she even had Nat thinking in baking analogies.
Her phone contained a message from Maddy. Had a blast the other night. Wanna hang out for a bit before I head into work?
Nat badly wanted to hang out, but she had to get her ass into the studio and get in some practice and writing time before Paul and Jackie joined her. I have to practice at the studio today. Wanna come?
Why not combine the best of both worlds? In addition to being a star baker and an incredible kisser, maybe she knew how to play piano, Nat reasoned. “Ah fuck it.” She hit send. A few moments later, the familiar three dots appeared on the screen.
Would love to. What’s the address?
She swallowed hard. Her lips still tingled and she was flush between her thighs from their kiss the night before, but she needed to keep her cool if she was going to show Maddy she was serious about her.
Serious. Was she even ready to be serious? Sure, it had been almost a year since things imploded with Melissa, but she’d had a bitter taste in her mouth for so long. She swirled her tongue behind her teeth because for her betrayal was a tangible flavor. She quickly realized that it no longer lingered there like the stale metallic taste of old pennies. There was nothing there now. Yeah, it was time to move on.
“This place is the coolest!” Maddy declared as Nat gave her a tour of the Queens studio where she and the band rehearsed weekly.
Nat hadn’t given it much thought, but it was a pretty cool space. Autographed pictures adorned the walls, while guitars and basses hung from hooks and rested in stands around the room. There was a red stand-up piano with names carved in the fading paint. Maddy seemed particularly drawn to it, as she ran her fingers over the crudely chiseled names.
“Redfern,” she read out loud.
“Well you know them now.”
“The Fiery Ones.”
“Cool name, terrible band.”
Maddy moved her finger and laughed, looking at Nat. “The Moaning Pickles?”
“Terrible name, surprisingly good band if you are into xylophones.”
“Amazing,” Maddy said with a smile. “I’m going to have to look them up for sure. Do you play,” Maddy motioned to the piano, “or just guitar?”
“Yeah, I mean, I’m no Tori Amos or anything,” Nat said as she sat down at the piano. “Enough to plunk out notes and arrange. I also play the bass, trumpet, and banjo.”
“Banjo? Really?”
Nat sighed. “We all went through a banjo phase in the mid-aughts. I blame Mumford and Sons. I actually blame Mumford and Sons for a lot of things.”
“Sounds like you are really good with your hands, then.” Maddy smiled which made Nat blush something fierce. She thought Maddy looked especially cute in a pair of ripped jeans and a plain white T. If she didn’t stop thinking about the way the jeans hung on Maddy’s curvy hips, she was going to burst.
“Not to brag or anything,” she said as she placed her hands on the keys, “but I have perfect pitch.”
Maddy cocked her head to the side and looked at Nat with curious eyes.
“Really?”
She nodded.
“Is that your big pick-up line with the ladies?”
“No, I’ve actually never tried it before. Did it work?”
“Yes. Okay, Captain Rock Star…prove it.” Maddy gave her a poke in the ribs.
“Pick a key, any key. Just don’t push it down yet,” she encouraged.
Maddy chose a key near the bottom on the keyboard.
“Well, not that key. I’m not really a bass,” Nat giggled. “Something in this area.
She motioned to the center of the keyboard.
Maddy reached across her, giving her instant goose bumps, and picked a note. “Good ol’ C five. Okay.” She let out a sustained note and looked back at Maddy. “Now play it.”
Maddy pushed down on the key and the note was exactly as Nat had sung it. “Huh. That’s pretty freaking cool. Is this a trick?”
Nat shook her head. “No, try another one.” Maddy reached across again and picked a higher note.
“D sharp six. Good thing I warmed up,” she said with confidence before letting out the hi
gh note in her upper register.
Maddy slapped her hands on her knees. “How do you do that?”
She shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. Maybe it’s because I’ve been into music my whole life. Just one of those unexplainable things. It’s fun to whip out at parties.”
“Well.” Maddy leaned into her. “I think it’s really amazing. I think you are really amazing.”
Nat’s chest felt like it was full of helium, and she wasted no time in meeting Maddy’s lips with her own. They kissed hard and fast. She took Maddy’s hips in her hands and pulled her closer, moving her to a sitting position on the piano keyboard while Nat stood between her legs. The notes clanged out as Maddy wrapped her ankles around Nat’s knees and moved her hands to keep herself steady. Maddy’s hand swept up her abdomen and was about to cup her breast when they were interrupted by laughter in the hall.
Nat would know Jackie’s giggle and Paul’s wheezing guffaw anywhere, so she and Maddy quickly disengaged as the pair reached the door. Jackie and Paul’s laughter quickly turned to surprise when they saw Nat and Maddy, red-cheeked and out of breath. The duo looked at the women and then at each other and broke out into laughter again.
Nat smoothed her hair and shirt down and helped Maddy off the keyboard as they exchanged looks of mortification and pent-up desire.
Paul tugged at his dark beard. “Did we interrupt a private rehearsal? Nat, were you teaching Maddy about aural comprehension?”
Jackie elbowed him in the ribs, causing him to let out a peal of unexpected pain. Nat shot him the look of death.
“Aural means hearing, you shit.”
“I know what I said.” He grimaced.
“Hi Maddy, nice to see you again,” Jackie interjected, making a small wave of her hand. “You’ll need to excuse Paul. He’s a right wanker when he’s…Paul.”
Maddy smiled back, then turned to Nat. “Thanks for inviting me to your studio. I really loved seeing where you work. Now when I’m daydreaming, I’ll know where to picture you.”
