“No,” she says.
“No what?”
“No platform. It’s too crazy. I’m not going for that,” she says.
“Well I am,” I counter.
“Well, I’m not.”
“I live here too dammit! I can build a platform if I want.”
“You stay here, but you don’t live here,” she says and I think my eyes attempt to pop out of my head.
“The hell you say?”
“This shit is getting good,” Rhys says to Memphis and Koi as they step onto the porch to join us.
“You don’t live here. We haven’t moved in together. This is my house and I say ‘no’ to the platform you fucking idiot.”
“The hell you say?”
“I think what she’s saying is she isn’t going to allow you to build a platform in her living room for your thrones because you don’t live together,” Rhys clarifies.
“Bullshit,” I say.
“What?” she asks with her face all scrunched up.
“We don’t live together?”
“No, I mean yes. But we don’t at the same time,” she answers.
“Is this a woman talk? You know I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about right now,” I put my hands on my hips.
“What I mean is you stay here all the time, but half of your possessions are still at Jagger’s house and we’ve not had the official talk about moving in with each other,” she says.
“I’m moving in… officially,” I quip.
“What?” she asks.
“You want to have the talk?”
“Um...”
“Nuh-uh. No take backs. You wanted to have the talk we’re having it right fucking now!” I jab my finger out.
“But you didn’t talk, you just told me you were officially moving in,” she says.
“Why you gotta make this shit complicated? That’s all the talking I’m doing. I’m moving in. From this moment forward we officially live together. You don’t get the final say on the platform now,” I raise my eyebrows at her.
“So you want to move in so you can build a platform that I can’t say ‘no’ to?” she asks.
“Are you fucking serious right now woman?”
“Yeah, I am.”
“I’m moving in with you because I love you and I already live here.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.”
“I don’t want the platform,” she reiterates her feelings on the matter.
“Only way to settle this,” Koi states.
“How?” I ask.
“There needs to be a bet. Winner gets final say,” Koi answers.
“Sounds good to me,” I reply.
“NO! We are not betting on whether you can build a royal platform in the living room. You’re all fucking lunatics. I built this house the way I fucking wanted it! You do not get to move in here and decide to start changing shit. You take me and my house the way they are when you found us! Stop trying to change us!” she shouts.
“I think that’s my line,” I say.
“What is?”
“It’s women that always try to change the men. Don’t try to change me Henley!” I shout for dramatic effect.
“What in the fuck are you talking about? I’m not trying to change your crazy ass. It’s my house you’re trying to change!”
“This is so much fun to watch,” Memphis laughs.
“Well, you are trying to hamper my creativity and vision,” I retort.
“Jesus Christ!” she shouts and stands from her throne to stomp inside the house.
“Fixing this shit tonight woman!” I say and pull my keys from my pocket. “Y’all coming? I call behind me to my three friends.
“Fuck yeah!” Memphis says with a knowing smile.
“Where are we going?” Koi asks.
“Jagger’s. I’m getting the rest of my shit. I’m OFFICIALLY moving in so I can fuck your sister all the time,” I chuckle.
“If you weren’t driving I’d punch you in the nose,” he replies.
***
“Did she kick you out already?” Jagger answers the door with a shit-eating grin.
“Nope, I’m leaving you and moving in with her officially,” I answer and push through the door.
My three sidekick’s chuckle.
“Uh-oh. What happened?” Jagger asks.
“Kip was nominated at People’s Sexiest Man Alive for next year,” Koi says.
“From here on out he shall be called Sir Sexy Mother Fucker,” Memphis adds.
“We built him, Hen, and Cash thrones fit for royalty. Grandma is making the cushions for them,” Rhys continues as he pulls a beer out of the fridge and pops the cap.
“Now he wants to build a platform in the living room so he and his royal family can sit above all the rest of us lowly people. Apparently we must bring offerings and pay homage each time we visit,” Koi says.
“Hen told him he couldn’t build a platform in the living room which led to her saying they didn’t live together. There was some confusion on what living together entailed, so we helped Sir Sexy Mother Fucker clarify the definition,” Rhys adds.
Memphis continues, “It appears when it comes to moving in with each other you must have a very specific conversation with a woman about the issue. The ‘official moving in conversation’ must take place.”
Jagger raises his eyebrows, “So what happened?”
“I told her I was moving in,” I answer.
He bursts into laughter and slaps his hand on the bar.
“What?” I ask.
“You’ve never had the move in conversation with her and when she tells you that you simply tell her you’re moving in. That was a caveman move,” Jag says.
“Whose side are you on?” I ask.
“Both of yours, but you really are an idiot sometimes. Next time just humor her,” he advises.
I think about that for a minute. Maybe he’s right.
“So she told you that you could move in?” Jag asks.
Memphis grins, “Not exactly.”
“What happened?” Jag questions.
Koi answers, “I suggested they take a bet on the platform and whoever won got to make the final decision. Henley yelled at Kip and told him to stop trying to change her and her house that he had to accept them the way they were when he found them. Kip said it was the man who was supposed to say that and that the woman was the one who was always trying to change the man. Then he yelled at her to stop trying to change him.”
Jagger wipes his hand over his face, “What was she trying to change about you?”
I frown, “Nothing. I got caught up in the moment and since the man is supposed to say it I thought I should just kinda throw it out there. I didn’t really think about it I just kinda yelled it out.”
Jagger laughs abruptly and hits me on the shoulder. I frown more. This isn’t really funny. I can’t help I’m such a passionate person.
Rhys continues, “Then she told Kip she wasn’t trying to change his crazy ass, and Kip told her she was putting the axe on his creativity and vision. She yelled something and went inside.”
“Then what happened?” Jag asks with a grin.
“He came here to get his shit so he can officially move in,” Koi holds in laughter.
They are all a bunch of assholes.
“No. After she went into the house he yelled at her he was fixing this shit tonight and then came here to get his stuff,” Memphis corrects.
“How does she put up with you?” Jag asks.
“Hey! I’m the sexiest man alive. Don’t you dare disrespect me like that! I totally gave you mad respect when you got that title. Respect recognize respect, bruh,” I inform him.
“I don’t even know what you’re talking about right now,” Jagger admits.
“Want to help me pack my shit so I can officially move in with Henley and Cash?” I ask.
“Only i
f I can help you unload it at her place. I wouldn’t miss this shit for anything in the world,” he says.
“Fine. You can come watch,” I give in quickly because I don’t really want to move all this shit by myself.
“I gotta call Cam and Kathrine, Griffin, Jessica, Samantha, Meghan, and Stephanie so they can come watch too,” he grins even bigger.
“You take entirely too much pleasure in my discomfort,” I frown.
***
When we pull up at Hen’s, well our house, the lights are out which is not a good sign.
Fuck me.
“You’re in the dog house Sir Sexy Mother Fucker,” Memphis laughs.
“Shut the fuck up,” I retort.
The rest of our friends arrive in one heap of cars to watch the drama unfold. I’m not really sure why I was so upset about the platform. Some time and distance may have helped me to see I overreacted a little, but I think Henley totally overreacted about the whole living together thing. I might have been a bit inconsiderate when I told her I was moving in, but that’s in the past. I’m moving in and that’s the end of it. I mean I was already moved in so I’m not really sure what the big deal is. Fuck this official shit confuses the hell out of me.
I unlock the door and turn on some lights while everyone grabs a box or a bag of my shit. Of course none of them can be quiet. I was hoping she was sleeping while we unloaded the vehicles so I could send these nosy bastards packing once all my shit was inside, but no such luck.
The hall lights come on.
“What are y’all doing?” Hen asks.
“Moving Kip in,” Griffin smiles.
I clear my throat.
“My bad. We’re moving in Sir Sexy Mother Fucker,” he corrects himself.
Hopefully they’ll get the hang of my new name soon.
Henley rubs her temples.
“So I hear you guys will be making some renovations in this living room of you AND Kip’s,” Cam jabs.
Asshole.
“No. We’re not making any renovations. Someone lied to you. I already have to put up with Sandy the fucking mannequin gracing my living room. He steals my clothes and changes her outfit every few days,” she sighs.
“Tell me she’s lying, bruh,” Koi demands.
“Would you want to wear the same thing every day?” I ask.
“She’s a mannequin. Not a real person,” Memphis says.
“Cash hikes his leg on her sometimes, so I have to change her clothes,” I admit and hope Henley doesn’t hear me.
“Wait. What?” she asks. “You’ve been putting my clothes on her and Cash has been pissing on them?’
“It’s okay sweetheart. I wash them myself and clean up the mess. He likes Sandy. Sometimes he humps her leg. He’s lonely and needs a companion,” I attempt to soothe her.
“Then get another fucking dog! Do not put my clothes on that skank so the dog can piss on them! Now there may be dog jizz on them! You drive me fucking crazy sometimes!” she shouts and I flinch.
“Can I really get another dog?” I ask full of hope.
“NO!” she shouts. “And I’m putting a lock on my closet so you can’t steal my clothes for your make believe whore,” she finishes and throws her hands in the air.
“This is much better than I thought it would be,” Meghan throws in.
Bitch.
“I didn’t say you could move in,” Henley says with her arms crossed across her chest.
“And they’re off!” Jessica says with excitement.
“We talked,” I attempt.
“No. I said we had never had the official talk and your response was to tell me you were moving in,” she guffaws.
“I thought it was settled,” I try. “You want me to sleep at my house?”
“I didn’t say that,” she looks confused.
“Uh-oh,” Samantha says.
“So you don’t want me to sleep somewhere else?”
“Not really.”
“I’m thoroughly confused,” I scratch my chin.
“Me too,” Rhys scratches his chin.
Cash barks his confusion, but he would scratch his chin if he could.
Henley looks around as all eyes are on her and then I see it a split second before it leaves her face. Vulnerability. Insecurity.
What the fuck is going on with my baby mama?
I cross the room and grab her hand so she’ll follow me to the bedroom. Once we’re in I close and lock the door before I pull her to my chest.
I kiss the top of her head, “What’s going on baby?”
“I don’t really know. I guess I just wanted to talk about this without everyone around.”
“I dig it. So let’s talk now. I’m already living here full-time. I haven’t slept a night away from you when we’re home since Gary died. Half my shit is already here. Do you need space? Do you want me to sleep at Jag’s a little more?” I ask.
“No,” she sighs.
“Do you want me to take the stuff I just brought here back to Jag’s?”
“No,” she says with a pouty voice.
“You going to tell me what’s wrong or keep making me guess, because baby I’m confused as hell right now.”
“I guess I’m just worried. What if we don’t make it? Then you won’t have a place to go and I’ll feel like shit. You will have made this your home and if it all goes south then you won’t have a home anymore. What if we need space from each other? Where will you go? Where will I go?” she rambles on.
“Come here,” I say as I pull away from her.
I grab her hand and pull her to sit down on the foot of the bed.
“One thing at a time, okay?” I ask.
“Yeah,” she nods.
“Let’s start with space. We both need space sometimes. We’re both artistic and need time alone or time with a friend or family member. If you need space, I get it. Tell me, and I’ll go hang out elsewhere or stay in another room while you get through the artistic process. No big deal. It won’t hurt my feelings. That space is different from needing space specifically from me though. If you need that then you have to talk to me. I need to know how you’re feeling. If I’m doing something wrong I won’t know unless you tell me, but I also can’t stand the idea of you not talking to me. Do not hold that shit in with me, Henley. You have to tell me what’s going on with you if you need space from me, okay?”
“Yeah. I feel the same way.”
“As far as us not working out, we can’t live life waiting on that shit to happen. We’re new and I get that, but I’ve wanted you my entire life. I don’t see petty shit tearing us apart unless we don’t communicate with each other. Communication is a priority here. You’ve never had a problem with that before so I don’t see it being a problem now. Neither of us will put with cheating, lying, or betrayal. We’ve always been loyal as hell to each other, so I don’t see that being a problem either. So if we communicate, we work out. If we don’t work out Hen, we don’t work out. It will hurt like hell and life won’t be the same, but we’ll both eventually move on. What I refuse to do is live with that hanging over my head… I’m going to enjoy every fucking moment I’m given with you. I’m not going to let stupid shit make me scared to love you with everything I’ve got.”
“I know I’m being stupid,” she says.
“How you feel is never stupid, babe. It’s how you feel and you don’t have to justify it, but when it comes to me you have to tell me. I won’t be able to handle it if you’re always making decisions based on the fact that we may not work out.”
“I don’t. Well, I did today for the first time. It wasn’t purely selfish. I just don’t want you to have a home and then you don’t have one. The thought of us not working out kills me, but I’ve never thought about this not working out. Moving in together officially just… I wasn’t prepared. You were making decisions about changing the house. This has been my place for so long and it’s always just been me here.”
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“You were caught off guard. I get that and I should have approached the situation a little better. I get excited and there’s no filter between my mouth and brain so I’m sorry I freaked you out without talking to you about what was really important first. That being me moving in here officially,” I smile at her.
“Stop smiling at me,” she smiles back.
“I’ve been wanting to ask you something,” I wink.
“What?” she frowns.
“What do you think about us moving in together? Like officially?” I ask.
She chuckles, “I think it’s a great idea as long as you start buying Sandy her own clothes. I mean you’re already here all the time. It is the next logical step in our relationship.”
I get serious on her, “We’ve lived together before, Hen. It’s always been easy between us.”
I push some hair behind her ear and place a kiss on the side of her mouth.
“Yeah it has,” she agrees.
“You done freaking out?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
“Sure?”
“Yeah.”
“All I did today was get more of my shit and put it in the living room. It’s not a big deal, right?” I continue.
“Right,” she says.
“Wanna fuck?” I ask.
She bursts into laughter, jumps on my lap for a kiss, and then drags me out to play host to all the people I invited over, which I realize now was a stupid, stupid idea.
Chapter 19
Kip
Most kids change their minds a hundred times or so about what they want to be when they grow up. Not me. I wanted to be a fireman for a little while as a sort of dedication to my foster father. He was the only father I’d ever really had up to that point. After that, I just wanted to get through the day… well, until I met Henley. Once I met her and her family, all I wanted to be was a musician.
I live the dream. I don’t complain as much as other musicians. It isn’t an easy life to live. We make tradeoffs in order to live the dream. We work more than most workaholics you know. Musicians are forced to be away from their families for extended amounts of time, and it’s hell on a relationship. Even the strongest relationships are tested with the temptations of the road. We give up all of our privacy, and it’s the heaviest price to be paid. I’ve seen Henley and Jagger pay a high price for this dream.
Guitar Face Series Box Set: Books 1-4 Page 106
