Riff

by Skye Turner

  Our combined band-mates are looking at the two of us in awe as we pass the song around and they read through it. They make a few suggestions here and there and then hand it back to us.

  Everyone is smiling.

  Sean says, “Let’s do a run through.” He looks at Summer. “Join me over here?”

  She nods and jumps up. We run through the song a few times, making changes. Xavior uses the drums in the corner while everyone else grabs their instruments. I take a guitar off the wall when Daisy says to help myself. Roman grabs his cell and shoots raw video to use for promotion purposes.

  After another hour or so, we’re happy with the sound. There was some squabbling between the bands as the girls wanted Summer’s fiddle to solo but we, the guys, wanted Xavior to have a drum solo. After all, he’s genius.

  Eventually Roman proposed a compromise and both got solos because it added to the song.

  I set the guitar down and stretch my back again. Everyone is quietly conversing around me. I look over at Daisy and she’s smiling in delight. She glances at me and her smile slips as she says, “We really did it… I wasn’t sure we could. But we did… We wrote a song together and did it in one day…”

  My chest swells with pride.

  We did do it! Not only did we write a song together, but it sounds amazing with our combined voices and styles.

  We fucking killed this!

  Now, I just hope the label likes it!

  I nod at her and mutter, “Who’d have thunk it, princess? We actually worked together and I think we nailed the song.”

  Summer walks over and taps my songbook, still open to the page we wrote on, “This is amazing!” It slips off the stand and starts to fall to the ground. We both reach for it at the same time and our hands brush against each other. Neither of us moves for a second as electricity dances over the place we’re touching. Then, we both let go and the book falls to the floor.

  She leans down to grab it and I exhale as quietly as I can.

  What the hell, Rafe?

  It’s just the high from writing the song together. That’s all.

  Sean taps his guitar and says loudly, “So, shall we run through it then while Roman records it for the label?”

  Daisy and I nod.

  We both lean in, but make it a point not to touch.

  Daisy, me, Sean, and Summer all strum guitars to introduce the song.

  Then… we start. Daisy and I sing as the others interject their own spins at various parts of the song and we all sing the chorus.

  “Listen to the rhythm. The music fills the street.

  Lighting up your life like a sultry summer’s night.

  Your kiss fills my soul. Dreams come to light.

  Everything you are is exactly what I want.

  Listen to the music of our Firefly Heartbeats.”

  The last chord fades and we all sit in stunned silence as the song we created fades out.

  Then, Sean stands up and whoops. I jump from the unexpected action. He screams, “Ladies and gentlemen… Firefly Heartbeat is going to kill it on the charts!”

  Everyone laughs and claps as we agree.

  I glance at Daisy and see she’s also glancing at me. We both hurriedly look away as everyone dances around the room in celebration.

  This is not good, Rafe…

  Shit… this is not good.

  I can’t be attracted to her like this. It’s insane. It makes no sense. We would make absolutely no sense.

  It’s just the song. That’s all it is. It’s the fact that we just wrote that amazing song together and now the high and the emotions from singing it are roaring through my veins.

  That’s ALL this is…

  Because while we just found out we can write an amazing song together, anything else between us would be a recipe for disaster… anything but beautiful music!

  I stand so quickly, I almost drop Russ’ guitar. Everyone looks at me in concern. Shaking my head, I mutter, “I just need some air and to stretch. My back is killing me.”

  I glance at Sean and quickly look away from the understanding in his eyes. He quickly looks at Daisy and then at me. I shake my head to stop that train of thought and head for the French doors across the room.

  I need to get out of this room… Now!

  Chapter Four

  Daisy

  What the hell was that about? That was not cool and certainly not welcome. Rafe and I just had a moment.

  But judging from how fast he bolted from this room, he doesn’t want to experience it any more than I do.

  I don’t even know WHY there’s so much sexual energy between us now!

  Sure, we just wrote a song together, but so what. I write songs all the time. It doesn’t mean that I want to feel anything for the people that I write with!

  Nope… No thank you.

  About thirty minutes later, he comes back in and avoids looking at me. I only noticed because I’m trying so hard not to look at him.

  He grunts at the guys, “Y’all ready? We can work on this more tomorrow. We have the basics down and I’m fucking beat. I’m ready to get out of here so if you’re riding with me, let’s go.”

  Well, ok then. No need to be such an ass about it!

  The girls all say their good nights and I manage to mumble something before they take their exits.

  Finally, it’s just the four of us again. I sit and lean back on the couch. I can smell Rafe’s cologne or aftershave. It smells sort of like spiced cherry and wood smoke. It’s really nice.

  I can’t stop myself from slapping the couch in annoyance.

  McKenzie looks over at me. “Something bothering you, Daisy?”

  I roll my eyes and mutter, “Nope, I’m good. Perfectly fine.”

  She chuckles. “Okay then. Because if I didn’t know better, I’d swear that a certain tattooed rock star had you all discombobulated.”

  Glaring at her, I smirk. “Reading the word of the day calendar again, are we?”

  Summer and Fannie plop down with us and laugh. McKenzie smirks again. “Yup.

  Exercising my brain. You know I’m so much more than just a pretty face!”

  “I do know that. But who uses discombobulated in an everyday sentence?”

  She smiles again and looks at me closely. “I know. But seriously… that song is amazing girl! And when you and Rafe sang it together… I got goosebumps!”

  Summer sighs dramatically. “Right?! That’s a sexy song, sis, and when you two sing together… Say what you want, but you have a connection.”

  I mutter, “The hell we do…”

  But, what if she’s right?

  Fannie giggles. “I can admit that they are some good looking men!” We all look at her in shock. She’s usually so quiet and she doesn’t really get taken with too many men. She shrugs. “What? They are good looking. I’ve been looking at them for most of the day! Was I not supposed to notice?”

  I roll my eyes again. “They’re all tattooed and pierced! Two of them wear more makeup than I do!”

  Summer slaps her knee and says jovially, “Ah, so you did notice those gorgeous blue eyes surrounded by that black eyeliner…”

  Of course I noticed! It’s a guy wearing eyeliner!

  Like that can be ignored!

  His eyes are a really pretty blue though…

  Nope… Stop!

  Focus, Daisy!

  I glare at Summer. “I’m going to call Momma and Daddy and tell them you were drooling over a rocker covered in tattoos who screws everything that wears panties!”

  Summer giggles. “Go for it, big sis! Then I can tell them you were making beautiful music with a rocker with tattoos and piercings and are wanting to make more music with him in the bedroom!”

  “SUMMER!” I gasp. “You are delusional! I do not want to do anything with Rafe Rider! And certainly not in the bedroom!”

  Her face shows she doesn’t believe me. “Uh huh… sure you don’t. Then why are you sniffing the air like a retriever and beating up the
couch? That couch didn’t do you anything.”

  I am not sniffing around like a retriever! And I’m just frustrated that I have to spend the next nine months with Rafe… a man I cannot stand.

  Yes, that is the ONLY reason I’m angry.

  Liar. Liar. Pants on fire…

  Ignoring her, I stand up and stretch. “I’m heading up. I’m exhausted from writing the song. Takes a lot out of you.” All three girls nod at me and Summer grins at me knowingly. She calls out. “Sweet dreams, sis.”

  Fannie and McKenzie laugh with her. I can hear them discussing the guys in the band. Summer is chattering about how sexy Sean is.

  This tour is going to cause all kinds of chaos.

  After my shower, I’m feeling a little less frazzled and a little more in charge. My phone is buzzing on my vanity, so wrapping the towel around me, I walk over to check it.

  It’s from Roman.

  Great, what other news is he going to hit us with? Does Cypress want us to marry the rockers and have hybrid babies now?

  Good lord, Daisy… you sound like a lunatic.

  Hybrid babies? What are you, X-Men instead of singers?

  Punching in my pass code, I open my texts.

  “Roman

  Here are numbers for the guys of Destiny Fades to Blue. I’ve also sent your numbers to their manager.

  It’s a good idea to have this info. So, save them!

  Today was a great session.”

  I groan as I read the message, but I have to admit, if we’re going on tour together, we do need that info. I just don’t want to add Rafe’s number to my contacts.

  Why? You going to call him at midnight?

  Oh my God, no way! I would never!

  Laughing at myself for being so stupid, I copy the numbers and save them in my phone. I save Rafe’s for last and see that Roman also copied the other girls on the text.

  I toss the phone in the middle of my bed and grab some panties and a loose t-shirt to sleep in. After sliding them on, I sprawl out on my stomach backwards on my bed so I can watch some TV. Something good has to be on one of these channels. I mean there are only like a thousand of them. Flipping through the Guide, I see that “The Voice” is on, so I select it and settle in to watch.

  It’s the “Battle Rounds”, so I’m screaming at the TV soon enough. “Why would you pair those two together? They are both amazing! No, don’t do that! I disagree! You should have picked the other one! Bad call, Blake!”

  A knock on my door has me reaching for the remote to turn the volume down. “Come in.”

  Summer pops her head into the room and asks, “Can I come in for a sec?”

  I nod and scoot over on the bed, while lowering the volume a few more bars. She hops in beside me and we watch the show for a minute while we lean against the headboard. Finally, she looks over at me and I can tell she’s mustered up the nerve to say or ask what she came in here to say. I mutter, “Out with it.”

  She smirks and sighs. “You always know what I’m feeling or going to say. You can read me like a book.”

  I laugh. “Well, I am your sister. I’ve known you for twenty-four years. So, what’s up? What’s wrong?”

  She twirls a curl that’s fallen from the clip at the back of her head. She does that when she’s nervous. She always has. She sighs again and says, “Yeah, true. You know me best and I know you best, too.” She looks right into my eyes.

  Her eyes match mine. We get them from our mother. But I look like our daddy and she looks more like Momma. Our hair color and eyes are the same color and our bodies are shaped similar, though she’s a few inches shorter than my five foot six inch height. She tops out at five three. I’m also fifteen months older, but we’re as close as twins.

  Before she says her next words, I know what she’s going to say. “You’re attracted to Rafe and it scares you, huh?”

  With a sigh, I flop over onto my stomach and hug a pillow under my chin. She mimics me and turns her head to stare at me. Blake and Adam are arguing in the background on the TV, but neither of us speaks.

  Finally, I close my eyes and nod. “I am.” Cracking my eyes open, I look at her. She’s smiling at me with understanding. “I can’t be attracted to him, Summer! We are nothing alike. Just look at us! He’s all bad boy rock and roll who always has headlines in tabloids that are not complimentary.” I point to myself. “And look at me… I’m the good girl! I never get into trouble. We never get caught by paparazzi drunk and acting like idiots or sleeping with married men… or fighting with people outside of our concerts.” I laugh harshly. “We’re like oil and water… no matter what the label wants or how much you shake it… it never mixes and always separates!”

  She purses her lips and looks at me again. “You know those people make up and embellish stories to sell trash mags… you know this.” I open my mouth to argue with her, but she continues before I can get a word out. “I’m not saying they’re saints.” She giggles. “They certainly aren’t and I have no doubt that they screw women at every stop, but here today with us… they were respectful. Like genuinely respectful, Daisy.

  “Even when Rafe was goading you to get a rise, which you all too willingly gave him, they weren’t like what the media perceives them to be.

  “Think about it, sis. We’re wholesome, good girls because that’s what the label wants us to be. That sells our records and it’s what the majority of our fans want… someone to look up to and be role models for women and young girls…

  “They’re rockers. The label wants them harder, more in your face… badder… sexier… that’s what sells their records.

  “We all have our parts to play.”

  My mouth is hanging open as I listen to her. My little sister is pretty wise sometimes. I nod and she grins and slaps my hip as she jumps off my bed. “All I’m saying, sis, is that if you like Rafe, get to know him. After all, we have months to spend with them… maybe that rocker is just what you need to rock your world!”

  I groan and roll my eyes. “My world doesn’t need rocking, thank you very much!”

  She laughs from the door. “I beg to differ. I bet than man can get your juices flowing.” She winks at me and calls out, “I’ll let Sean rev my engine if he offers!”

  I yell, “Jesus, Summer! Really?!”

  But all I hear is her laughter fading as she walks to her wing down the hall.

  Rafe does not get my juices flowing… and he certainly will not be revving my engine anytime soon.

  Uh huh. You know Summer is right about the media…

  And Rafe is very, very attractive.

  Oh God…

  Rafe

  The guys asked me what my issue was as I peeled out of the girl’s driveway this afternoon. I muttered something about just needing to get away from all the purity and needing to let loose tonight.

  They all laughed and agreed as we parted ways. They’d all parked at my house so we could ride over together this morning. I live in central Baton Rouge. Not that far from the girl’s. About twenty minutes actually. I’m not in love with this house though and have been thinking of moving. I want something on the river and have been looking around the New Roads/ False River area. Houses are beautiful out there. And you don’t really have to worry about being bothered since it’s a pretty small town and most people own camps or vacations out there and no one really lives there full time.

  With the popularity of the band, the location appealed to me. Sure, I love having a good time and all, but my home is my home and I like it to be peaceful. I never bring women back to my house. It’s my one rule. The second we signed with the label, I promised myself no matter what happened, my home would always be mine alone… my sanctuary.

  I have an apartment downtown, too and I have no problem taking any of my bedmates there, but they have never and will never come here.

  Russ actually owns the only other apartment on the floor, so he keeps an eye on it for me when I’m here. It’s across from the Burlesque Club downtown, Gemstone Burl
esque, and is a really nice area. The owner of the club owns pretty much the surrounding three blocks around the club, but Russ and I own our apartments. Beau, the club owner, just owns the rest of the building.

  I’m sitting in my living room, debating about making a call and heading down to the apartment for the night, but the idea isn’t all that appealing to me.

  What is wrong with you? Make the call, get some pussy, and send them on their merry little satisfied way.

  I should…

  I want to…

  But, then again… I don’t.

  Ugh…

  Rubbing my temples where a slight headache is starting to form, I head to the kitchen to grab a beer. When I get back with a beer in each hand, my phone is buzzing on the coffee table.

  After twisting the top off the beer, I grab the phone to see who’s texting me. Our manager, Gavyn. He’s sent all the numbers for Sweet Southern Sass so we can save them in case we need them. He also wants to know how the day went and that everyone survived.

  He knows how pissed I was about this little endeavor.

  Deciding to answer him, he’ll just keep texting and if I ignore them, he’ll call, I punch out a text.

  “Asshat Manager

  Day went fucking great. Song’s done. It’s awesome.

  Probably laying the official demo tomorrow. You should have been there.

  Everyone is alive with all extremities attached.

  We fucking rock!”

  No reply comes through, though I wasn’t expecting one.

  After drinking both beers, I’m still antsy and find myself reaching for my phone.

  Before I realize it, I’ve pulled up Daisy’s new contact info.

  What are you going to do, asshole?

  Why would you text her? You two are NOT friends. You aren’t ANYTHING!

  Why would you even want to text with her?!

  Fuck that… Not going to happen!

  No fucking way.

  Clearing out the info, I pull up another name and punch out a text.

  “Carlee

  I’m horny and ready to fuck. Meet me at my apartment in twenty. You won’t walk straight tomorrow.”

  I hit send and look for my shoes, as I’m lacing the boots, I get a reply.