Catalyst (The Best Days #1)
Page 21
The angel figuring sparkled in the late afternoon sunlight. It looked absolutely beautiful, capturing the sun’s rays and reflecting them in a prism of rainbows.
“I’m going to live for us both,” Rory vowed. “I won’t let fear paralyse me anymore. I won’t be the loudest one in the room just because I’m afraid I’ll blend into the wallpaper. I’ll try my best not to be so insecure. So what if I have to buy jeans in a bigger size or fail a class? At least I’m still here. I’m still here,” Rory reiterated, her voice cracking with emotion.
“I’ll live for us both, Grace. It’s still not fair to you in any way, but it’s the best I can do.”
* * * * *
“I miss you too,” Rory said into the phone as Sheck looked at her impatiently.
When he saw her looking back at him, he made a big show of checking his watch, an import from Mexico similar to what had been brought back for Justin. There was no question about it: he had no interest whatsoever in listening to Rory say sweet things to her boyfriend over the phone in the middle of their jam session.
“I’d better go,” she advised. “Sheck’s trying to shoot daggers into my skull with his eyes.”
“That sounds, uh…fun?” Carson joked. “I should be going too. I have a bunch of reading to do before I drive back to Laketown in the morning.”
Rory scrunched up her nose. “You’re doing readings already? I thought your classes don’t even start until next week!”
“They don’t, but I want to get a head start.”
“You’re almost as nerdy as my sister,” Rory told him, but she didn’t mean it in a bad way. She and Rebecca were back to being inseparable in between their summer jobs, Rebecca’s voracious reading habits and Rory’s band practice. They had even reinstated their Friday night movie marathons, complete with fort-building. That one simple little thing meant the world to Rory.
“See you tomorrow! Love you!”
Rory’s beamed. Carson had started saying ‘I love you’ instead of ‘goodbye’ exactly nine days ago. Hearing those words coming out of his mouth absolutely lit her world on fire.
“I love you too!” she smiled into the phone before hanging up.
Sheck cleared his throat nosily and made a face at Rory. “Are you going to do that in the middle of our set when we’re playing Times Square on New Year’s?” he demanded, guitar in hand.
“You dream big,” Rory smirked. “My delusional little band mate.”
“Shut up and play,” he retorted.
Rory wasn’t great on the keyboard but she was getting better. It seemed she had a talent for playing by ear which was good considering she could barely read sheet music. She’d dropped out of piano lessons at age eight after refusing to practice.
Sheck also insisted she had a good voice and was adamant that she should be the band’s lead singer. At first she’d thought he wanted her to take center stage because he had no interest in being in the limelight himself. But after a few jam sessions Rory had come to realize that she actually did sound pretty damn good.
They started playing the new song Rory had come up with from the top, but she immediately stopped him. “No, no, no, no!” she exploded, throwing her hands up in frustration. “You came in too soon again! You have to wait for me to finish my part before you start!”
Undisturbed by her outburst, Sheck merely scrunched up his face in exaggerated exasperation. “Yes ma’am.”
“Sorry,” she grinned, taking a deep, calming breath.
“No worries,” Sheck replied in his usual laid back way, shooting Rory a lopsided smile. “I’m used to your hissy fits by now, Drama Queen.”
“I’m not a drama queen!” Rory insisted like she always did. “I’m just passionate.”
COMING SOON
Ascent by Delaina Lake
When Rory and her best friend Sheck decided to start a band, it was just supposed to be a summer hobby. But now, a year later, their music is taking them places.
She’s always dreamed of being famous. But she quickly learns that with fame come expectations that leave a bad taste in her mouth and temptations that are hard to resist.
To make matters worse, Rory’s high school sweetheart is jealous of her glamorous new life – and all the time she’s been spending in the studio with men who aren’t him. Her reassurances do little to satisfy him and bit by bit, she can feel their relationship coming apart at the seams.
Will Rory’s overnight rise to fame cost her everything she holds dear or can you really, truly have it all?
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