A fucking divorced accountant. Jeez. She couldn’t get much further from a drummer if she tried. “Ah, right. Where did she meet him?�
“Well, there’s the funny story. She was out jogging when a silly dog ran at her and sent her flying. It was his dog. Evan’s, I mean. Chocolate lab, apparently. Anyway, this Evan was a real gent. Helped her home and made sure she was okay. They had coffee and got on really well, as it turns out. Then, just as he was leaving, he asked if he could take her for a meal. They’ve been out a few times now.� She fell silent for a moment. “Oh, I’m sorry, love. Listen to me going on. You probably don’t want to hear all this, do you?�
I swallowed a ball of sadness down and forced a smile that I hoped reached my voice. “No, don’t be daft, Mum. I’m glad she’s happy. That’s all I ever wanted for her.�
She sighed. “You’re so sweet, darling. I’m sure you’ll meet someone too. In fact, I just know you will.� There was another long pause. “Are you okay, Simeon? I mean really okay?�
Trying to sound as bright and breezy as I could, I replied, “Oh, God, yeah. Absolutely fine. Listen, I’ll have to dash. My mobile’s ringing and it might be Den about tomorrow’s gig. I’d better go,� I lied.
“Okay, love. Call soon, okay? Love you.�
“Love you too, Mum. Bye.�
I hung up and stared at the wall for a few moments, trying to process the fact that Allie had moved on so damn fast. Then I reminded myself she had nothing to move on from. This whole thing had been one-sided from beginning to end. Anger mixed with sadness and disappointment inside me, but before I could let it reach boiling point, I picked up the phone again and dialled reception.
A sweet German young woman answered. “Hallo, Mr Delaney, this is Mia. How can I help you today?�
“Hello, Mia. Could you put me through to room two seventy please?�
Chapter 23
Si
*
“So, what changed your mind? You seemed pretty set on chilling out today,� Bobbie asked, before taking a lick of her vanilla ice cream cone as we walked along Heinrich-Böll-Platz towards the museum.
I shrugged. “Oh, you know, I figured it’s not that often I get a day off.� And I need to get back at the woman I love for moving on so fucking quickly.
She grinned up at me. “Well, I’m glad you changed your mind.� I finished my ice cream and tilted my face upwards. She gave a contented sigh. “Beautiful sky today, huh? Such a vivid blue.�
I readjusted my woolly slouch hat. “Yeah. I think I underestimated how warm it is. Although, I was ordered by Den not to leave the hotel without a bodyguard or a disguise. Or preferably both.�
She laughed. “I like your hat. Although, you’re pretty distinctive, you know? I doubt a beanie will stop the fans from recognising you. And I can’t profess to be much of a bodyguard.�
I tugged the hat further down over my ears, made sure my shades were pushed up my nose, and grinned. “Nah. I reckon we’ll be fine.� I glanced around nervously as I remembered my last brush with crazy fans on my own doorstep. “So, how did you get into drumming then?�
She gestured to a bench outside the Ludwig and I nodded, so she sat. “My journey into music started with my folks. They were crazy about the music of the fifties and sixties and played it all the time at home. In fact, I was named after Bobby Vinton and my older brother was named after Dean Martin. Music has always been a big part of my life. My dad played guitar and my mom played piano. But they were never really my bag.� Her cheeks coloured as she admitted, “I was always a tomboy. Drumming was more my thing… well, it was all thanks to my brother. He was in a band when I was little and I always thought he was so cool. As I got older, I figured I’d follow in his footsteps. Make him proud.�
The similarity of our situations struck a chord with me. “Wow. Your brother too, eh? That’s how I got into drumming. What does your brother do now? Is he still in a band?�
She lowered her gaze to the floor. “He… um… he died.�
I was not expecting that. I swallowed hard and puffed the air from lungs. “Fuck. I’m so sorry, Bobbie.�
She sighed. “Yeah. He fought a long illness but in the end, it won out.�
I shook my head as memories of the pain of losing Joe bombarded my mind. “Jeez. I had no idea we had so much in common. How old were you when you lost him?�
She dropped the remainder of her ice cream into the dustbin beside her. “I was just fifteen. It was tough going there for a while but I figured getting into the music business somehow would help. Honour his memory and all that.�
I nodded emphatically. “Shit, yeah. Me too. Do you have any other siblings?�
She shook her head. “Just me and Dean. My mom and dad have never really gotten over it.�
I glanced over at her as she wiped her eyes. “Oh, God. I’m sorry. I’ve made you cry.� I handed her the unused napkin from my ice cream.
“No, no. It’s not your fault. It’s just still hard to talk about. Even seven years on.�
I nodded. “Tell me about it. So many things remind me of Joe. And then there’ll be the times when something will happen and I’ll think, ‘I must tell Joe about that’ and then I’ll remember he’s not here anymore.�
She nodded and reached out to touch my leg. “I know. That happens to me all the time. I think that’s what drew me to this gig with Sonic Idols, you know? Empathy.�
I placed my hand over hers in what I hoped was a comforting gesture. “Well, look, if you ever need to talk…�
She smiled up at me, her green eyes glistening with tears. “Same goes, Si.�
We sat in silence for a short while, surrounded by people walking around, getting on with their lives, oblivious to our shared grief.
I turned to find Bobbie watching me, her eyes filled with sadness, and I realised the conversation had caused a dark cloud to hover over us. “Hey, do you want to head back to the hotel? I totally understand if you don’t feel like going into the museum.�
She stood and held out her hand to me. “Nah. Dean loved art too. I feel close to him in places like this. Let’s go get our culture on, huh?�
I slipped my hand into hers and let her pull me to my feet. I stepped closer and connected with her gaze. She really was pretty. Not stunning, but pretty and quirky. And genuine. That was the main thing. She was real. There was nothing fake or plastic about her personality. Okay, so she had emotional baggage, but luckily, I had a matching set. And the best thing? She wasn’t my dead brother’s fiancée.
���
After a really pleasant day mooching around the Ludwig Museum, staring at pictures I didn’t really understand whilst Bobbie talked about light and texture, I found myself sitting across from her at the small dining table in my room. A room service meal was laid out before us and a bottle of red wine open.
“What did you think of the art on display today?� Bobbie asked as she tucked into her posh-looking chicken dish.
I took a long gulp of my Pinot Noir. “Erm… yeah. It was… interesting.�
She laughed and eyed me suspiciously. “So, art is totally not your thing.�
I cringed and chewed my lip. “Shit, sorry. Was it that obvious?�
“The blank expression on your face when I was droning on and on about my favourite pieces was kind of a giveaway.�
I pretended to smack myself in the head. “Fuck. Must try harder, Delan
ey.�
She waved dismissively. “Hey, don’t sweat it. We can’t all like the same things. I have to say, I just loved it though.�
“Don’t get me wrong, I really liked some of it. But a lot of it just looked like blobs of colour on canvas. Like someone had spilled paint and tried to clean it up. I really didn’t get those ones.�
A wide smile spread across her face. “I’m not sure whether to be disappointed or flattered right now.�
I scrunched my brow. “How do you mean?�
“Well, either you really don’t care about trying to impress me, seeing as you haven’t pretended to understand the art, or you’re so comfortable with me that you feel able to be completely honest. I’m not sure which it is.�
I laughed. “Ah. Well, in all honesty, I could’ve tried to fake knowing what I was talking about but you’d have seen right through me, so let’s go with the comfort thing, okay?�
She giggled. “Agreed.�
The rest of the evening slipped by in a mix of chatter and jokes, and before I knew it, she was getting up to leave.
She stepped towards the door. “Thank you for a great day, Si. It’s been really special. And I hope the art gallery didn’t bore you too much. Well, not enough to put you off going out with me again, anyway.�
I stood before her. “Nah. It takes more than that to put me off.�
Her cheeks coloured pink. “Great. Well, I hope we can do this again sometime soon.�
“Yeah. Me too.� And I really meant it.
She opened the door and then stopped. She turned to face me and reached up to kiss my cheek. “Goodnight, Si. Sweet dreams.�
“Goodnight, Bobbie. See you tomorrow.�
Once she was gone and I had closed the door, I huffed the air from my lungs. I hadn’t expected to get along so well with her. I suppose the fact that we shared common interests and our route into music was very similar gave us a base to work from. And for the first time in a while, I wondered what it might be like to be with someone else. But not just a quickie. No, a meaningful relationship, like the one I had dreamed of having with Allie.
Chapter 24
Allie
*
So, the rumours were true. Sonic Idols were playing the biggest music festival in Scotland. I had discovered the fact when I was watching the news whilst Evan was cooking a meal for us in his kitchen.
My heart leapt at the thought of the band being so close. Well, not exactly close, but in the same country at least. Inverness was bloody miles away.
I distinctly remember going there with my mum and dad when I was around fourteen and absolutely loving the atmosphere. Some really big names had played there in the past and I was so proud of Si and the guys for landing the headline spot. I knew it must have been a big deal to them but I didn’t want to bother Si by texting to congratulate him. After all, I hadn’t heard from him since things ended between us. Not that they ever really started.
“You’re looking deep in thought, gorgeous. Are you okay?� Evan asked, as he placed his knife and fork down beside his plate. The meal he had cooked was delicious and it only served to make me realise how perfect for me he was. Financially stable, good-looking, good cook. What was there not to love? Well… like.
I shook my head. “Ugh, sorry. I drifted off there for a wee while. What were you asking me?�
“I asked if you like camping. Or are you more of a luxuries kind of girl?�
I scrunched my brow. “Camping’s good fun. Why do you ask?�
His cheeks flushed red. “Well… it may be a bit too soon in our relationship, but I wondered if you fancied going to Belladrum? It’s good craic and there are usually some great bands on.�
Okay, this was so spooky. “Oh… I… erm…�
He cringed. “Look, don’t feel pressured to make a decision yet. I just thought I’d ask seeing as tickets are on sale and they usually sell out quickly. Although, that bloody terrible rock band are headlining so we have to use that time to our advantage. Sonic Idols… more like Sonic Racket if you ask me. All they’re missing is a bit of lip gloss and they’d be great in the nineteen eighties.� He laughed before stuffing another fork full of food in his mouth.
Affronted by his comment, I scowled at him but then remembered he had no clue about my connection to the band. “I happen to love Sonic Idols, actually.�
His eyes widened. “Shit. Sorry, Al. I didn’t mean to offend you. They’re just not my cup of tea, but you’re entitled to your own opinion, of course.�
Gee thanks, pal.
The truth was that Evan and I had been taking things very slow. He had just experienced a nasty divorce and I wasn’t willing to dive head first into a serious relationship. We’d talked about superficial things, but thanks to the situation with his crazy ex and my last relationship being ages ago, we both seemed reluctant to talk about our pasts. We’d spent time together, but in all honesty, I couldn’t remember what we’d talked about other than our hobbies and favourite TV shows. There had been a little kissing but nothing more. We never really got—to quote a Sonic Idols track—‘hot and heavy’. It was a little as though we were still in the friend zone.
I wasn’t sure if sharing a tent with him would be awkward, and the fact that he didn’t like Sonic Idols shouldn’t have been such a big deal, but it made me question everything.
“You’ve drifted off again. Is my cooking so hypnotic?� I lifted my chin again and he was watching me, head tilted.
I sighed deeply and closed my eyes. “I’m so sorry, Evan. I think maybe I’m not really in the right frame of mind for company tonight.�
His smile disappeared and he nodded. “I took it too far, didn’t I? Asking you to go away with me was a mistake.�
I held up my hand. “No. No, honestly, it’s not that. I’m just… I’m tired, I think. That’s all.�
He pushed his chair away from the table and stood. “I know it’s more than that, Allie. Jen used to drift off like that when she was pissed off with me talking about work.� He frowned and stared into space momentarily. “Tell you what, why don’t we take the food into the living room and watch a movie? We don’t have to talk if you’re not in the mood.�
Guilt twisted my insides. He’d made such a lot of effort, and there I was spoiling everything. I had no clue what the matter really was. I wasn’t tired at all. Just overthinking.
I picked up my plate and smiled. “Sure. Let’s do that.�
I stood, followed him through, and sat beside him on the sofa. He picked up the remote and switched on the TV. “So, what do you fancy? Horror, drama, romance?�
“Ugh, anything but romance.�
He raised his eyebrows. “Like that, is it? You surprise me. Jen was crazy about romance movies. The sicklier and sweeter the better. She could cry at the drop of a hat. All it took was some romantic gesture on the part of the hero and I virtually had to swim out of the room.� He laughed and shook his head at some apparent memory, a distinct look of melancholy in his eyes. As if realising he had said too much, he slapped his hands on his legs. “Ugh, enough of that. So, okay then, horror it is. And you can protect me at the scary bits.�
He selected a movie and grinned at me before carrying on eating his food.
I stared blankly at the TV as the opening credits played and the eerie music kicked in with a thudding drum beat for dramatic effect, and I immediately wondered what Si was doing right at that moment.
Was he wi
th someone?
And why the hell did I care?
Chapter 25
Si
*
The disappointment at Allie not being at our Scottish festival headliner just made me more determined to move on. It had been epic. The crowd loved us and I fully expected her to be there. But I guessed she was too busy getting it on with her divorced fucking accountant to give a crap about me.
Nick’s shit was coming together with his Scottish woman, and even bloody Den and Roger were getting closer. Chris and Stig were the same as ever. Nelly the assistant had gone. Offered a job with her favourite band and off she went. Not a second thought for the man whose heart she had broken. Stig lost his bounce for a while, and seeing him change like that reminded me that love sucks. Maybe it’s better to be with someone who loves you but maybe you don’t love quite as much if it means companionship and not being hurt.
I think that was where things were going with me and Bobbie. I really liked her, don’t get me wrong. But I didn’t get butterflies when I saw her. Although, maybe I was putting too much store in the whole love at first sight thing. She was fun to be with. She was pretty. And we had so much in common that I never felt alone or awkward with her. She totally got me. Our relationship was growing from something bigger than lust. It was growing from a steady foundation based on solid common ground. And okay, that sounds dull as shit, but maybe… just maybe it was what I needed. I had spent so long pining for my brother’s woman that I had no idea what being with someone who actually wanted me for me was like.
Nick had announced to the band that he had made a very special purchase which involved him being in Scotland for a while and we were on a short break from our European tour so it seemed the perfect time to take a little holiday.
Den called a meeting and we all met at a pub in Northumberland. Alnwick was a quaint little town with a pretty big castle, and the pub Den had chosen was just as nice. I figured I would ask Bobbie to spend a couple of days with me on the Northumberland coast after the meeting. The nerves were jangling and I hoped I wasn’t about to make a total idiot of myself.
In His Place: Sonic Idols Book #2 Page 13
