Effortless (Thoughtless, #2)(43)

Matt worked the rehearsals around everyone’s schedules, so sometimes they played later in the evening, when I was working. But I always tried to make it when they were rehearsing before my shift. I just loved watching the creative process. I’d watched Kellan write the lyrics in his kitchen over coffee. I’d watched him and Evan and Matt shuffle through the melody at the bar. It was so amazing to me, to watch an idea in someone’s head blossom into a powerful song of breaking through a crossroads and coming out the other side stronger. It was a beautiful piece. I liked to think that the song was somehow about us.

When they got to the chorus, Kellan frowned and stopped singing mid-sentence. He looked over at Matt and eventually the other instruments died out, Griffin stopping last. Matt frowned and shook his head and Kellan pointed to his guitar. “What are you doing? That’s the bridge, not the chorus.”

Matt sighed and raised his hand into the air. “Dude, that’s what I’ve been saying. You’re so spacey lately.” He pointed back to Evan. “Since you’ve been missing rehearsals and leaving us without a singer, Evan and I have been tweaking the music. We flopped the two sections and it sounds about a million times better.” Frowning, he stuck his hand on his hip and shook his spiky head. “And you’d know that if you were around more.”

Raising his hands submissively, Kellan backed off. “Fine, dang, just asking.” Looking between Evan and Matt, Kellan sighed. He quickly glanced at me before returning his eyes to Matt. “I’m sorry, okay, but I’m here now and I’m committed to this, so just…fill me in, alright?” Matt scrunched his lips together, but nodded. “Any other changes I should know about?” Kellan asked, shrugging.





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Matt started to shake his head, then tilted it to the side. “Oh, well, we added a solo for me before the last chorus.” He smiled, just slightly, and raised a pale eyebrow at Kellan.

Kellan looked away, a small smile on his lips too. Chuckling a little, he shook his head. “I guess that’s what I get for being a flake.” Settling his eyes on me, he smiled a little wider. “Worth it though,” he muttered to me, then louder to the guys, “Okay, back to where we left off.” They finished the song with no more interruptions from Kellan, and Matt reveled in his new mini-solo while Kellan shook his head, amused.

At the end of the song I had to agree with Matt, the changes were small, and someone not in the know probably wouldn’t notice, but overall the song did sound better. They were going to rock Friday.

When the guys were finished for the day, it was time for Jenny and me to start our shifts. The guys followed us over, eager to relax with a beer after their “hard” day at work. I had to roll my eyes as I handed it to them. Sometimes I got jealous over how easy their lifestyle was—drinking, partying and playing music all night, staying up late, being swarmed by fawning females—but I saw how seriously they took it, and knew how hard they worked behind the scenes to keep their success going.

Truly, their job was probably as taxing as mine. At least mine had a definite ending time, theirs was sort of twenty-four seven. A fact that was reaffirmed for me when a couple of college girls got up the nerve to approach their table later in the evening. They chatted with the fans amicably. Kellan politely brushed off the blonde one’s affections and shook his head when she nodded to the front doors and raised her eyebrows in a clearly sexual way.

I frowned, watching the display and wanting to “accidentally” dump my

tray

on

her.

No,

aspects

of

their

job

were

never-ending…unfortunately.





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7


Chapter


History Lessons


After getting chastised by Matt for missing practices, Kellan was diligent in not missing any more. Unfortunately, things worked out so that I couldn’t go to another rehearsal, so I saw less of Kellan in that last week then in all of the weeks previous. We’d sort of been hovering around each other lately, blowing off friends and easy-to-miss obligations to roll around in Kellan’s bed for a few hours. It was inexcusable of us really, since his practice was important and the few classes I’d skipped had been important. But we’d needed the time together as each looming day brought our separation to the forefront.

So having that cycle of irresponsibility broken by Kellan, who was suddenly being focused again, was a bit of a struggle for me. I adapted though, throwing myself into work, school and friends. And Kellan made our time apart interesting by trying out his new cell phone. He’d interrupted me a few times during class by texting me highly inappropriate comments. Most of them made my cheeks flush bright red. Honestly, he was too seductive, even through technology.

But eventually Friday was upon me at last.

There was feeling in the air when I woke up in my new spacious bed, a feeling of goodbye. I woke up with Kellan’s arms around me, my cheek lying on his chest. He was stroking my hair in a soft, repetitive fashion, his fingers gently tucking strands behind my ear, so I knew he was awake.

Stretching, I lifted my head and looked up at him. Midnight blue eyes, deeper and more beautiful than the darkest oceans, stared back at me.

Smiling, he ran the back of his finger down my cheek. “Mornin’,” he whispered.