Page 81 of Driving Beats

When there’s a break in their conversation centering around which store to buy the cheapest canned vegetables this week—the one on Hill and not on Main—I say, “The members of UC aren’t assholes. They’re chill. The lead singer Bennett recently got married to a wonderful physical therapist, and their drummer’s with this fantastic woman, Hayden. They’re my friends. The rest of the band, the guitarist, bassist, and keyboardist, are just as nice. In fact, I was with Coop—who plays guitar—these past three weeks because his luggage was stolen and their manager asked me to help him out.”

Three faces stare at me, open-mouthed. “Wow,” Alexis says. “Even rockstars get their suitcases taken?”

If this is what she got from my word vomit, I’m not going to correct her. I’m also not about to say the band was flying private when it happened. “Poor guy hadn’t bought any clothes for like a decade. Taking him shopping was jaw dropping for him.”

“I bet.” Owen chuckles. “Was he still in parachute pants?”

I roll my eyes. “Not quite that bad, but he wanted to order things over the internet and be done with it.” I repeat what I told Hayden and Jenna at lunch.

I should’ve expected Noah’s response. “There’s nothing wrong with the internet.” He holds out his necklace. “Got this from a deal site last week. It’s pretty cool, isn’t it?” Owen fawns over his new chain.

Alexis says, “But these guys are rolling in dough. They should buy whatever they want, especially if they’re looking to catch some starlet’s eye. I heard the new keyboardist⁠—”

“Tris,” I supply.

“Right, Tris. He always looks super trendy. When he was on the red carpet at the Oscars, I saw more than one actress giving him the come-hither look. He was hotter than hot.”

Noah interjects, “I thought Bennett did it for you?”

“Yeah, well, they all do. Besides, Nese said the lead singer is married so I should set my sights on someone who’s available.” She turns to me. “Think you can hook a girl up?”

“I don’t know. We’re leaving in a week for Australia, then we’re going to be touring the United States again. If we play Atlanta, I could introduce you.”

“Oh my God. Could you get us all tickets? And backstage passes? Then we could decide if they’re really all jerks, or you pegged them wrong.” Alexis looks at Noah.

“Yeah, well, if I met them, I could make a first-hand decision.”

“I’m not sure how it works. Getting tickets, I mean. Let me ask Luke, their manager.” Perhaps if they meet the band, they’d realize they’re down-to-earth?

Owen burps, causing Noah to fist bump him.

Then, again…

Alexis brings me out of my head. “That would be great!” She checks the clock. “Damn, I have to get going to work. I got the early shift this week at the diner. My vote is we take Nese out to the bar for a welcome back drink. See you guys later.” She leaves the kitchen.

Next, Noah stands. “I better take off too. The boss man doesn’t like it when I stroll in much past nine. A drink later sounds good.”

After he’s gone, Owen looks at me. “I have a couple of hours before my shift starts. Want to play a game before I have to leave? Still have our checkers board in there.” He points to the living room. “I believe I beat your ass the last time we played.”

Always up to avenge a loss, I say, “You’re on. That time was a fluke. You set up while I get a second cup of coffee. I have to be alert for this game!”

I enter the living room, where a checkers game is on the coffee table. I refuse to make comparisons between it and the chess set at Coop’s. This is my real life.

“Got you all set for black,” he offers. “You go first.”

“Ever the gentleman,” I tease. Of course, my mind immediately connects Coop’s favorite color to the one assigned to me. My finger taps the black piece. “Let’s change things up this time. How about you be black?” Before he can reply, I switch the board so I’m now playing with red.

His eyebrow lifts, but he doesn’t question me, simply makes his first move. “Of all the places you’ve been so far, which city did you like the best?”

I move a red piece. “That’s a hard question. If I had to choose one, I’d say Milan. Every single person we passed was on trend. The clothes there were fabulous.”

“Ever the stylist.”

“I can’t help it. But Barcelona had some great shopping too. As did France.”

“I’ve never wanted to go anywhere other than Georgia. I love it here. Sometimes I drive to the coast and watch the waves, thinking how lucky I am to live in this state. I don’t need any special clothes to walk on the beach or run into town.”

“True. But you did appreciate it when I helped you pick out a nice outfit for your job interview.”