Page 89 of Driving Beats

The door swings wide. Finally. I enter a tiny foyer, where I leave my carry-on. Unable to find a closet to hang the bag, I keep it hanging over my shoulder. I glance around. “Is she here?”

“Nese? No, she ran out to the store to get something she needed for a recipe. She’ll be back soon, I’m sure. Why don’t you come on in and make yourself comfortable.” He starts walking down the hallway.

I follow.

“Where are my manners? Want a beer?”

Since I’m stuck with Noah the Roommate for as long as Nese is out of the apartment, I reply, “Sure.” He disappears into what I presume to be the kitchen, while I lay the bag over a chair and sit down on their tattered sofa. I notice it doesn’t have any lumps. He hands me a can.

Opening his, he takes an extended swig. “Nese tells us you’re introverted.”

Out of the many things she could’ve told him, I suppose this is one of the most innocuous. “I do tend to refuel by myself rather than from other people.”

I can see his brain parsing what I explained. Better help him out. “Yeah, I’m introverted.”

“So you stay in the background during interviews because you don’t like to have the spotlight on you?”

“Pretty much.” I take a sip of the beer. Not my preferred brand by a longshot, but under the circumstances, it’ll do.

“I told Nese you appeared to be stuck-up, and she jumped down my throat.”

A smile crosses my face. That’s my Nese. Always standing up for “her” band members. That has to mean something, right? Does she still consider me to be “hers”? I hope so.

I address her roommate. “Honestly, interviews aren’t my thing. Both Bennett and Río love being the center of attention, so I give them what they like.”

He nods. “Makes sense. So tell me, how is it really with all the women? I’ve read they throw themselves at rockstars. Do you get tons of pussy, or what?”

Class act. “Ladies do tend to become excited when they’re around the band. We’re just a bunch of guys who met, basically, in elementary school and are living out our fantasy. We love playing and writing music. We know we’re lucky to be where we are.”

“Damn straight.” He lifts the beer can to his lips. “What do you want with Nese? Did she forget to help you buy a belt or something?”

Now he’s downright rude. For a moment, I mentally retreat to my Zen Garden in order to center my feelings. Which are all for Nese and not her roommate. She told me she has two more, and I only hope they are better than this guy. And they stay away until she gets back. “Something like that.”

“Nese’s cool. She worked really hard to land her job, but we’ve missed her around here.” His eyebrows wiggle. “I’ve missed her, if you get my drift.”

The moment stands still.

I take a deep breath.

He and Nese used to hook up? Fantastic. Maybe this was a bad idea. Perhaps I should get back in my car and return to LA. I’m sure Noah the Roommate won’t tell her I was here.

I put the can onto the coffee table and my hands to the top of my thighs. I’m about to say “forget I was here,” when the door opens.

I stop breathing to see if Nese has returned.

My hopes are dashed when Noah the Roommate yells, “Hey, Alexis and Owen. Get your butts back here and check out who I’m talking to.”

Footsteps approach. A male voice says, “Who is it?”

The woman screeches. “No. Way! You’re Coop, the guitar player for UC.”

I stand. Seems like I’m cornered. For the second time since I arrived, I extend my right hand, this time toward the woman. “Nice to meet you.”

She touches my hand, then pulls me in for a hug. “Any friend of Nese’s is our friend too. Right Owen, Noah?”

The guy she called Owen says, “Let the poor guy breathe.” When I’m free of the woman, Owen and I shake. “I’m Owen and the crazy lady who was cutting off your circulation is Alexis.”

Extricating my hand, I point to myself. “Coop.”