A Song For Us (Fallen Tuesday Book Two) (A Brothers of Rock Novel) (18 page)

Gray let out a long sigh. He
couldn’t understand the inner workings of his baby brother, but maybe he wasn’t
supposed to. Gray’s job was just to be there. He reached out and touched Peter’s
shoulder. Peter placed a hand to Gray’s.

“I really didn’t want to die,
Gray,” Peter said. “But I thought I had no choice.”

“You have a choice now,” Gray said.
“You can clean up and start over, or you can just keep falling. The sad part of
falling, Peter, is that we’ll always care. We’ll help you when we can. But
we’re going to be the ones that suffer, not you.”

Gray leaned down and kissed Peter’s
head. He left the hospital right after without saying goodbye. He feared the
word
goodbye
with Peter, because he feared even more that he would one
day say it and it would be the final one.

When the hospital door clicked
shut, Gray fell back against the wall.

As much as Gray wanted to believe
Peter wasn’t selling drugs, it just didn’t explain how he could afford an
apartment and utilities.  Gray took a deep breath and tried to focus on the
fact that Peter was awake and his smart ass personality was in tact. But no
matter how Peter acted, Gray knew he was in deep pain. He was afraid of walking
right back into the arms of temptation.

“Did you see him?”

The same nurse was coming back to
the room.

“Yes, I did.”

“It’s a miracle, isn’t it?”

The woman looked so happy. Gray
forced a smile.

“Yes, it is.”

A miracle. He had to get out of the
hospital but he had no idea where to go.

*

For the first time ever the
keyboard left the bedroom. It rested on the coffee table with two open
notebooks. Carina sat behind the keyboard, her mind racing. So many notes. So
many lyrics. So many song ideas. Angie sat on the other couch, holding her
guitar, gently strumming chords.

“I think we have something,” Angie
said.

“Too bad we can’t record it,” Carina
said.

“Uh, we can.” Angie reached for her
cell phone and shook it in her hand. “These things can do anything we want.”

Carina smiled. She had been spoiled
spending time with Fallen Tuesday. She was used to having a studio at her
disposal. But a phone would do. Angie got the phone ready and then looked at Carina.

“I’m going to start recording and
then toss the phone to the chair, okay? A little distance and it might get
better sound quality. Ready?”

Carina nodded. She wasn’t actually
ready, but whatever, Carina wasn’t in the position to argue anymore. If she
wanted any chance of getting out of the apartment and potentially getting out
of Liering, she needed to keep her options open.

Angie pressed a button on the cell
phone and then tossed it to the chair. She then hurried to position her guitar
on her lap and nodded. The song they had worked on opened with Carina on the
keyboard. After one measure, Angie joined in with the guitar. It was fun to
play but hard to look at Angie without laughing, so Carina stayed focused on
the keyboard. When it came time to sing, she closed her eyes and sang with
Angie. Their voices blended well. Angie had more of a natural high pitch to her
voice while Carina felt she had a wider range.

During the first chorus, Carina
opened her eyes and she never closed them again. The fear of the song had
passed. The worry of looking at Angie and laughing was gone too. The song had
taken full control of the apartment.

They played as though they were in
front of thousands of listeners. The connection was strong. At the last chorus,
they both let out a long note. For Carina, it was one of those notes in a song
that would forever be remembered… that was, if people actually heard the music.
When the song was almost finished, a loud thud came from under Carina’s feet.
She stopped playing and jumped back.

Was someone breaking in?

No. The sound came again and again.
Angie had stopped playing and went to get the cell phone. She stopped recording
and asked, “What the hell is that?”

The thud hit again and Carina
laughed. “It’s my neighbor. He usually does this when I’m in the bedroom. He's
not a fan of music.”

Angie looked down and shook her
head. The thudding sounded two more times and then stopped for good. Angie
looked up and began to laugh. Carina joined in and a few minutes later, Angie
had a tissue to her eyes, wiping tears. Carina wasn’t sure if the tears were
from laughing or crying.

Angie shook her head. “I have no
idea why I’m crying.”

“It’s okay,” Carina said. “Your
life changed. But you’ll find a new band. You’ll make it.”

“I think I already did that,” Angie
said. She sucked in air and repeated herself. “I think I already did that.”

“Did what?”

“Us,” Angie said. “We can do this.
We can play shows, Carina. Locally, of course. Nothing big. I don’t want that
either. I just like to play and write music.”

“Would you sell music?” Carina
asked.

“Would you?”

Carina opened her mouth, really not
sure what she was about to say to Angie. It was a crazy idea, but she and Angie
could become partners and earn money through their music.

A knock at the door ended the
thoughts. Fear spread through Carina.

“I’ll get it,” Angie said.

“Be careful…”

“Stop. You can’t worry all the
time.”

But Carina did. She clenched her
own hands as Angie opened the door. Then Angie stepped to the side and she saw
Gray standing there.

“Holy shit,” Angie whispered.

Carina smiled. She finally felt
comfortable in her own apartment.

(18)

Gray looked tired and lost. Carina ran
to him and wrapped her arms around him. He hugged back, squeezing her tight and
kissing the top of her head.

“It feels like days,” he whispered.
“I hate that feeling.”

“I hate it too, Gray.”

By the time Carina looked up at
Gray, his lips were already against hers. She closed her eyes and appreciated
the kiss. Her body ached for it and she ached for Gray. She ached so much that Carina
forgot about Angie standing right there in her apartment, until Angie cleared
her throat.

“Sorry,” Carina said as she touched
her lips.

“No need,” Angie said. “I was just
about to leave.”

“No, don’t,” Gray said. He put a
hand out. “Don’t. Not because of me. If you are having a ladies night…”

Carina pointed to the living room.
She saw Gray’s face light up when he saw the instruments.

“We were writing,” Carina said.
“Angie left her band. She and I are… well, we’re playing together.”

“Playing together?” Gray asked.

“We even have a gig,” Angie said.

“Yeah, we have… wait, what?” Carina
asked.

“A gig,” Angie said. “Where Carina
used to work.”

“On your dream stage,” Gray said.

“Wait a second. I never left there.
I mean, I took a break…”

Gray put a finger under Carina’s
chin and smiled. “Baby, you aren’t working there anymore. Never again either.
You’re with me now. You’re a musician.”

Carina’s face flooded with color as
her body flooded with heat. She wasn’t sure what to focus on first. The
gorgeous rockstar who had stolen her heart or her best friend who had just said
they were going to play a gig.

“When’s the gig?” Gray asked.

“Tomorrow night,” Angie said. “Our
debut. We even wrote a song tonight.”

“Angie,” Carina said. “I never
said…”

“I’d like to hear the song,” Gary
kissed the tip of Carina’s nose. “If you don’t mind.”

“I… I…”

“It’s been a hell of an afternoon
for me,” Gray whispered. “I’m not forcing you, baby, but I’m asking. I need
this. I’ll play too if it helps.”

“I only brought one guitar,” Angie
said. “You could have it though.”

“I always have a guitar with me,”
Gray said. “Let me run back out to the car.”

Gray left the apartment and Carina
stood in shock.

“I hope you don’t hate me,” Angie
said with a smile.

“Hate you. What the hell did you
just do to me?”

“Before my band split, we had a gig
booked for tomorrow night. I didn’t think to cancel it… so I still have a gig
tomorrow night.”

“And I’m supposed to just show up
and play?”

“Exactly.”

Carina was floored. She wanted to
be angry, but the truth was that she was excited. Her nerves bounced and she
enjoyed it. Even when Gray came back with his guitar and the three played for
next couple hours, Carina couldn’t contain the way her heart raced and how
amazing it felt to feel so alive.

Gray gave the final thumbs up when
Angie and Carina talked about their four song set list for their show tomorrow
night. When they finished, Angie then packed up her guitar to leave.

“You know, this is pathetic,” Angie
said as she faced Gray. “I’m a fan of yours. Of Fallen Tuesday.”

“Thanks,” Gray said.

“Can you sign something for me?”

“Seriously?” Gray asked. “I mean,
sure, I will, but we’re friends, Angie. At least I consider you one. I’ll be
there tomorrow to cheer you and Carina on. Then I’ll be happy to toss your
names out to anyone looking for songwriters.”

“You have no idea what that means
to me,” Angie said. “But I’m still a rock fan at heart, you know?”

“Well then,” Gray said. He reached
for his guitar and placed it on the table. “Do you have a marker?”

“Sadly, I do,” Angie said.

Gray took the marker and began to
write on the guitar.

“What are you doing?” Carina asked.

“Making it worth your while,” Gray
said. “Now, Angie, you have to promise me to hang this up.”

“Your guitar? Are you kidding me?”

“Nope.” Gray put the lid on the
marker and then handed Angie the marker and his guitar.

She looked at the guitar. “
For
the nights of rock and the days of memories.
” She looked at Gray. “That’s
amazing. Thank you so much, Gray.”

“My pleasure. Now, get out of here,
if you don’t mind. Staring at Carina this long is killing me.”

Angie laughed and Carina felt her
face turn red.

The second the door shut, Gray
turned to face Carina. “Finally alone.”

“Finally.”

Gray kissed her but Carina kept her
eyes open and focused on the door. All the locks were unlocked. Anyone could
just come in.

“What’s wrong?” Gray whispered, his
lips hovering near Carina’s mouth.

“I’m sorry, but the door in
unlocked. It’s… just me.”

“I get it,” Gray said. He jumped up
and ran to the door. He locked all the locks and then pulled on the door. “All
locked now.”

“Am I crazy?” Carina asked as she
stood up. “For being this way?”

Gray scooped her up into his arms
and walked her to her bedroom. “The only thing that’s crazy right now is me,
for you. You’re driving me crazy, Carina.”

Their lips met again and there was
no stopping now. Gray kicked the door shut and placed Carina on the bed. In a
fury of heated minutes, they tore at each other’s clothing, trying to out do
the other in dramatic fashion. Carina felt bold and sexy, so as Gray stood
before her without a shirt on, she put her nails to the top of his chest and
dug just enough to gain a reaction from him. Carina then scratched down his
chest to his stomach before she turned her hands she felt the hardness of his
stomach, and pulled at him, wanting him between her legs.

Gray wasn’t to be outdone, however.
He took Carina by her curvy hips and pulled, forcing her down to the bed. She
never trusted a man like she did Gray. He was in command and Carina loved it.

Gray gripped the sides of her
panties and smiled.

“Do these mean anything to you?”

“What? My panties?”

“Yes,” Gray said.

His voice was rough and sexy, a man
possessed by Carina’s body. The attention was enough to make her melt.

“I don’t care about them, why?”

Gray leaned down and kissed Carina.
“Because, baby, I’m tearing them off your body.”

And that’s just what Gray did. He
pulled until Carina’s panties tore. Before Carina had a chance to regain
herself, Gray was reaching down to the pocket of his jeans for protection. Then
he was against Carina’s body, touching her, entering her.

Carina wrapped her legs around Gray’s
lower back and held there. Her hands held Gray’s shoulders tight as she
climaxed, wanting him to be in her forever. Even when Gray reached his own
ending, Carina held him tight, feeling each pulse with her own intense pleasure
deep within her core.

When their breathing calmed, they
climbed up the bed and got under the covers. Carina her head on Gray’s chest.

“I hate this apartment,” she
whispered. “But when you’re here… I don’t mind.”

“That’s good. But you know you
don’t have to live in this place forever.”

“One more day feels like forever,” Carina
said.

Gray hugged Carina tighter. Carina
kissed his chest. She never thought a moment so perfect could actually exist.

*

Gray had never lived with a woman
before. Hell, Gray had barely been able to keep a place of his own his entire
life. Long before the tour bus became his home, Gray always bounced from place
to place. He wanted to settle with Carina. Funny how the touch of a woman could
change everything. No matter what, Gray wanted to get Carina out of this
apartment.

“Can I touch on something
sensitive?” he asked.

“Is that a sexual reference?”

Gray laughed. “No. It’s pretty
serious. You mentioned someone broke into this place once.”

“Oh. That.”

“I’m sorry. But what happened?”

“I was having one of those days.
Issues with my grandmother. Doubting my life. Just one of those days. All I
wanted to do was get home. I never liked this place, but it was all I had. I
got within two steps of my door and saw it was open. Before I could realize
what was happening, a man came running from the apartment. He looked at me,
snarled, and then ran into me and was gone. My apartment had been broken into.
There was nothing of value to take except for the box of money under my bed. I
thought it was a good idea to keep cash like that so I wouldn’t spend it.
Stupid me. He found that box and took all the cash and was gone. He took a
couple pieces of jewelry too, but they couldn’t have had much value. Now I’m
just paranoid each time there’s a knock at the door.”

“You have nothing to ever worry
about when you’re with me,” Gray said. “I swear on my life, Carina. Never worry
again, starting now.”

“Is it that easy?” she asked.

She lifted her head and looked at
him. Her eyes tore at his heart. Gray touched her face and moved her hair.

“It is that easy. You could always
come with me again. Back to the studio. Maybe we can find a place there to live
in. Together.”

“You want to live with me?”

“I do, Carina. I have to be there
to record, right? Luke lives there with Amy. The band seems to be settled. It’s
a nice place to live. I was thinking of getting a place. With you though. You
make it worth settling.”

Carina swallowed. Gray noted the
apprehension in her eyes. “Gray… I don’t know what to say. What about your
brother?”

“Sweetheart, my brother is a grown
man,” Gray said. “I can’t speak for him anymore. He’s got to help himself now.”

“Is he okay though?”

“Depends on the definition of okay.
He’s awake, yes. He’s alert. He knows what’s happening around him. And he’s
just as dumb as ever. Always the victim, never the one who hurts people.”

“I’m sorry,” Carina said.

“So am I,” Gray said.

He really was. The thought of his
brother hurt him. But luckily Carina was there to comfort him, and that’s just
what she did. Over and over and late into the night, Carina took a rough day
and turned it into one that Gray would never forget.

The next morning Gray woke to find Carina
in her small kitchen cooking breakfast. He kissed her three times and then let
his lips linger to hers.

“I love you, baby,” he said. “I
didn’t say it last night before going to bed. I’ll never make that mistake
again.”

Carina touched his face. “I love
you too. And if that’s the worst you do to me, I’ll be a happy woman for a long
time.”

“The rest of your life, baby,” Gray
said.

They ate and Carina went to take a
shower. She teased Gray by stripping nude and offering him a chance to join,
which Gray had full intentions of taking advantage of until his phone began to
ring.

Watching Carina’s perfectly round
bare ass walk away from his was torture.

“Frank, this better be good,” Gray
said.

“It’s good. Very good. I wasn’t
sure if I had your approval or not, but I played that slow song for the record
company.”

“Oh…”

“They loved it. They love everything
you guys are doing.”

“You said that before.”

“I’m serious, Gray. I’ve been in
meetings for a day straight now. We’re talking touring, promotion, press. The
launch of this album is going to be like nothing you can imagine. They are
putting serious money behind it. Dare I say this… but you five guys are the
biggest thing going right now. Fallen Tuesday is
the band
…”

Gray smiled. “I can live with
that.”

“Your co-writer on that song is
going to be paid quite well for her time and efforts,” Frank said. “Just as she
signs off on it, you know? Make sure she understands the contracts and all that
legal stuff.”

“I’ll let the lawyers handle that,”
Gray said.

“Yeah, well, make sure she has her
own.”

“Why’s that?”

“She’s going to be in demand. So
far I’ve gotten bites off three producers and two major recording artists who
are interested in meeting with her.”

Gray stood and began to pace.
“Seriously?”

“Seriously. That song is a gem. Her
voice is pretty damn good if you ask me. She could be her own act if she wanted
it.”

“Sounds like I need to get my ass -
and her ass - on a plane to New York.”

“Then Los Angeles,” Frank said.
“Get some sun and then we can talk dates. Oh, hey, I heard about Peter waking
up. Is he… good?”

“He’s Peter,” Gray said. “I’m still
on the fence if that’s a good thing or not.”

“Well, I’m sorry you have to go
through a mess like that with a family member, but I’m happy he’s alive.”

“Now I just have to find a way to
keep him under control,” Gray said. Gray’s phone beeped. “Frank, listen, I’ve
got to take this other call. Family. Can we catch up later?”

“Sure thing,” Frank said. “Just
wanted to pass along some good news for you. I’m going to call the rest of the
guys now.”

Gray switched over on the call.
“Hey, Mom, is everything okay?”

“No, it’s not okay, Gary,” she
said. “What did you do to your brother?”

“What did I… what? What’s wrong?”

“Whatever you said to him really
got to him, Gary.”

“What I said… did you see him
again?”

“He came to me.”

The words were like ice down Gray’s
spine. “Excuse me?”

“Peter was just here.”

“At your house? How?”

“What do you mean how? He left the
hospital.”

“Was he allowed to?”

“No,” his mother cried out. “No. I
don’t know how the hell he did this. What did you do to him, Gary?”

“Nothing,” Gray said. “I talked to
him. I…”

“You scared him. He’s going right
back out there to… if he does this again, he better just do it. Just end it.”