Flynn's In (Lexi Frost Series) (26 page)

“But you
’re not . . . I mean —”

“No
, we’re not. Not that it’s really any of your business so I wouldn’t go talking to her about it.”

Flynn decided
because Dev wasn’t picking up relationships and sex 101 on his own or from his peers, beyond the basic biology lesson he received in school, he should give the kid a crash course. At worst it would raise more questions. Even that would hopefully get him caught up so he knew what to ignore and what to listen to when Jess opened his mouth. And maybe taking some of the mystery out of it would take some of the fear out as well so he’d start to relax around girls.

“Now
, about Jess . . .” Flynn began.

Chapter Thirteen

The last week of August came quickly and Nicholas moved back in to watch the boys while Teri and Flynn escorted Cassie and Tiffany to New York. Tim already had their apartment set up and their boxes were shipped and waiting for them. He even had their text books.

Flynn and Teri sat together on the flight
, but away from the girls who persisted in putting their heads together in excited whispers and giggles.

“You know they
’re probably whispering about you coming along,” Teri told Flynn about an hour into the flight.

“I know. Don
’t tell me you didn’t see it coming.”

“I suppose I should have. I was more worried about whispers and giggles from
the boys than Cassie and Tiff. Tell me, how did you get Dev to go along with this? He seemed unusually at ease with you coming, and didn’t react at all when you said I was staying at your apartment.”

“I warned him in advance so nothing was a surprise.
”

“So he already threw a tantrum.
”

“No.
”

“What did you tell him?
”

“Ask me again later
. Maybe on the flight home.”

Teri knew a losing battle when it was sitting next to her looking smug
, she let it go and returned to her Sudoku puzzle. It was hard to ignore the girls whispering in the seats behind her. Not that she could hear them really, just that she could sense the unwanted attention.

“You know
,” Teri turned back to Flynn after a few minutes. He put down his book to look at her. “The girls really seem to be reading a lot into this. You coming along I mean.”

“Do you think it
’s me coming or you staying at my apartment? I can’t see why they’d get any ideas. Nothing suggestive there at all.”

“You
’re teasing me.”

“Later.
”

Teri returned to her Sudoku again. She filled in a couple of spaces
, then turned around to give the girls a look to quiet them. They giggled. Turning back around, Flynn ambushed her and put earbuds in her ears and she was surprised to hear Jess’s voice singing a mournful ballad. Closing her book, she leaned against Flynn and closed her eyes to listen.

Despite living in the same house
, Teri realized she never actually listened to the boys’ songs. She heard them practice, heard them fight, tip over drums, drop guitars, and play the same part repeatedly until she heard it in her dreams at night. Even when Zane came she was too busy watching them to pay attention to what they were playing. This though . . . it was polished and professional. They were good. She worried briefly when Flynn first came that his influence would change them, that they’d become a younger version of In Like Flynn, but she couldn’t hear any evidence of Flynn in the lyrics or style of the songs she listened to.

“Are you all right
, Teri?”

Teri looked up into Flynn
’s concerned face. She didn’t realize she was crying until that moment. The music was on his phone and he stopped it to get her attention. Teri pulled out one of the earbuds.

“I just never really listened to them before. I guess I didn
’t pay attention to what you’ve been doing with them for so long. They’re good aren’t they?”

“Yeah
, they’re good. I told you, love, your little boys are going to be rock stars,” Flynn laughed.

“Flynn
, what happens next?”

“In recognition that you weren
’t paying attention, you know that I took them to a studio, right?”

Teri hit his thigh. “Yes
, I picked up on that.”

“Well
, that play list you’re listening to is in the hands of Alec, one of my old managers. The boys met him at the studio, they got on okay. He’s hashing over the details with a label as we speak.”

“And then?
”

“They get a contract. We
’re probably close to that now actually. Kyle and I will look it over with you and explain anything you have questions on. We shouldn’t need to submit changes, or at least not significant ones. I already chatted with Alec about Dev being a minor and your likely concerns so they’ll be addressed up front.”

“You didn
’t even ask what my concerns were,” Teri bristled and sat up.

“Love
, I know how you are about the boys and I know recording contracts. I can take a good guess which points you were going to fuss over. Most of your worries aren’t things covered in this contract anyway. There was no point getting you worked up prematurely.”

Teri considered that
, and settled down to lean against Flynn again. He shifted and put the armrest between them down and his arm around her.

“So if you
’ve got all this done, what have you been working on?”

“Musically
, their second album. A bit of their personal dynamic, I suppose. Dev can write lyrics, did you know that? He’s just stubborn about it. He thinks it’s Kenny’s job just because Kenny’s always done it. We’re easing him into the idea by having him proofread Kenny’s work.”

“Bet Kenny
’s thrilled with the pitch on that.”

“His idea actually. He
’s learning how to handle Dev and his pride takes a backseat to his dream. Bryan’s playing delivery boy to maintain an illusion. The other thing they really still need work with is their live show.”

“Something about a riot breaking out in the park a few weeks ago. You said you
’d tell me later. This is later.”

“Oh. I was hoping you
’d forget,” Flynn admitted.

“You cover for them a lot.
”

“Yeah
, well, boys will be boys and you don’t seem to get that sometimes.”

“Hey
, I roll with it!”

“You still worry too much. It distracts them and makes them feel guilty. I need them to play through it.
”

“Fine. So park
, riot, go.”

“Right. It was the second time Zane came out. I set up a gig for them to play for a pet shelter benefit to get some practice. The audience turnout was bigger than anticipated
, and Dev started backing away from the front as his anxiety increased. Jess noticed and started to whistle to Dev like he was calling a dog between songs. Dev reminded Jess that dogs bite, which drew a laugh from the crowd. Then someone threw a muzzle on stage. Jess played with it a bit, and held it up for Dev.

“Dev sings background on some songs
, you know, so he has a microphone. He dared Jess to try it, which was a bad idea. A few teens started cheering Jess on, others started cheering Dev on as he took a stance.”

“So the riot was in the crowd?
”

“As far as we can tell it was probably just someone accidentally got bumped and overreacted
, but yeah, it was the crowd.”

“Over Jess and Dev.
”

“Yeah. No one blamed the boys
, but I did chat with them about recognizing the tone of the crowd and when to stop.”

“But you want Jess and Dev to do this? You said it helped with the stage fright.
”

“Well
, yeah. I don’t think anyone could have predicted this. In truth, the fact that the crowd was so taken with their little onstage drama is a good thing. The police broke it up, Jess and Dev apologized, explained they didn’t think it would go that far, and no one was cited amazingly enough. Then they hung around and chatted with members of the audience. Dev didn’t care for that, by the way. Jess had him in a headlock half the time to keep him from sneaking off, which almost caused a second incident.”

“So you
’re working on that.”

“Yeah
, we’re working on that. We’re trying to choreograph some stage antics instead so we can control it. I hope that having some preprogrammed responses will help Dev out, or having something else to remember will keep him distracted. As long as it doesn’t distract Jess. Kenny’s also getting involved.”

“On whose side?
” Teri asked suspiciously.

“Now why would you want me to give away all the surprises?
”

They touched down at JFK a few hours later and Tim met them at the airport.
Before continuing on to the girls’ new place, they went by Flynn’s apartment to drop off their luggage first. Teri was prepared for the giggles and whispers and pointedly ignored it. Tim raised an eyebrow, but Flynn waved him over to a corner and Teri was faced with more whispers. She was fidgeting by the door by the time Flynn and Tim returned a few minutes later.

The girls were uncharacteristically quiet on the drive to their new place. Tim sent them pictures and details before hand
, so there was little to prepare them for. The sudden silence after hours of whispering seemed even worse to Teri, and every time she glanced at the girls, they were watching her. She pulled her Sudoku book out of her purse and pretended to work on that instead to give herself a reason to ignore the girls.

They finally arrived at the girls
’ apartment and Teri was relieved as their excitement turned to more normal things. Tim gave them the unnecessary tour, but Flynn held Teri back.

“How are you holding up?
”

“Fine. What makes you think anything
’s wrong?”

“You
’ve been working on the same puzzle for hours. Frankly I could have solved it by now and I don’t play with those things.”

“My little girls are going off to college
, living alone in a big city. I’m allowed to be a bit on edge,” Teri said.

“All right
, I’ll give you that one. They’re not alone you know. They have each other and Tim’s only a call away. Both of them have good judgment and values, they’re smart, it’s a secure building in a good area.”

“And I have to let go and let them spread their wings and all that. Point made
, shoo.”

Teri folded her arms and looked around at the professionally decorated apartment. It wasn
’t what she would have chosen, but it was perfect for the girls. Tim even had a list of local restaurants that delivered and had tabs set up for them so they didn’t have to cook. Teri wondered if he knew Flynn taught them how, or what Flynn told him to explain the girls’ whispers, stares, and giggles. She blushed.

Flynn slid his arms around her. “Want to have a sleepover with the girls tonight?
”

“What? No!
”

“Thought maybe you were re
considering, that’s all. I have a spare bedroom.”

“I don
’t want your spare bedroom,” Teri glared at him.

“You want dinner? I have reservations in a couple of hours
, but I can bump it up.”

“No. I want . . . a new Sudoku book
,” Teri turned to the door.

Flynn
only nodded. She could tell he would have laughed at her but he was holding it in. “All right. Alone or do you want company with your shopping?”

“Alone.
”

“I
’ll give you space.” Flynn stepped over to retrieve the pink flamingo-shaped notepad and a pen. “This is the name of the restaurant and the address. Early dinner, reservation is at six, just us. Be there.”

“Thank you. I
’ll be there.” Teri kissed Flynn, took the information, and wandered down the hall to tell the girls she was leaving. Tim had her take the car and driver, and she left to think.

She had the driver wander more or less aimlessly while she considered her weekend with Flynn. Now that they were here
, apparently with the kids’ knowledge and blessing — not that it should matter, she felt pressured. Excited too, even slightly nervous. Teri slouched in the back seat, feeling much like she did before her wedding night nearly twenty years ago.

“Damn him!
” she muttered. If Flynn had just gone along with the normal relationship protocol, let passion and desire dictate the appropriate time for intimacy instead of trying to schedule it, she wouldn’t be such a bundle of nerves now.

She stared out the window. Not familiar with
New York, Teri wasn’t surprised she didn’t recognize where they were. The buildings seemed older here, the shops were smaller with old apartment buildings above them instead of high rises and sky scrapers. None of the apartment buildings had balconies or entire walls replaced by windows. It seemed less like the New York she knew and more like what she’d expect to see in any city in the country. More homey.

They passed a hot dog vendor in front of a
Laundromat, then a bookstore. Teri remembered she was supposed to be getting a new puzzle book.

“Stop! That bookstore
, pull over. Please.”

The driver circled around and pulled over in front of the bookstore. He opened the door for Teri
, eying a pair of teenagers in dusty jeans and tattered T-shirts warily. Teri ignored them, and walked directly into the bookstore.