Right now, I don't care if we're home or on the road.
Right now, the only place I want to be is with Piper. I'll have to get over it eventually, but eventually feels like a long way off.
Mal gets into practice schedules. It takes fucking forever for us to agree on three times a week, three weeks a month. All of them happen right here, in Mal and Ethan's practice room, in Orange County, twenty fucking feet from Piper's room.
Usually, I look forward to practice.
Right now...
"Let's play, huh?" I don't wait for a response. I start playing Better Days.
Mal and Joel share ano
ther WTF is his problem look, but they say goodbye to Ethan, and they join me.
We get through a dozen songs. I manage to get lost in the flow of the music. It's not quite right without our lead guitarist, but this is still where I belong.
Only I don't feel that usual sense of euphoria.
I'm still miserable.
The door to the practice room opens and Piper steps inside.
She's wearing a low cut tank top, tight jeans, and tall fuck-me boots. Her makeup is fuck-me dark too.
Piper's eyes fix on mine. Frustration flares in her expression, but she says nothing. She just looks to Mal with a nod.
He waits until we're done with the song to put away his rhythm guitar. He looks back to us. "We'll start practices the Monday after Ethan gets back." He turns to Piper. "Where are you going?"
"To the sex clubs. That's what all the kids are into now." She throws her hair over her shoulders. "You think I'll find any guys who want to tie me up and spank me?"
Mal holds a poker face. "You want to grab a wooden spoon from the kitchen to use as a paddle?"
Piper blushes.
Joel laughs. "He's outdoing you, Pipes. You need to up your game."
She nods. "Uh, no. I'd rather use a riding crop."
"I have a new one in my closet." Mal smiles. "You can have it."
She turns bright red.
Joel bursts into a fit of giggles. "Where are you really going?"
"To a show," she says.
"What show?" Joel stands and stretches. "I know all the shows. There's nothing good tonight."
"I'm not going for the music." She looks at me. "I have another goal in mind."
Joel nods. "Where are you going to get laid? You have a fake ID?"
Mal raises a brow. "Don't use a fake ID. That can get you in real trouble."
"No, the show is at Chain Reaction," she says. "Don't you care that I'm going to get laid?"
"No..." Mal looks to Joel then to me. He addresses Piper. "Is there a reason why I should care?"