I cuddled her close, unable to hide my frustration.“No.It’s not you, it’s him.”
And I didn’t have any idea what to do about it.
Twenty-Three
Brandon
I shouldn’t have stayedup so late.I knew it was a mistake as I was climbing out of bed last night.Not just because I was already drained from RinCon, but Danny was hurt.There was no ignoring the look he gave me when he woke me up this morning.
The coolhello-slash-goodbyefrom Reese on her way out, wasn’t great either.
I had to get the notes out of my head though.After so many days of being locked away from that part of my mind, I needed to make something that sounded beautiful.
I wasn’t sure I’d succeeded, the results leaned more toward haunting, but they were a rough start of the song I heard in my head.
Danny would be in the office later today, but for this morning I was on my own.The way it had been for ages.Same old shit, different day.I couldn’t muster the enthusiasm to do anything when I reached the Music room at work.
Fortunately, I wasn’t the only one dragging after yesterday.Ivan was an angel, and had extra coffee waiting for all of us in the breakroom, along with bagels and donuts.
The sugar and carb crash would be brutal in a few hours, but it would happen now without the boost, so I indulged.
My morning meetings were low-key, thanks to everyone’s post-con crash.I was looking forward to staring blankly at the wall for a little bit when Sonya and Jeremy knocked on my open door.
“Do you have a few minutes?”Sonya asked.
Not really.“Sure.”
They grabbed a couple of chairs and wheeled up to my computer.“It’s about the music you gave me for the new quest line,” Sonya said.
Not my best work, but better than I’d done in a while.Composed after one of those incredible sex sessions with Danny and Reese.“Epic right?”
“Yes.”Sonya’s reply was enthusiastic.
“But also, no,” Jeremy said.
I directed a glare at him, and he stared back.
Sonya ducked her head.“The thing is, I’m not sure the tone matches the story.”
“Really?I didn’t see anything about using a specific tone in the requirements.”My retort came out with more of an edge than I intended.
“I tried to make it clear.”Sonya was quiet.
Jeremy growled.“And I quote,setting is light and joyous, with a hint of fun, and a lot of brightness.”
“The game is half neon.Brightness is subjective.”I couldn’t ignore the defensiveness surging inside.
“No, I know,” Sonya said.“And that’s why we’re talking now.Tell me what you need, in order to lighten up the music.”
“Lighter, I got it.”I bit off the words.
“Okay.Thanks.”Sonya stood with a frown.
Jeremy smacked the desk.“No.Not okay.What the fuck crawled up your ass and died?”
I really wasn’t in the mood to fight, and I had snapped.“I don’t know.I didn’t mean it.”
“But you did, because you doubled down.”