I’m not quite sure if I’ve been dreading this meeting or looking forward to it. Truth be told, I’ve been so focused on my girls, I haven’t been behind my drum kit for months. Haven’t thought about touring. Or writing. Or playing.
In the weeks since Alex and I got engaged, our folks have hounded us to get a date on the books.
As for the two of us? We haven’t talked about it once. Which is why I’m leaning toward Vegas. Alex and I aren’t big planners. We’re doers. That would be a surefire way to make her Mrs. Deveraux.
“Dude, it’s good to see you.” Ty embraces me when he and I step through the front door to his house in West Seattle. “Connor and Zane aren’t here yet. Zoey told me you and Alex got engaged. Congratulations. Sounded pretty epic.”
I follow him into the kitchen where he hands me a bottle of water. “Thanks, my brother. It was a long time coming. I got the low-down on your trip from Alex. Sounds like your time away was pretty epic too.”
“Yeah. It’s about time I got a little taste of what you guys had all of those years.” Ty’s smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. He looks out the window and his eyebrows squinch together for a couple of minutes before he focuses back on me with a genuine expression of happiness. “Having time with just me and Zoey was really, really great.”
Before I can help myself, I slip into my old caretaking pattern. “You okay?”
“Yeah, of course. You don’t need to worry about me anymore, Jace. Seriously.” Ty pulls me into a hug.
Things are still just a slight bit raw between me and our singer since my outburst at his engagement party last Christmas Eve. I said some truthful, but hurtful shit. He’s a sensitive soul. Considering we’re heading into the holidays soon, I don’t want there to be any weirdness anymore. I thunk his back with my fist before stepping back. “I’m still here for you, Ty. I know I apologized for my behavior at your engagement party, but I’m sorry I haven’t been around. It’s just…I needed a little break from everything.”
“I appreciate that. I do. No need to apologize. I’m the one who’s terribly sorry for all the drama Zoey and I have caused. And for all you had to take on. I’m locked down now though. I promise. Especially now that Zoey and I are getting married.”
Thank gawd.
The doorbell rings but I want to close out the conversation. “All that past shit is behind us. Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Ty nods as he walks backward toward the door. “For sure.”
Seconds later, Zane and Connor bound into the kitchen. Ty leads us downstairs to his newly renovated home studio. It’s a sound-tech’s dream setup. The thing is? As cool as the state-of-the-art equipment is, I’m not inspired to record new songs. I hope everyone feels the way I do. I need a bit of time before we get back to band business.
Either way, I’ll go with the flow. After all, LTZ is a democracy.
Despite my reticence at getting back to work, I can’t help but feel a certain level of comfort at hanging with the guys I’ve been in the trenches with for years. “The studio turned out awesome. Maybe, when we’re ready, we should just record the next stuff here.” I move over to the mixing board and run my fingers along the knobs. “You have enough guest rooms; we could all just stay with you.”
Ty looks horrified. We all laugh and assure him it’s a joke. Then we make small talk about what we’ve been up to.
Connor seems tense. He’s participating but keeps glancing at his phone. After twenty minutes or so he clearly wants us to get to the point of our visit. “My dudes, please. Let’s get down to business. Da’s going in for his procedure tomorrow, so I gotta get back home.” He motions for everyone to sit.
“My brothers, I’m just going to keep it simple. I need more time. I hope you understand.” Ty shocks the life out of me when he practically pulls the words from my head.
“Thank God.” Zane pinches the bridge of his nose. “Fee is buried with everything that needs to get done for the restaurant opening. We still need time to dial it all in.”
I’m quick to agree. “I’m cool with that.”
Connor lets out a sigh of relief. “Aye. That’s grand. The thought of going back out on the road right now? Feck no. But I do miss writing and recording. And playing, if I’m honest. I want to come up with a plan so the kids can be with us. One that lets us take long breaks.Manylong breaks. I don’t ever want to be gone for years at a time again.”
I’m so relieved I can barely stand it. The thought of being without Alex and Lena is inconceivable. Now that I know my band’s on the same page, it’s like a huge weight has been lifted. The energy in the room is certainly lighter, and we’re all able to relax and banter for a while.
“Guys, Zoey and I are getting married sometime in the next couple of weeks,” Ty makes an announcement I figured was coming. “We just decided to go for it this morning, so I don’t have the exact date. It won’t be a big wedding. Just her family. Carter. All of us. The girls. The kids. I think that’s it.”
As Ty speaks and the guys congratulate him, a vision of Alex twirling around in a flirty little white gown wearing a crown of daisies permeates my mind. Goddammit. Our timing is usurped by Ty and Zoey.
Again.
I’m happy for them, but it’s hard not to feel just a slight bit annoyed at myself for waiting so long to make things official with Alex.
“Before we set the date, I wanted to check in with all of you to figure out what’s most convenient for everyone.” Ty’s puppy-dog eyes make it impossible to be anything but happy for him. He’s so fuckingearnest. All the time.
“Dude, whatever day you pick, we’ll be there. Text me when and where.” Connor heads upstairs. “Seriously. Congratulations. I’m sorry but I gotta jet. Duty calls.”
The three of us follow him up. After he leaves, we convene in the kitchen, where Ty offers to cook. “Sooooo….” Zane slings an arm around my shoulder. “Double wedding? Alex and you. Ty and Zoey. Perfect, right?”