know what I’m doing.” She was never this forward about her process. It was too personal, too hers .
Though, that wasn’t true. She’d been this forward with Folx.
But that had been online. There was certainly something different about discussing it in person. Especially with a guy who was part of a band that she admired so much. Especially with a guy as hot as Eli.
Strike that—his attractiveness had no bearing on whether she decided to talk more with Eli about her art or not. She wouldn’t let it. Hotness aside, sharing made her more vulnerable. It was scary, no doubt. But it also made it easier to brainstorm ideas. Made it easier to say try this, and then they could listen to it together, knowing they were hearing the same thing.
Maybe she should take Eli up on his earlier offer to help.
As if he were reading her mind, Eli raised an inviting brow and said, “If you’d like me to take a listen, I’m here.”
“Okay.” It was out of her mouth before she could second-guess it. “Like when? Now?” Why on earth had she said that? She had a date with Folx. It was just that she was so excited about the progress she’d made so far on her piece that she was eager to dive in. And, if she skipped her nightly shower, she could still work with Eli for half an hour and make it online in time.
Eli hesitated, though. Maybe he hadn’t really meant it when he offered. Then he said, “Uh, yeah. Now’s good.”
“Awesome. I’ll just grab my guitar.” Lacy went to her case, which was leaning against the sofa. Sammy had several times offered to pack it with the rest of her equipment, but no. Lucky was her baby. Lucky stayed with her.
Just as Lacy started to pull Lucky out, Lou bustled in. He seemed startled to see them there. “Hey kids,” he said. “It’s great that you want to stay up all night and keep the music alive. I’m all for it. Only you can’t do it here. Our contract says we have to clear the green room by eleven. There’s another band coming in after us.”
“Oh. Well.” Lacy looked to Eli for a suggestion. Part of her thought that maybe Lou’s pronouncement was a sign—a sign that she should forget the whole workshopping thing and get back to her room to wait for Folx like a good online girlfriend. Not that “girlfriend” was what she was. But.
Another part of her, the part that was itching for inspiration, was aching to still feel creatively relevant—that part of her wanted to continue transforming her song with Eli’s help.
Each half of her warred so equally, she left the decision up to Eli.
“We could move this to your hotel room, I suppose,” he said. “Or mine.”
“Yours.”
She ignored the butterflies spinning in her stomach at the idea of being alone with Eli and the fear that she was doing something she probably shouldn’t. Both fear and butterflies were good for inspiration, after all. The more the better.
They packed up and were headed out within five minutes.
Sometimes the venue they performed in wouldn’t be near the hotel, and the bus would take everyone there after the show. This time, the hotel was next door to the theater they’d played, and as Eli carried her guitar and his banjo across the parking lot—he really was a gentleman—Lacy didn’t wonder even once if going to his room was inappropriate because of Folx and all.
Okay, maybe once, but the thought was fleeting.
As they walked in the doors of the Marriott Express, she checked her phone to make sure that her sound was on, then put it in her pocket and promised herself she wouldn’t look at it again unless it notified her.
Chapter Ten
Two hours later, Lacy’s phone hadn’t done a thing, and she didn’t care in the least.
Spread out across the floor of Eli’s room, the two had completely reworked her song, plus they’d fiddled around with another one. Now she had two pieces to add to her set list. It was the next best thing to writing something new, and it made her feel a little
Though, that wasn’t true. She’d been this forward with Folx.
But that had been online. There was certainly something different about discussing it in person. Especially with a guy who was part of a band that she admired so much. Especially with a guy as hot as Eli.
Strike that—his attractiveness had no bearing on whether she decided to talk more with Eli about her art or not. She wouldn’t let it. Hotness aside, sharing made her more vulnerable. It was scary, no doubt. But it also made it easier to brainstorm ideas. Made it easier to say try this, and then they could listen to it together, knowing they were hearing the same thing.
Maybe she should take Eli up on his earlier offer to help.
As if he were reading her mind, Eli raised an inviting brow and said, “If you’d like me to take a listen, I’m here.”
“Okay.” It was out of her mouth before she could second-guess it. “Like when? Now?” Why on earth had she said that? She had a date with Folx. It was just that she was so excited about the progress she’d made so far on her piece that she was eager to dive in. And, if she skipped her nightly shower, she could still work with Eli for half an hour and make it online in time.
Eli hesitated, though. Maybe he hadn’t really meant it when he offered. Then he said, “Uh, yeah. Now’s good.”
“Awesome. I’ll just grab my guitar.” Lacy went to her case, which was leaning against the sofa. Sammy had several times offered to pack it with the rest of her equipment, but no. Lucky was her baby. Lucky stayed with her.
Just as Lacy started to pull Lucky out, Lou bustled in. He seemed startled to see them there. “Hey kids,” he said. “It’s great that you want to stay up all night and keep the music alive. I’m all for it. Only you can’t do it here. Our contract says we have to clear the green room by eleven. There’s another band coming in after us.”
“Oh. Well.” Lacy looked to Eli for a suggestion. Part of her thought that maybe Lou’s pronouncement was a sign—a sign that she should forget the whole workshopping thing and get back to her room to wait for Folx like a good online girlfriend. Not that “girlfriend” was what she was. But.
Another part of her, the part that was itching for inspiration, was aching to still feel creatively relevant—that part of her wanted to continue transforming her song with Eli’s help.
Each half of her warred so equally, she left the decision up to Eli.
“We could move this to your hotel room, I suppose,” he said. “Or mine.”
“Yours.”
She ignored the butterflies spinning in her stomach at the idea of being alone with Eli and the fear that she was doing something she probably shouldn’t. Both fear and butterflies were good for inspiration, after all. The more the better.
They packed up and were headed out within five minutes.
Sometimes the venue they performed in wouldn’t be near the hotel, and the bus would take everyone there after the show. This time, the hotel was next door to the theater they’d played, and as Eli carried her guitar and his banjo across the parking lot—he really was a gentleman—Lacy didn’t wonder even once if going to his room was inappropriate because of Folx and all.
Okay, maybe once, but the thought was fleeting.
As they walked in the doors of the Marriott Express, she checked her phone to make sure that her sound was on, then put it in her pocket and promised herself she wouldn’t look at it again unless it notified her.
Chapter Ten
Two hours later, Lacy’s phone hadn’t done a thing, and she didn’t care in the least.
Spread out across the floor of Eli’s room, the two had completely reworked her song, plus they’d fiddled around with another one. Now she had two pieces to add to her set list. It was the next best thing to writing something new, and it made her feel a little
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