Take Me Home Tonight by Erika Kelly Page B

head. “I need a smoke.” She headed down the beach.
    â€œDamn.” Gus got up, starting after his mom.
    â€œIt’s okay. I got it.” Terrence gave his son a tired smile and then went after his wife.
    â€œDad,” Gus shouted. Terrence turned to him. “Can I do it?”
    His dad drew in a heavy breath and rubbed his chin with a hand. “Yeah, boy. You can do it.” He started to go, but he turned back to his son, stabbing a finger at him. “But don’t you fuck this up, you get me?”
    â€œYeah. I get you.”
    â€œThis isn’t about partying. It’s about learning. We clear?”
    Gus nodded, barely containing his enthusiasm.
    Mimi sat there, not quite sure what she’d done but wishing she could take it back.
    *   *   *
    Ben was in the pocket. From the control room, Calix watched the drummer shred. Perspiration dripped down his face, as his arms stroked, head thrashing, replaying the same beat for the tenth time that day.
    Beside him, Derek sorted through a stack of papers, smirking when he found the one he wanted. Pressing it to the laminated glass, he waved to get Ben’s attention.
    â€œLet me see it,” Cooper said.
    â€œHey.” Dak shifted the headphones off one ear. “Don’t interrupt him.”
    But Calix knew—along with the other guys—that Ben was wasting his time in there. Dak gave too many conflicting instructions.
Try it this way, no, no, try it that way, no, that’s not right
. Jesus, how had the guy ever done a successful album?
    As soon as Dak had the headphones back on, Derek flashed the sheet of paper to the others. Everyone burst out laughing at the crudely drawn image of a confused face—two oval eyes, a half-circle mouth turned upside down, and a question mark sticking out the top of the head.
    Cooper waved to get Ben’s attention, as Derek plastered the sheet to the glass again.
    Ben halted mid-thrash, as he focused on the paper. Tossing his sticks, he gave the finger, threw off his headphones, and shoved his kit back as he got up.
    He burst into the control room. “This sucks.”
    Dak stood up, shrugging off his headphones. “Grab some water. We’ll break for ten then try it again.”
    â€œTry
what
again? I don’t know what you want me to do. It’s all fucked up in my head.”
    Someone rapped on the door. “Hey.” Gus peered into the control room and then entered.
    What the hell was his brother doing in the studio?
    â€œGot the screens,” Gus said to Dak. “They should be here in about ten days.”
    Dak barely looked up at him. “I need them now.”
    Eagerness turned to concern. “Okay. I can rush delivery, but they don’t have the five-panel acrylic screen in stock. Rush might get them here in seven days instead of ten.”
    â€œRush.”
    â€œIt’s expensive.”
    Dak shot him a challenging look.
    â€œOn it.” Gus fled the control room, and Calix took off after him.
    He caught up with his brother in the lounge. “Hey.”
    â€œHey.” Gus pulled out the chair and sat down in front ofthe computer. He tapped out a few words and then
Acoustic Screens Soundproofing Solutions
filled the screen.
    â€œWhat’s going on?”
    â€œMimi got me a job here.” He looked happier than Calix had seen in a long damn time. “I’m a gofer.”
    â€œWhat’re you talking about? How’d that even come up?”
    â€œMom was doing that clambake yesterday, and Mimi asked why I’m not DJ-ing or something.”
    â€œOkay, but what does that have to do with working
here
?”
    â€œCome on.” Gus got up so swiftly, the chair shot back. “My job is bullshit, and you know it. What kind of licensing deals do you think I’m getting on a band that broke up twenty years ago?”
    â€œHey, I get it.” Of course it wasn’t right that Gus got stuck doing