Raze (Riven 3)

“Oh, thanks.” He tossed them on the bar. “Felix, right?” he asked. Felix had scrambled off the barstool when I crossed to Theo and now he was pressed to the bar, looking at Theo like a teenager at a school dance.

“Hi, yeah, hey, hello,” Felix fumbled, sticking out his hand. “I’m a big fan,” he added, biting his lip.

“Thanks, Felix, that’s awesome,” Theo said, smiling shyly. The surprised pleasure he expressed whenever someone appreciated his music was genuine. “I’m a pretty big fan of yours too. What I’ve heard, anyway.”

Felix blinked rapidly and looked down.

“Wow, thanks. Um.”

He looked to me like I might offer some help.

I’d thought Felix looked small, but at six foot four nearly everyone seemed small to me. Now, seeing him next to Theo, who was slender and about average height, I could see that Felix really was small. And young. Fuck, he looked so young. He still had a whole life ahead of him.

I crossed my arms over my chest to subtly feel my own heartbeat. Sometimes I had to check to make sure it was still ticking along.

Theo turned to me. “Caleb says hi and do you wanna come to dinner on Thursday or Friday. We can do it at Rhys and Matty’s if you wanna just take the train?”

Theo and Whitman lived in Stormville, about sixty miles north of the city, and it was a pain in the ass to get there since I didn’t have a car. Rhys, Whit’s best friend, and his husband, Matt, lived in Sleepy Hollow. I could get there by train, and Theo and Whit could drive there easily.

“Thursday’s better,” I said. “But kid, I swear to God, if I walk through that door and there is anything resembling hash on my plate, I will walk right back out and come home.”

Theo laughed and groaned. “I know. It’s a problem. He’s been trying to learn how to make other stuff. Like, he made Thanksgiving last year…but it kinda ended up being hash-like. Now it’s like anything he makes ends up mixed together, kind of. I have this theory that it’s because he mixes all his food together when he eats. Have you noticed?”

I nodded.

Theo explained to Felix, “He, like, cuts it all up first so it’s all just chunks and then mixes it together so he can combine some of each thing in every bite. So I think when he cooks he’s like, ‘Oh well, I’m gonna mix it all up anyway so I might as well just put it all together in the dish.’?”

“Maybe he needs to be directed toward stews?” Felix suggested. “Or casseroles?”

Theo nodded. “That’s a good call. When it gets cooler, I’ll, like, express a deep craving for stew.”

“Theo!” called a voice from the doorway.

I’d never met Coco Swift, Riven’s guitarist, but I’d heard Theo talk about her and heard enough Riven songs to know she was one hell of a musician.

Coco was very small and radiated a lot of energy. She had long braids in a swoop on top of her head, with a few hanging loose to her waist. With her flawless dark skin and symmetrical features, I might’ve thought she was a model if she were taller. She bounced excitedly and ran to Theo, nearly jumping into his arms.

Theo squeezed her tight, then slung an easy arm around her shoulders. In the wake of Theo’s leaving Riven there had been tension between them, but it seemed Coco had come around.

“And you must be Felix,” Coco said. “Hello.”

Again, Felix’s eyes were wide, his voice reverent as he shook her hand. “Hi. You’re amazing,” he said, and Coco thanked him graciously.

Where Coco’s energy was natural, though, Felix’s now seemed manic. He was nearly vibrating in place, tapping his fingers on the bar and chewing on his lower lip.

“Coco, this is my friend Huey,” Theo said.

“Nice to meet you,” she said, smiling brightly at me. She had a firm handshake, and I could feel the calluses from playing guitar.

“Glad to have you,” I said. “Y’all do whatever it is you do. You want anything?”

“Some sparkling water with lime would be great,” Coco said.

“Can I have a ginger ale?” Theo asked.

Felix was looking around wildly, like he didn’t think he’d been included in my offer.

“Felix. Get you anything?”

His eyes flew to mine, wide and anxious.

“Oh, um. Can I have a gin and tonic?”

I nodded, and turned to get their drinks. When I placed Felix’s on the bar in front of him, he downed it quickly. Jesus, he was sweating.

“You okay?” I asked.

He nodded too quickly but didn’t meet my eyes.

“So,” Coco said. “I know this is a bit unorthodox, but we’re looking for a new lead singer. We’re not going for someone to imitate Theo—obviously, there can be only one. But we do need someone who has the range for the songs we’ve already released. We’re not ready to commit to anything more than someone for the upcoming tour right now. We booked the dates after we hired another singer who…didn’t work out. But we don’t want to have to cancel. If the tour goes well, then we could talk about something more permanent, potentially. So. I’d love to just jump in and hear you, if that’s all right.”