“You’re not going to make it in this business if you can’t learn from those who have gone before you. Having definite ideas and a backbone is necessary, and I see you have both. Points in your favor, for sure.” For an instant, I was sure I heard the lilt of Ireland again in his voice, and then his jaw hardened and any such softness disappeared. “But acting like a petulant child will get doors slammed in your face. Some of those doors can’t be reopened once you get your head out of your ass.”
Properly chagrined, I yanked the band off my wrist to tie my hair up out of my way. “I wasn’t prepared for any of this. All of you knew what you were walking into. I was told nothing.” I glared at Sabrina. “So much for being treated with respect.”
She held up her hands, palms out. “You’re right. I left out vital details because I knew you were already dreading the studio.”
“How does everyone know how I feel about every damn thing?” I muttered.
“Only because you telegraph your emotions like a sixty-inch television screen.” Simon flipped his phone through his fingers. “Don’t ever play poker, son.”
“Where’s your guitar?” Sabrina asked me.
“I…forgot it.” I felt like the kid who’d left his backpack at home on the first day of school.
I never forgot my guitar. It went with me everywhere, needed or not. But after spending the night at Zoe’s, and that fucking request the night before to meet with Jerry’s associate, I’d been all out of sorts.
“That’s okay.” Gray flashed me an easy smile, the kind Rory had offered until he’d decided I was a snotty prick. “You can work at the piano if you’d like. Or there’s obviously quite the sweet selection of guitars here you can use, although I know the difference it makes having your own.” He hoisted his own deep blue guitar case, which I hadn’t taken notice of until just this moment.
I nodded and gave him a quick, tight smile for the unexpected bit of kindness. And I retreated behind the piano like the coward I was.
Almost as soon as I sat at the bench, the tightness in
my shoulders eased.
“No notebook, either?” Without waiting for my reply, Sabrina pulled out a composition book from her over-the-shoulder bag. Lila arched a brow, but Sabrina paid her no mind as she passed it to me, along with a pen.
I had a feeling Lila didn’t provide her people with supplies even if they’d been firebombed out of their homes.
Uncapping the pen, I stared at the blank page and pretended I didn’t feel the drop of sweat working its way down my side.
“We’re just going to let you all get acquainted.” Sabrina nudged Lila toward the door, who did not seem inclined to leave. “Ring for us if you need anything. Snacks, tea. I can have the beverage cart wheeled in.”
I frowned. “Vodka?”
“Hmm, maybe there is a familial resemblance after all,” Deacon said, sitting down beside Simon and kicking his leg out of the way. Gray took Simon’s other side, and I gazed at the three of them as if they were on the opposing team.
Mine consisted of me and a piano.
Then Rory shocked the hell out of me by sitting beside me on the bench. He had no notebook, no pen. Just a warning expression.
“No alcohol,” Lila snapped a moment before the door closed behind them.
“This beverage cart stuff is new. Before, we were lucky if we could have a can of soda we brought in ourselves.” Deacon chuckled.
“We’re old school.” Gray smiled easily. “Practically Ripper dinosaurs.”
“Ripper royalty, you mean.” Rory’s voice held the same note of warning as his expression.
I got the message loud and clear.
Watch your step, boy.
And I was paying attention. Because I wanted to do this right. I wanted to learn.
I wanted to deserve studio time and an EP and getting to sing with someone the caliber of Simon Kagan. That he was my brother didn’t change the nerves coiled in my gut.
If anything, it made them ten times worse.
“This is just an informal session as we get started,” Deacon said. “We’ll show you the ropes in the booth after we get some preliminaries out of the way. First, we need to learn your sound, as well as your material so far and what you’re hoping for with this EP.”