“Let me help you,” Julius offers.
“Mallory!” Audrey hustles inside the shop. “What on earth? I figured you were picking up some strings or something.”
“Nope.” I heft the case in my arms. “Thank you, Julius.”
It takes us a few seconds, but Audrey and I end up wedging the case behind our seats.
“Don’t get into an accident. That case will decapitate us,” I warn.
“Not funny. I can’t believe you bought him a guitar. Doesn’t he already have like ten?”
“This one is special.”
“Wow. I mean, even a cheap guitar can’t be that cheap.”
“I don’t know what one is supposed to cost. But I know he’s had his eye on that one for a while and I want him to have it.”
She reaches over and pats my leg. “I’m sure he’s going to love it.”
“I hope so.”
Chaser’s supposed to be at rehearsals until three, but his bike is parked at the curb in front of our building. “Dammit,” I mutter. “I wanted to surprise him.”
“Honey, I think he’ll be plenty surprised.” She glances at the building. “You should probably put insurance on it in case someone steals it in this neighborhood.”
Shoot, I hadn’t thought of that. “The guys keep things so filthy downstairs; I think anyone’s afraid to venture up to our floor. They’re like an extra layer of security.”
She wrinkles her nose instead of laughing. “Do you want me to ask Douglas if he has any rentals?”
“Maybe.” I glance at our building again. “I know Chaser likes being near the band, so they can get together to write or play stuff when the mood strikes them.”
“Well, I’d give you and maybe Chaser a reference but not the rest of them.”
I lean over and kiss her cheek. “Can’t blame you there.”
The band must have decided to rehearse here today. The steady grind of one of the songs they’ve been working on for days punctures the atmosphere as soon as I open the door to our building. My lips twitch. Every time I hear it, they’ve added some new element.
How the hell am I going to sneak by the guys’ apartment? If the door’s closed, I should be fine. If they left the door open, I might be able to pass without them noticing, if they’re really into their session.
I lug the case up the stairs, careful not to bump it into anything. As I approach the door to their apartment, the music comes to a sudden stop. Loud voices pierce the quiet hallway. I cock my head. Sounds like their usual sharp banter over a lyric or riff. Should keep them occupied for a few minutes.
I tiptoe past their door and up the stairs as fast as possible, without making too much noise.
Phew.
I’m sweating by the time I step inside the apartment. I set the guitar on the couch. It looks so much bigger in our tiny apartment. Where the heck am I going to hide it?
Figuring it can wait, I switch on the box fan in the window, stopping to bend over and stick my face in the breeze for a few seconds.
“Now, that’s hot,” Chaser says.
“What?” I jump and turn, my heart beating frantically. “I thought you were downstairs working with the guys?” My gaze darts to the couch where any second Chaser will notice the big, black guitar case.
“Yeah, but I heard someone up here and came to check. Why didn’t you stop by?”
“Practice sounded good, I didn’t want to interrupt you.”
He crosses the room and fits his hands to my waist, pulling me forward. “You can always interrupt me,” he murmurs before sweeping a kiss over my lips.
With a sigh, I melt into him and slip my arms around his neck. “I thought you’d be at the rehearsal space?”
“Nah, we just started jamming and never made it out of here.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” I lean up and kiss him again.
“We got stuck, but I’m suddenly feeling very inspired.”
“I feel that.”
He scoops me up in his arms and turns toward the bedroom. “Aren’t the guys waiting for you to come back?”
“Fuck ‘em.”
Well, I suppose this is one way to keep his attention away from the couch. I draw his head down for a kiss, but he stops moving.
“What’s that?”
“Uh.” I struggle to right myself, so he’ll set me down. “Nothing.”
“Pretty big for nothing.” He lowers me until my feet touch the floor. “You taking up guitar lessons or something?”
I blow out a frustrated breath. “No, it’s a present for you. I was trying to surprise you though.”
“You bought me a present?”
“Why is that so hard to believe?”
“My birthday isn’t for a few more months.”
“I wanted you to have it now.”
He approaches the case slowly, a sly smile forming on his lips. “What’d you get me?” His playful tone and expression erase my disappointment. The surprise might not have gone the way I envisioned, but he clearly doesn’t suspect it’s his dream guitar inside.