Chapter 2
B uzz . Buzz .
I’m almost asleep when my phone lights up and vibrates across my bedside table. I reach over to grab it.
And it’s him.
“Oh my gosh, Micah. I was just thinking about you,” I admit, sitting straight up in bed, my voice a little too giddy with excitement.
“I’m so glad you picked up,” he says, almost breathless.
Micah’s the only one who calls me Kace, and I love the sound of him saying my name. The fact that he’s so relieved to reach me is tugging at my heartstrings too.
But then I hear him suck in his breath, and right away I know something’s wrong.
“Wait—what is it?”
“It’s bad, Kace. It’s fucking bad. Rebecca took off, and now I’m screwed.” He’s breathing hard, and his words are coming out too fast.
“OK, hold on. Rebecca had to leave?” I try to keep my voice calm and soothe his nerves .
“No, I mean she just fucking walked out because apparently Triple X is getting back together.”
Triple X is the all-girl manufactured rock group that made Rebecca famous. They toured all over the world before imploding when their lead singer landed in rehab, and that’s when Rebecca moved to Chicago and set her sights on Micah and The Heat.
“Wait—you mean she’s not coming back?”
“That’s right. She literally walked out of the studio between takes this morning, and when I got back after lunch, her kit was gone.
Then she sends me this text saying she’s flying to New York to get back together with Triple X.
She completely blindsided me. I had no idea any of this was even in the works. ”
OK, well I know that feeling. Apparently being blindsided just comes with the territory when Rebecca’s involved. The hurt is already needling its way back into my chest just thinking about it.
Then it hits me. Rebecca is leaving The Heat.
My mind is flip-flopping between utter shock and sheer joy, but I need to stay calm and keep my focus on Micah and the problem at hand.
“OK, it’s gonna be all right. You’ll just have to put the album on hold for a bit while you search for a new drummer, right? It’s not so bad. You can do this.”
“No, the entire record deal with the label is in jeopardy now. If I can’t get this album finished by the deadline next week, it’s gonna throw off the whole tour schedule. I’ll be in violation of my contract.”
“Ohhh.”
“Kace, they’re gonna drop me if I can’t get this mess straightened out. They can’t afford to be wasting their time and money on fuckup bands who can’t get their shit together. ”
“Hey, OK. I hear you. We can figure this out. You’re not a fuckup, Micah.” He can get up in his head sometimes, but I know how to bring him back down to earth.
“Look,” I start in, “the timing is tight and all, but obviously Rebecca’s not the only drummer in all of Chicago. The music scene there is huge. There’ve gotta be a dozen good studio drummers who’d be happy to step in and a hundred more dying to do a big national tour.”
“OK, sure. Maybe there are, but I don’t wanna find another drummer. I want you.”
Micah’s words are a giant wave, lifting my body up and sending my emotions careening in all different directions.
“Gosh. Uhh…thanks. But seriously, I’m sure we can find you a good drummer. I’ll start researching online and put some posts together.”
“I know you quit. I know you aren’t interested in the band anymore, but—if it isn’t you on this album, then I don’t want this record deal at all.”
I’m hanging on his every word, but is he serious? I have to keep my head on straight. I can’t let myself get caught up again.
“Oh, Micah.”
“No—I know it’s a lot to ask, but please. It’s like I don’t even know my own music without you in it.”
His voice cracks as he says it, and the sudden emotion catches me off guard.
Obviously he’s upset and not thinking clearly because he knows I can’t play drums for him anymore. My onstage freak-out should have been proof that I can’t be trusted when the pressure is on, and I swore I’d never set foot in the music business again. It’s plain to see I don’t belong there.
“Micah, you don’t have to flatter me. I know you would have been fine if Rebecca had been able to record the album, and you’re only asking me because she’s gone.” I’m trying to keep the bitterness out of my voice and make it sound matter-of-fact, but failing miserably.
“No. I mean—I know this isn’t what you want to be doing anymore, but it’s only a few days, just until the album is finished.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” My heart is beating so fast it’s almost pounding out of my chest.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to hang out, just you and me. It would be good to see you. You could crash at my place.”
Hmm. Well, then, maybe? I mean, it would only be for a few days, and we’d be able to play together again.
We’d be recording songs for an album together.
In the evenings, after we finished recording, we could curl up on the couch at his place and watch scary movies like we used to. Just the two of us.
Except I can’t afford to get carried away. I need to keep my expectations in check. This is only for a few days. It’s temporary.
Still, as the words are forming in my mind, I can already sense I’m putting something in motion I may not be strong enough to control.
“OK, Micah. I’ll play on the album.”