Chapter 38 Roman
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Roman
The city’s a blur around me, all honking horns and the hum of traffic, but I’m not paying attention. Not right now. Right now, I’ve got the phone pressed to my ear, and I’m talking to Jeena.
We’ve been holed up in the city for days now, recording.
We’ve been grinding nonstop, but today? Today’s different. We’re wrapping up. This afternoon, we’re heading back to Coyote Glen, and the thought of going home actually feels like a win. The songs are coming together.
It feels like we’re in the best position we have been for a very long time.
“Yeah, I know, I know,” I say, kicking back in my chair, feet on the table as I try to keep the smile off my face. “But it’s different now, Jeena. I mean, we’re not out of the woods yet, but the vibe in the studio is better. We’re actually getting shit done.”
“I knew it. You just needed to settle in. Get your heads back in the game. And sounds like it’s finally happening, huh?”
“Hell yeah,” I reply, glancing over at the guys.
Each one of them is deep in their own world, making their magic happen.
Ezra’s scribbling lyrics, his brow furrowed as he tries to pull words from the ether. Creed’s behind the drums, headphones on, lost in the rhythm, tapping out beats that could shake the walls.
Wild Reverie is back.
“I mean, we’ve got a few tracks that I’m really stoked about,” I continue, trying not to sound too excited, but failing miserably. “The sound’s coming together. It’s not perfect yet, but we’re getting there. Hell, I think we’ve got something that could blow the last album out of the water.”
Jeena laughs softly. “You sound like you’re really in a good place. That’s what I like to hear, Roman.”
I run my hand through my hair, leaning forward slightly, but the hum of the studio pulls me back in. Everything’s moving so damn fast. But I stay focused, not letting myself get distracted by the endless noise around me.
“Yeah, well, we’re trying. It’s hard sometimes, though. You know? The press won’t leave us alone. That whole ‘scandal’ thing? It’s still hanging over us.”
She sighs on the other end, and I can almost hear her rolling her eyes. “Roman, you’ve been through worse. Hell, you’ve all been through worse. This shit is just noise. It won’t last forever.”
I grunt in agreement, letting her words sink in. She’s right, of course. But it’s hard to ignore the constant buzz of it all. “Yeah, I know. But when the hell is it gonna stop? I can’t open a browser without seeing something else. People are obsessed.”
“You can’t control what they say,” she reminds me. “All you can do is keep moving forward. And from what you’re telling me, that’s exactly what you guys are doing.”
I let out a long breath. “True. We’re focused on the music now. That’s all we can do, right?”
“Exactly. And look, it’s working.” She encourages. “You’re creating again. That spark is coming back. That’s the real win.”
I lean back in my chair, glancing at the guys again. They’re all in their own zone, but there’s something about the energy in the room that feels different now. We’re not just going through the motions. We’re making something that matters. Something we can be proud of.
“You’re right,” I say, a smile tugging at the corner of my lips. “We’ve got this. I can feel it.”
“Good. Just don’t get too cocky. You’re still Roman West, after all. We wouldn’t want the world to forget.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Yeah, yeah. Thanks for the reminder.”
“Anytime,” she teases. “And by the way, I’m planning to visit soon. Gotta see you guys in action.”
I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh, really? You want to see this chaos firsthand?”
“I’ll survive. But I’ll need a drink when I get there,” she adds with a laugh. “Can’t be in a room full of rockstars without one, right?”
“Deal,” I grin. “We’ll save you a seat.”
“I know you will,” she snorts, before the line goes quiet. Then, she adds, “But seriously, Roman… this is good. I’m glad you’re getting back to it.”
I lean back in my chair again, glancing around the studio. We’ve turned a corner. We’ve got a few more touches to add, some tweaks to make, but the hard part’s over.
“I’ll be in touch,” I say, making a mental note to wrap up here and get the hell out of the city. “And hey, don’t be a stranger. We’ll see you soon.”
“Take care of yourself, Roman,” Jeena says. “You’ve earned this.”
I hang up the phone, my thoughts drifting back to the studio.
I glance over at the guys again. Ezra’s still scribbling furiously in his notebook, his lips moving as he speaks to himself, his mind somewhere deep in the music.
Creed’s lost in his own world, tapping out another beat on the drums, so locked into the rhythm that nothing else matters to him right now.
I can feel it too, the groove, the pulse. We’re almost there.
“Alright,” I say, pushing back from the table and standing up. “Let’s wrap this shit up.”
Ezra looks up from his notebook, a quick nod. “Almost done with this verse. Shouldn’t be long.”
Creed lifts his head from the drums, his eyes glinting with the same intensity he always has when he knows we’re close to finishing. “Good. I’m ready to get out of here.”
I stretch my arms over my head, feeling the last few days in my bones. “Same here. It’s time to head back to Coyote Glen. We’ve been in this city long enough.”
Ezra cracks a smile. “You’re looking forward to it?”
I laugh, grabbing my jacket. “Hell yeah. I’m done with the craziness. Time for some quiet. Plus, I’ve got something to look forward to there.”
“Yeah?” Creed’s eyebrows raise. “What’s that?”
“More time with Sloane,” I say. “It’s been great here, but we have been busy.”
“Yeah.” Creed smiles. “I have to admit, I agree with you there.”
“Sloane has a way of… recalibrating everything,” Ezra says. “She’s the calm in the storm. We’ve all been adrift, and now we’re slowly finding our bearings again. She’s changed us in ways I’m not sure we even understand yet.”
All I can do is smile at Ezra. He’s right, but his way of saying things… well, it really makes me think.
“Whoa,” I cry out, staring out the window. “Coyote Glen cleans up nice!”
It’s unbelievably Christmassy. Everywhere you look, there’s a riot of lights.
Reds, greens, and golds, twinkling in the snow-covered trees lining the streets.
The storefronts are decked out with wreaths and garlands, and there’s a massive tree standing proudly in the town square, its lights flickering, a beacon of holiday cheer.
The entire town has stepped out of a Christmas postcard, the kind you see on the shelf at a local store but never think you’ll actually live in.
Sloane leans forward from the passenger seat, her eyes wide.
“It’s… magical here,” she breathes out, filled with awe. The way she’s looking at everything, as if she’s seeing the town for the first time, makes me smile. It feels a little that way for me, too, honestly. “I mean, I know we haven’t been gone long, but it looks so different. What’s going on?”
“I think we might be just in time for the Winter Solstice.” I can’t help but grin, turning my attention back to the town as we pull down Main Street. “This place is something else during the holidays. The Lantern Walk tonight? It’s the event of the year.”
“I want to do that,” she says, still staring out the window. “Whatever it is. It sounds fun.”
Creed, sitting in the back, leans forward, taking in the scene.
“I feel like I’m in a damn Hallmark movie. But I’m not mad about it.” He lets out a small chuckle. “I’d stick around for this every year.”
Ezra, who’s been quiet as usual, glances out the window, but his expression softens. “Yeah. It’s… peaceful. Almost like you could take a breath and forget about everything else for a while.”
It really does feel homely as we pull up to the cabin. Truth be told, I could use a night in to reacclimate. But I also want to get involved in the town’s magic. Of all the places I’ve been in the world, Coyote Glen really does have a special place in my heart.
“Alright, alright, enough talk,” I say, the moment we park the truck. “Let’s get this Christmas party started. We’ve all been working our asses off. It’s time to embrace the ridiculousness.”
Sloane throws a playful look over her shoulder. “You’re really into this, huh?”
“Hell yeah, I am. When in Coyote Glen… you do as the Coyotes do. And right now, that means rocking up to the Lantern Walk looking like absolute Christmas craziness.”
We head inside, and within minutes, Creed is rummaging through the closet, pulling out something I can’t quite see yet. “I might even outdo you with my Santa game this year, Roman. Go big or go home, right?”
Ezra laughs. “Well, I might wear an ugly sweater, the uglier the better.”
“Now we’re talking,” I say, getting fired up. “We’re going full Christmas mode, people.”
Sloane comes back to the living room first, dressed in a ridiculous reindeer sweater that has lights and a red nose. She laughs when she sees us all dressed up.
“I didn’t know I was signing up for a full-on holiday parade, but I’m into it.”
“See? Told you it’d be fun,” I tease, tossing her a wink. “You ready to light up the town with us?”
I spin around, showing her the whole ensemble. I’m wearing a green-and-white striped scarf that makes me look so festive I might as well have stepped out of a Christmas candy cane, and to top it off, I’ve got on a knit beanie with a giant pompom.
It’s a bit much, okay, it’s a lot, but I’m going with it.
“I look like I’m ready to lead a Christmas parade, I know…”
The words fall apart on my lips as Creed saunters out of the back room, proudly adjusting his Santa hat. His full-on Santa suit is absurdly over the top: big white beard, fake belly, the whole nine yards. He stands with his arms wide, giving us all the gift of Christmas cheer.
Wow.
What happened to Mr. Control Freak, huh?
“Ho ho ho, you merry little minions,” he booms, a wicked grin on his face. “You can all bow to Santa now.”
I laugh out loud, shaking my head. “Damn, Creed. I don’t even know how you find time for that level of commitment. Where’s the reindeer?”
Ezra’s voice rings out from the hallway, his tone laced with dry humor. “He probably left them at the North Pole to save on gas.”
We all snicker, but the next second, Ezra steps into the room, and I can’t help but laugh again.
He’s wearing the most ridiculous Christmas sweater I’ve ever seen. It’s neon green with an oversized snowman wearing sunglasses and holding a surfboard. Honestly, if this thing were any brighter, it could be its own holiday light display.
“Well, well, well,” I say, eyeing him up. “If that isn’t the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever seen.”
Ezra shrugs, his eyes sparkling with the usual quiet mischief. “You say that like it’s a bad thing. The uglier, the better, like I said.”
“Ha! You win,” I say, shaking my head. “That thing is a crime against fashion, and I respect it.”
Sloane bursts out laughing, her eyes crinkling as she takes in Ezra’s sweater. “I was wondering who was going to go full ugly sweater, and I guess it’s you. Respect.”
But the best part comes when we all turn to look at her again, and she gives us a dramatic twirl. Her reindeer sweater has twinkling lights woven throughout, and the reindeer's nose actually flashes. I can practically hear the jingle bells. She raises an eyebrow, daring us to say something.
“I mean, I know it’s ridiculous, but I had to get in on the fun,” she says. “The Christmas spirit’s kind of contagious.”
Creed, now fully in character, throws an arm around her shoulder.
“You’re right. You fit in perfectly. Look at that thing glow.” He gestures to her sweater, his tone mock serious. “It’s a masterpiece.”
I throw my arm around her opposite shoulder, pulling her into the fold. “Welcome to Coyote Glen. This is the real Christmas magic.”
We all stand there for a moment, the absurdity of it all sinking in. We’re in the middle of this ridiculous Christmas frenzy, and yet, it feels… right. We’ve found our rhythm again, even if that rhythm is full of flashing lights and oversized sweaters.
“Alright,” I say, breaking the silence. “Let’s get this show on the road. We’ve got a Lantern Walk to own. And I don’t know about you guys, but I’m ready to rock this town.”
“Hell yeah,” Creed says, adjusting his Santa beard, giving me a nod. “We’re gonna leave a lasting impression on this little town.”
“I’m in,” Ezra agrees. He straightens his snowman sweater with a touch of pride. “Let’s do this.”
Sloane looks between all of us, shaking her head with a smile. “You’re all so ridiculous. But honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Exactly,” I say, leading the charge out the door, the winter chill biting at our cheeks. “Let’s go light up the town.”
The snow crunches underfoot as we walk toward the event, ready to embrace the full-on holiday madness.
As we head into the night, I can’t help but think this might be the best damn Christmas I’ve ever had.