Chapter 21 Keeley #2
Inside the bedroom I’ve converted into a practice space, warmth fills me at the familiar sight.
The Glitter Bats are making music again, and this is what it looks like: Valerie is cross-legged in the middle of the area rug, restringing her electric guitar.
Caleb is setting up his bass and amp in the corner opposite my drum kit, meticulously tidying the cords, and Riker is fiddling with his pedal board with a furrowed brow.
Caleb is the first to look up, and he glances at Jane and me, standing in the doorway with our fingers entwined, then gives me a look that says, I told you so.
I use my free hand to flip him off, and he just grins widely and goes back to his equipment.
“Keeley and I are dating,” Jane blurts. Everyone freezes and looks at us.
“I know you’ve probably all figured it out or whatever, but I wanted to make sure to say it for transparency.
I’m not out, or anything, so we’re keeping things subtle, but I wanted you all to know. Because us dating affects the band.”
I try not to wince at that, like she’s just telling them as a disclosure and not because she wants to, but I have to trust Jane is genuine. Especially when I spent so long keeping my distance from her because of the band.
“I’m really happy for you two,” Caleb says, smiling that sunshine smile at us.
“Of course we’re all happy. Honestly, I’m surprised you lasted this long,” Valerie says, going back to her guitar. “You’ve wanted to fuck each other for years.”
Jane gapes, and I just roll my eyes. “That’s very presumptuous of you,” I say.
Valerie cocks her head. “But am I wrong?”
“Nope,” Jane says, her already-pink cheeks flushing crimson. “Now, should we talk about our masters, or just make some music?”
Valerie groans, setting her guitar down.
“I’m so tired of dealing with Label’s bullshit when we were supposed to be free of them.
They’re stringing us along because they know they have all the power, and I just want to know who else has bid on our music.
Shouldn’t we get priority? Like why the fuck does Landon’s vacation schedule have anything to do with stalling the auction? ”
Riker groans, moving to sit next to her. “It’s not ideal.”
“Talking about business it is,” Caleb says with a sigh.
He leaves the room for a moment and comes back with my trays, like he somehow knew I forgot them amidst all the things competing for my focus.
We each grab something and gather on the floor in a circle, and while I release Jane’s hand, our knees are touching.
Something about her presence grounds me despite the seriousness of this discussion.
“What are our options if we lose?” Riker asks. “We just have to accept that we have no control over our entire discography?”
Jane bites her lip, considering. “We technically still have control over the first recording of ‘Midnight Road Trip,’ and the other songs on our old EP. They’re still on multiple platforms. I don’t know if we could get people to play those versions, but that’s a start.”
“What if…” Caleb lets out a long breath, like he’s bracing himself. He was the most reluctant to return to the industry last year. Even now, with his day job down to part-time, I know the balance can’t be easy. “What if we made a backup plan to rerecord?”
“Like Taylor Swift?” Valerie asks, eyes wide.
“Well, Taylor Swift did it, but she’s not the only one.
I’ve, uh, done some research,” I admit. Because that’s what I’ve been doing in my off time—trying to figure out what our next steps could be if we lose this fight, knowing Landon Banks doesn’t fight fair.
“Bob Dylan, Bowie, Joni Mitchell, Prince, even Sinatra did it.”
Riker nods. “Yeah, I’ve done a little research too. It would be a huge undertaking, but we could record on our own time line.”
“I don’t know…if I can commit to any kind of time line right now,” Jane says softly.
“I hoped it wouldn’t happen this quickly, but I’m already getting booked up for Dragon Realm stuff.
” I reach out a hand and squeeze her knee.
After the RECORD awards nomination, she’s gotten pulled into more press, and the team is already starting to discuss season three.
“That’s okay,” I say, and I try to mean it. “We don’t have to decide anything tonight. Should we mix it up for warm-ups?”
It’s a bit of a band tradition, picking a song to cover and swapping instruments as an exercise. It keeps our brains fresh…and it makes us laugh.
Jane pops up. “Dibs on the drum kit!”
“Damn it, Janey, I wanted to play,” Riker says. “Keeley, please keep your girlfriend in line.”
I grin. “My girlfriend gets dibs on whatever she wants.” And then I press a kiss to Jane’s lips. Jane melts in my arms, just a little. Caleb wolf-whistles in my periphery, but I hardly notice until Jane and I separate, breathless.
“Is this PDA going to be a thing now?” Valerie asks.
I roll my eyes at her as I saunter over to her guitar. “Like you have room to talk.”
“Fair point.” Valerie shrugs, taking up Riker’s spot to play rhythm.
Caleb goes over to the keys, while Riker grabs bass.
I smirk at Riker. “I should make you sing Chappell Roan.”
He shrugs. “I know all the words to The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.”
Riker Maddox is an enigma, that’s for sure. Valerie cackles. “I’d pay money to see you sing ‘Pink Pony Club,’ but maybe something a little more on-brand?”
Jane seats herself on my drum throne, looking like a fucking queen as she grabs a pair of Vic Firths out of my bag. And it gives me an idea I know she’ll love.
“On that note, I think we should play the most romantic song of all time,” I say. Without preamble, I begin strumming the opening to “All The Small Things.” Jane beams, quickly catching the iconic, frantic beat.
I have a hard time looking away from her as Riker begins singing the first verse.
Jane is radiant and free, her muscles flexing as she does her best to learn the pattern on the fly.
She laughs as she stumbles through a couple of measures and catches my eye, grinning with the kind of joy I want to bask in.
There’s technically no keys part, but Caleb with his brilliant musical brain figures one out quickly enough.
Valerie fills out the guitar part like a pro, and Riker hops on the balls of his feet as he plays the bass and focuses on singing.
On the second verse, I jump in and double his melody, and I still don’t look away from Jane. She winks as we launch into the chorus.
This is what I love about being in this band.
The collaboration, the fun, the trust. Even on different instruments, we sense what the others will do before they do it.
It really feels like we can do anything together, and I believe with my whole fucking heart that the possibilities are truly endless.
Optimism floods my veins, and I want to bottle this moment so I can inject it again the next time life feels uncertain.