Micah
Just be with me.
After the mention of Ambrose and the look in Tatum’s eyes, texted her friend the next morning and announced her plans to spend the afternoon interrogating her. Since it was a Sunday, Emery tagged along as drove them down to Starlight Studios. When Tatum branched out and started her own business, offering independent musicians a space to record and produce their music, she’d set it up twenty minutes outside Sirena Beach town limits. and Sadie had been there every step of the way as Tatum bought a piece of land close to the beach and built the studio up from the ground.
She parked her car beside Tatum’s in the small parking lot and followed Emery into the studio, the sounds of chatter and soft music filtering through the space. Jada, the receptionist, greeted and gestured towards the recording rooms in the back. Leaving her daughter to do whatever she pleased, followed the music to where Tatum was hunched over the mixing board. Tapping her knuckles against the door frame, smiled as her friend straightened up to look at her.
“Hey you, where’s the kid?”
“Wandering around,” said, hooking a thumb over her shoulder. “You doing okay?”
Tatum sighed heavily and nodded, forcing a smile onto her face. “We don’t have to talk about it, you know.”
“Do you want to talk about it? Because if you don’t, Em and I can hang around for a bit and leave you to it.”
Before Tatum could respond, loud laughter filled the room. turned to the six women and waved as they came to a halt. Tatum chuckled and draped an arm around ’s shoulders. “Ladies, this is my best friend . Mick, these are the ladies that make up Pretty Ugly.”
They introduced themselves and gushed about Tatum, making her best friend blush and wave them off. Then after a quick discussion, the band filed into the studio and closed the door. had been in there enough times to know how Tatum worked, so she sat on the couch in the back and waited. After discussing what to do, the songs they wanted to try out and record that afternoon, Tatum left the band to their own devices. She dropped onto the couch beside and stretched with a loud sigh.
“You know what’s crazy? I was really happy to see Brose again. My first thought hadn’t been about Benji or the past. I wanted to hug him.”
watched her best friend, letting her set the pace for this conversation. When they were in high school, Tatum and Ambrose had been a couple. They’d been obsessed with each other, stupidly in love and everyone thought they’d end up together forever. Hell, Tatum had already planned a future with Ambrose. Except, they were ignoring the fact that Ambrose was part of a slowly emerging boyband. In a time when pop music reigned supreme and boybands were all the rage, Double Toned were starting to get famous. When the band released their second album with the support of a big name music label, everything changed. Ambrose dropped out of high school to go on tour and their relationship fell apart.
That’s when Benji appeared. Older, charming and sexy as well, Benji was the perfect distraction for Tatum. At first, nobody knew that Benji and Ambrose were related. He charmed and seduced Tatum, they dated all through college and then got married. On their wedding day, Ambrose appeared and threw everything into chaos. still remembered that day, watching as Tatum processed the truth of her new life. But she loved Benji enough to not think twice about that relationship.
Until he started to hurt her.
“He apologized, like everything Benji did was his fault. Then he apologized for not being there for me before and walking away the way he did,” Tatum said, rushing through her words. “He kept insisting that if he could, he would have stayed. That he would have ignored everything their management told them and come back to me.”
blew out a slow breath, watching Tatum. Ambrose was the love of her life and she lost him to music. Sometimes, she wondered if Tatum went into the business because of Ambrose, with the hopes of one day crossing paths with him again and understanding why he left the way he did.
“What’s he doing in town anyway?”
Tatum hesitated, worrying her bottom lip before she said, “He came to see me.”
“Tate…”
“I know! Okay, I know. I get it. It’s a bad fucking idea and I know that it can all go wrong. Mick, it’s Ambrose . He’s like my Fletcher.”
“I wasn’t madly in love with Fletcher back then,” protested. She’d been slightly in love with the drummer back then, but not the way Tatum and Ambrose had been about each other.
“He’s gotten even hotter, if that’s possible.”
“He was always my favorite member of Double Toned for a reason.” Tatum laughed, but the sound was tinged with sadness and squeezed her friend’s knee. “So, what are you going to do now?”
Tatum shrugged, slumping back against the couch and dragged her hands over her face. After a long moment, Tatum glanced at with a pout. “He’s gone to LA for a few weeks, something about writing songs and producing music for someone else. But he’ll be back.”
nodded, still watching Tatum cautiously. “You want another chance.”
“Yes,” Tatum admitted softly, refusing to meet her eyes now. “I didn’t settle for Benji after Ambrose left, I loved him in a different way. But my heart has always belonged to Ambrose. He was my first everything.”
could recall with clarity the day Tatum barged into her childhood bedroom to tell her all about losing her virginity. Everyone thought they’d go the distance, but fame had other plans. Fame took away all their opportunities and chances for something more.
“He better not hurt you again, or he’ll have to answer to me this time,” told her friend and got a watery smile in response.
“I’m scared, Mick. I’m scared that I’ll give so much of myself to him and he won’t do the same for me.”
“Take it slow this time, maybe?”
Tatum sighed, heavy and dramatic. “We’ve never done anything slow.”
“Trust me, we all remember.” laughed, dragging a hand through her curls, fluffing it up as she shifted on the couch.
“Enough about me, how are things with you and the rockstar?”
“It hasn’t changed since last night,” explained, letting her mind wander to the brief kiss they shared the day before. “We’re taking it slow. I realized this morning that all we know about each other is what we’re like in bed. And even that, what we were like in bed sixteen years ago. I don’t want our new…whatever it is to be just that.”
“Aw, you like him.”
rolled her eyes and scoffed. “He’s beautiful, Tate. Plus…glasses, tattoos and fuck, he wrote me a song.”
“An award-winning song too.”
Shaking her head, put a hand over her heart to calm the racing. She knew how lucky she was to have this second chance with Fletcher, but she wasn’t going to let it be a repeat of their past. They were going to get to know each other this time, actually build a relationship and make something of it.
“Now we need to find someone musical from Sadie’s past and all three of us can have a second shot with musicians,” teased, making Tatum burst into laughter that shook the couch. This then cracked up and they were falling over each other as they laughed.
“What the…are you two high?” Emery’s voice broke through their giggling and gasped in air as she sat up to look at her daughter. Tatum pushed herself into a sitting position as well and Emery shook her head. “Are you okay?”
“You’re my favorite kid, you know that?” Tatum asked, hands stretched out with a wide smile.
“I’m the only kid you know, Aunt Tate.”
“That doesn’t take away the fact that you’re my favorite.”
Emery rolled her eyes and turned away to stare into the recording booth. “Oh my god, that’s Pretty Ugly!” she squealed, bouncing in place.
“Wait, you know them?” Tatum pushed to her feet and helped up.
“I’m obsessed with them.”
Tatum pressed a button on the console and said, “Ladies, if you’ve got a minute, I’d like to introduce you to someone.”
“Aunt Tate…what…no…” Emery’s eyes were wide as saucers and couldn’t help but laugh at the shock on her face. The band walked through the side door, still in good spirits and Emery looked like she was going to pass out. “Hi,” she squeaked out and the band grinned at her.
“Emery, meet Pretty Ugly. Ladies, this is the offspring of the afore…introduced best friend. Apparently she’s obsessed with you.”
“ Aunt Tate ,” Emery groaned and using her daughter’s shocked state, she took a few photographs. Turning to the band, Emery waved awkwardly. “It’s really nice to meet you all. I am obsessed and have been since I heard “Caught”.”
One of the women clapped Emery on the shoulder and saw her daughter sway, which only added to her amusement. Like mother like daughter . After all, had raised Emery on this kind of music, to enjoy and appreciate the way musicians created their magic.
“Mom,” Emery whisper-shouted and arched an eyebrow. “Can you take a picture, please?”
“Sure, sweetheart.” She waited as they arranged themselves around Emery and then took a picture. Her daughter looked so excited and teary at the same time, but it would be the kind of picture that Emery would hold onto forever.
“All right, ladies. Are we ready to lay down some music?” Tatum asked and after a quick round of ‘nice to meet you’ and ‘see you later’, the band went back into the booth. Emery watched them with one hand over her mouth and then turned to to release a squeal.
“I’m going to tell Nico that I met Pretty Ugly!” And then she was off, phone in hand and fingers moving across the screen at a crazy speed.
“You raised her good, Mick,” Tatum said from where she was prepping the mixing board and smiled.
As her friend got down to work, sent Emery the pictures she’d taken. Then returned to the couch, reminiscing about her own life and what it had been like when she was that age. She’d gone through her boyband phase with Tatum and Sadie, then she’d fallen in love with Fletcher for one whole year. As long as Emery didn’t follow a rockstar around on tour and didn’t fall in love with them, would be fine.
Hours later, Jada pushed a trolley filled with coffee and snacks into the studio. Emery was sitting with Tatum at the console, giving her two cents and squealing as Pretty Ugly recorded their songs. had watched for a bit and then fell asleep, waking up to the sound of Emery singing along with the band. She was grateful for friends like Tatum, people who took Emery in as their own. Grateful for the kindness of strangers like the women of Pretty Ugly, for not treating her daughter like some kind of rabid fan. Truth was, didn’t have to worry about Emery that much. She might be young, but her daughter was more than capable of surviving this crazy world.
“I’m looking for Em—Mick?”
’s head snapped up at the sound of the familiar voice and her eyes widened when she found Fletcher standing in the doorway to the studio.
“Hey. What are you doi—” started, but was interrupted by Emery’s squeals as she charged past her to grab Fletcher’s hand and pull him into the room.
“I didn’t think you’d actually show up!”
“You told me that I would be an idiot to not show up,” Fletcher explained and then glanced at , one eyebrow arched. “So, what am I doing here?”
“Holy shit, you’re Fletcher Kelley.”
and Fletcher turned to the voice coming from inside the recording booth to find all six women staring at them.
“What is going on?” Fletcher asked, looking slightly startled.
gestured to everyone as she introduced them. “This is Tatum, one of my best friends. Starlight Studios is hers and that’s Pretty Ugly, apparently Emery’s obsessed with them.”
“It’s good to finally meet you, Fletcher,” Tatum said with a wide smile.
“Likewise,” he responded, eyes drifting back to . “Can we…can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Mr. Kelley,” one of the women from Pretty Ugly said, stopping from going anywhere with Fletcher. “We know this is a weird request, but would you be up for a quick jam session?”
nodded, smiling as Fletcher looked between her, Emery and the band. After a long moment, he nodded and joined the band in the recording booth. shot Emery a glare and her daughter blushed, before coming over to stand beside her.
“I was so excited and sent him the picture you took. I thought it would be fun to have him here. He’s like super famous and whatever,” Emery rambled, tripping over her words as she explained herself. “I’m sorry, Mama, I should have asked you first.”
Kissing the side of Emery’s head, sighed. “It’s okay, kiddo. But you’ll definitely have to explain this to Fletcher later.”
Emery nodded, eyes downcast as she leaned into . “Maybe we can take him for ice cream?”
chuckled and squeezed Emery’s shoulder. All of a sudden, the entire room was filled with loud music, drawing ’s attention to the booth. She found Fletcher behind one of the drum sets, smiling at the rest of the band as he twirled his sticks as his foot worked the pedal for the bass. Her heart lurched at the sight, eyes watching his every move. When Fletcher glanced over, his smile widening, she knew that without a doubt she was going to allow herself to fall stupidly in love with him.
Tatum recorded the whole jam session while watched in awe as Fletcher seamlessly moved through every song Pretty Ugly threw at him. She’d always known that there was a good reason why he was named Drummer of the Year six years in a row, but watching it in real time again? That was a whole other experience. When they were done, Fletcher posed for some more photographs with the band, signed a bunch of things and walked out to a pouting Emery.
“I’m sorry, Fletch. I didn’t mean to make this awkward.”
“It’s all good, kid. I had fun. Startling at first, but fun,” he told Emery, giving her arm a squeeze. When he looked up at , he smiled. “Are you ladies done for the day?”
“We could be,” told him, hands shoved into the pockets of her cotton shorts.
“Oooh, you up for some ice cream, Fletch?” Emery asked, beaming at both of them.
Fletcher shrugged, adjusting his denim jacket. “I could eat ice cream.”
smiled and shook her head slightly, glancing at Tatum. “Up for some ice cream, Tate?”
“We’ve still got some work to do, so you three have fun,” Tatum said with a wink and not so subtly waved off. They would talk about this Ambrose thing later, maybe with Sadie on her side too. While their third friend could get quite aggressive about relationships and the drama that went with it, Sadie sometimes brought clarity to every situation.
Grabbing her things, followed an excited Emery and Fletcher out to the parking lot. Without even asking either of them questions about it, Emery climbed into Fletcher’s truck and buckled herself in. Fletcher smirked and gave ’s hand a gentle squeeze. She poked him in the side and then climbed into her car and led the way to Lickity Split.
At the ice cream shop, Fletcher bought them all ice cream and after a quick thanks, Emery was gone—something about seeing friends and going to spend time with them—leaving her and Fletcher alone.
“Is everyone in your life trying to set us up?” he asked, hand on her lower back as he guided her towards a table set up outside.
She chuckled, slipping into her seat. “Tatum was definitely trying, I don’t think Em was doing anything on purpose. Was she?”
“Would it be so bad if she was?”
“I guess not…” she trailed off, eating some of the ice cream with a slight frown on her face.
“I’m okay with us taking our time, by the way,” he said, drawing her attention to his beautiful face. “But I’m also glad I get to spend some time with you today.”
“Me too. And you know what I was thinking…we don’t know a whole lot about each other.”
Fletcher arched an eyebrow and smiled. “What do you wanna know, Mick?”
“Strawberry ice cream, really?”
He glanced at his cup overflowing with pink ice cream and laughed. “Don’t knock it ’til you try it.”
“It’s so pink, I’m afraid that if I eat it, I’ll be pooping pink for days.”
“What about you, huh? Chocolate and caramel, so predictable,” he shot back with a laugh.
“Better predictable than disgusting.”
“Whoa.” He held up one hand, a fake gasp following. “I like this aggressive side of you.”
She rolled her eyes and laughed, licking her spoon clean and enjoying the way his eyes narrowed at the action. She repeated it, slower this time and he growled. “So—” licked the spoon again with a smirk ”—you’re into strawberries and what else?”
He hesitated, his eyes still locked on her mouth and after a long moment said, “Beer over whiskey, wine on some days.”
“And you like to cook,” she added.
“Especially if it’s for someone else.”
“What’s your go-to dish?”
He finally turned his attention away from her mouth, eating his ice cream as he pondered her question. Fletcher squinted against the setting sun. “Pasta seems like a safe and solid bet. Can’t really go too wrong if you’ve got all the right ingredients.”
“Like what you made for us that night?”
Nodding slowly, his eyes darted everywhere before settling on his ice cream. “I have to admit, Mick, sitting here with you, talking about random shit is hard when you’re so distracting.”
“What would you rather we do, Fletch?”
He turned those beautiful eyes on her and inhaled sharply at the way he stared. “Give me your free time,” he whispered. “I’m about to be busy in the evenings, but I want us to spend some time together.”
“Yeah? What are we going to do, Fletch?”
“Anything. Everything. Just be with me, Mick.”
She nodded slowly, feeling his desire for her in every word. “Okay, Fletch, I’ll be with you.”