30. Conal
CONAL
It’s been a few days since we’ve seen Roddy, but he rolls in that afternoon, right when we’re in the zone. He gestures for us to continue, like he doesn’t want to bother us, but then he paces around, agitated.
This is how Roddy is, but it’ll be best if I take care of whatever he needs and send him on his way, so I call for a break.
“I came by to see how things are going,” he says as Rafe and Bron come over.
“Things are going good.” I nod toward the booth. “You want to listen?”
He waves a hand, dismissively. “Yeah, yeah. I will. Where’s your little wifey? ”
“She said she was going to work on retouching some photos. Why?”
He shrugs and shakes his head. “Alan’s been riding my ass. He’s pissed off, says the marriage is going to ruin your image.”
“Ha! Too fucking bad.”
“Female fans are going to be jealous, and male fans will say you’ve gone soft.”
“That’s bullshit, and he can fuck off.” My brothers chime in with their own thoughts, which happen to agree with mine.
“I’m not giving Hazel up.” The amount of determination in my tone surprises me.
Roddy raises his hands. “Hey, don’t shoot the messenger. The new songs of yours that I’ve heard so far sound great, so she’s obviously not hurting your creativity. I just came to tell you that you might have a problem.”
“It’s Alan’s problem, not ours.”
Roddy’s tone softens. “Speaking of your new wife, any chance she’s making dinner tonight?”
Is Hazel’s cooking the reason we’ve been seeing so much of Roddy lately? I laugh and clap a hand on his shoulder. “Sorry, buddy. We have plans tonight.”
Hazel’s smiling as we stand on her sister’s front porch, but it’s a forced smile, and I can see the nerves she’s trying to hide. She might not admit it, but it’s important to her that her sister like us, and I know she’d be happier if we all got along.
“This’ll be fine.” I squeeze her hand and earn a true smile just before Ember answers the door.
“Hey, c’mon in.” Ember holds the door wide, but then pauses as she looks out beyond the group of us. “Do your security guys want to come in, too? I think we have enough food.”
I shake my head. “They’ll be outside. They probably have food in the car.” No limo tonight. Jack wisely planned for us to come in an SUV to blend in better in this residential neighborhood.
Ember’s guys are gathered behind her, and as we go in, I hand Frank the bottle of wine we brought.
Bron’s carrying the small house plant we bought for Ember, and when he hands it to her, she looks utterly amazed.
We may have lived a wild life in the past, but we have manners.
Besides, Hazel told us her sister loves plants, so it seemed like a good way to earn a couple of points .
“New outfit?” Ember asks after she gives Hazel a hug.
Hazel blushes in that pretty way she does, and nods. “The guys took me shopping.”
Ember lifts her brows and nods. “I saw that, along with the rest of the world. Let’s see your ring.” She gestures for Hazel’s hand, then inspects her new diamond. “I don’t know why I’m looking. I already saw it online in great detail.”
The redhead—Hazel reminded me on the way over that his name is Griffin—offers us drinks, and my brothers and I follow him and the other two guys to the kitchen, so the women can talk alone.
The houseplant gift was a good call, because the house is filled with greenery. It’s nice, very homey.
Hazel also told us that Ember’s guys are all tattoo artists and work at the well-known Beasts Ink shop, so as soon as there’s a lull in conversation, I bring that up and ask them about their work. That topic keeps us talking until it’s time to sit down and eat.
Frank’s still not my biggest fan, but he plays nice.
Hazel seems somewhat more relaxed, and when I give her a look to check in with her, she smiles. Ember is polite, but the way she watches my brothers and me during dinner makes it clear she’s still not entirely at ease about the whole situation.
The food they serve us is surprisingly incredible, and I’m told Zeb made most of it, with help from Griffin. I’m sure their inkwork is good, but the two of them should consider opening a restaurant.
When Hazel sees all of us enjoying it, she asks Zeb if she can get the recipes.
“Oh, are you doing all the cooking in that big mansion?” Ember asks her.
Before I can object, Hazel says, “There’s a housekeeper. I cook sometimes, because I like it,” and Ember looks like she regrets her question.
“She made incredible muffins.” Bron gives Hazel a look that makes her cheeks go red, but thankfully, her sister doesn’t seem to notice.
Rafe’s pretty quiet through dinner, which is what I’d expect. As we’re finishing the best panna cotta I’ve ever tasted, he nods toward Griffin. “Hazel told us you play guitar?”
The poor guy runs a hand through his hair, immediately flustered, though he’d been the most talkative person at the table. “I play a little. I dabble.” He laughs nervously .
Ember jumps to his defense. “He plays wonderfully. He’s an in-demand tattoo artist, so he doesn’t play full time, but his band is great. He sings, too.”
“I brought a guitar over. Conal did, too.” Rafe nods toward me. “We could have a little jam session, if you’re up for it.”
Griffin looks dazed. “Oh, shit, man. Really?”
“We’ve been slaving over the same few songs for days,” Rafe says. “It’d be nice to mess around a bit.”
That’s how we end up out in their back yard, sitting in a circle, three of us on guitar, Bron using an empty water jug for percussion. A quick discussion reveals that we share some common influences, and we start playing a song we all know.
We keep things mellow in deference to their neighbors, but it’s a good time, and Hazel, Ember, and the other guys seem to enjoy listening to us play.
Hazel’s mood is much lighter by the time we leave. The hug she shares with her sister is warmer than the earlier one.
“Thanks for coming,” Ember tells her. “Oh, and try to keep in touch with Mom more often. She doesn’t want to intrude, but she’s worried.”
“Will do. Thanks for having us over. Thanks for a delicious dinner. ”
We guys shake hands all around, promising to get together some other time, and then we go.