Chapter 3 #2
“Hey, don’t mind me,” she says with her hands up. Ash seems to take her literally when he continues to talk solely my way.
“Hey, you never did tell me why you came home, Cal? Any special reason?” Ash says, trying to save our embarrassment.
“Not really, I'm just back for the break. I wanted to make the most of my last summer before I finish uni.”
“I wondered why I hadn’t seen you around in a while. What did you end up taking?”
“A four-year course in business and economics.”
His head jerks back. “Impressive.”
I giggle, “Okay, if you think so.”
“You always were a bit of a brainiac, so it’s not a surprise.”
“Was I?” I’m flattered he thinks so, but my grades were average.
“Definitely. Why do you think—” Ash stops abruptly, before adding, “Scott had such a crush on you. He had a thing for smart girls.”
“Ugh, that boy. I’m sorry Ash, I know he was your friend, but just his name brings me out in a rash.” I give him the side-eye.
“I’ve apologised for him, remember?”
I smile resignedly then he asks, “So are you back home all summer or doing any travelling?”
“We’re staying here, taking some time out. How about you? What have you been up to since school?”
“Same, but unlike you, I took a gap year, travelled around Europe then came home. I decided to take my degree at Braebeach University when I got back. It's a shorter course than yours, but I’ve got another year to go, that’s if I don’t cut loose to concentrate on our band.”
“You have a band? That’s so cool. What kind of music do you play? Not covers, I guess.”
“No, I leave those for the day job,” he runs his fingers through his messy hair, perhaps trying to hide the redness to his cheeks. He looks up, giving me a sideways glance. “I call it rock with Brit-pop attitude. I don’t know what you’d class it as.”
I shake my head. “Why did I not know this already? You didn’t mention it the other night and we were together for hours.”
“Subject never came up.”
“We listened and talked about music all night, Ash. You could have said something then.”
“Sorry. It wasn’t intentional.”
“Wow,” I shake my head again. “And you write the songs?” I ask him, genuinely interested. I've been obsessed with music since I was a little girl. In my eyes, if you can write music, you have an incredible gift.
“I write the lyrics, but the music I write with our guitarist, Max.”
I'm slightly in awe. “Wow. Elton and Bernie eat your heart out.” I giggle, making light of it. His smiling reply emphasises his shy side, although you couldn't tell while he was singing on the street.
“I wish,” he continues.
“What’s your band’s name, in case I’ve heard of you.”
“Koolum Law”
It’s a name Angie seems to instantly recognise. “Hold on, I’ve seen a few posters for your band around town.”
“You’re playing locally?” I ask him.
He beams back at me as if he’s won the lottery, “Yeah, in fact, we’ve got a gig at The Dunbar Saturday night if you’re interested. Why don’t you come down and we can grab a drink once we’re done?”
“Just try stopping me,” I reply so quickly, and with more than a touch of eager, even Angie is shocked by my response.
I had no idea about Ashton’s music, but really it shouldn’t be a surprise. He played a few instruments at school.
“Don’t get too excited, I mean it’s a small set.”
“Hey, any gig is cool. Don’t knock it.”
His mouth turns up in one corner, a gentle sigh leaves his lips. “You can give me your honest opinion.”
“It sounds like you don’t need it. You must be doing something right to land The Dunbar. You know who has played there?” I ask him. I’m a bit of music history geek.
“Oh, I know,” he replies. “The Stone Roses are gods to me.”
“And the rest,” I bump into his side again. “You know a lot of new bands get spotted there.”
“Well, actually we've got someone interested in signing us, which is how this gig came about. In the meantime, all we can do is keep trying to get our name and music out there, but it’s difficult juggling studies as well, you know?”
“What did you say?” I pull back. “Ash, that’s amazing,” I almost squeal.
“Nothing’s set in stone just yet.”
“Nevertheless, this is huge news. You’ve actually got a record label who want you? Are you excited?” I love the way he's so grounded about this.
“Excited, nervous, all of it. We haven’t agreed to anything yet. It would mean missing the last year of our degree. We’re all still at uni, you see.”
“Shit, big decisions.”
He sits back, leaning on his palms. “Big indeed but I can’t help feeling this is what I was meant to do. I always thought the band was my escape from studies, but it's taken over during the last couple of years. I love playing live, writing songs, all of it.”
“I can’t wait to see you.”
“I can get tickets for the gig on Saturday if you’re seriously interested.”
Is it me or has he moved a little closer? And those eyes of his are begging me to do the same. I lose myself in their blue depths for a moment. “Um,” I say, possibly giving him the wrong impression because he turns to Angie. “Both of you that is.”
“Oh, you’ve finally realised I’m still here,” Angie raises her eyebrows, her lips all tight and pouty.
I look down while Ash tries to apologise, “I didn’t mean to—”
“I'm joking with you, Ash,” she leans over, rubbing his knee. “I’d love to be the third wheel on your date.”
“It's not a date,” I blurt out. I don’t want to put any pressure on him, but he surprises me.
“Isn’t it? That’s pretty disappointing.” My skin heats and I look down.
“Don’t worry, you can change your mind about the date at any time,” he grins, pushing his shoulder to mine.
“It's probably better if I get backstage passes,” he continues.
“You don't want to stand in the mosh pit after your fight with the lamp post the other day.”
My face continues to heat and not because of the burning rays hitting my skin. Ash is causing this reaction and it feels good.
“Perfect,” Angie jumps in. “So exciting, right Cal? One of our old school buddies is a rock star.”
I cover my smiling lips with my hand, and as Ash is about to open his mouth, the words never leave because a very firm female voice calls over.
“Ash! Ash, get over here.” The woman he was with earlier, hollers from the other side of the road. Ashton rolls his eyes, puts a hand in the air to acknowledge her calls, then lets out an almighty sigh. “Are we on then? For the gig on Saturday.”
I look to Angie's wide eyes, willing me to say yes or I'll get the wrong side of her tongue. She must know there’s no way I’d refuse him; I would be mad to say no to Ash.
He's bloody gorgeous and if I decide to have a summer fling, why not with him? “Thanks, Ash. We’d love to, but are you sure we’re not getting in the way of anything?
” I signal towards the woman over the road.
“What, Dani?” he says, looking towards her.
“You really think—” he looks back to me, then to the woman calling his name.
“Christ no. Dani is from the record label I told you about.
I'll explain later, but I can promise, nothing is going on there,” he says, a little horrified although his tone is kind of raspy, kind of sexy.
I cast my eyes over to the woman waiting for him, her hands now on her hips. She does not look happy. “I think you better go. Someone wants to talk to you,” I smile, directing my eyes over the road.
“Fuck. I suppose so, but it’s calm, honestly,” he whispers, touching my arm, sending heat through my veins. “She’s just… eager and pretty persistent.”
“Yeah? Well, she looks scary to me.”
“She’s impatient too and I'm about to piss her off even more. Dani wants answers I don't have until I've gone over some stuff with the guys, so she’ll have to wait a little longer.” He takes a breath in through his nose. He’s even hotter when he’s so determined. Shit, I’m getting all breathy.
“You know The Dunbar Hotel, right?” He asks.
“Everyone does,” Angie sing songs.
“Exactly,” Ashton says, “so be in the bar at six and I'll introduce you to the rest of the band, okay?”
“Right,” Angie answers again.
“Good.” His mouth curves on one side, his mesmerising eyes hold mine “Right Cal?” His soft voice asks.
“Sure. I’ll be there.”
“Okay,” he lifts his chin, “gotta go.” Clearing his throat, he glances at Angie. “Rehearsals to get to.” He gets up from his spot, brushing my side with his hand before it rests on the low band of his khaki shorts. “I'm glad I came over now Cal.”
“Yeah, likewise,” I answer, with one eye closed against the sun.
He points his index finger towards me. “See you Saturday, don’t be late.”
“Oh, I won’t.”
Walking backwards, he salutes to us both before turning to jog towards a now angry looking woman.
“I wouldn't want to be in his shoes,” Angie says, watching him run.
“Fierce right?” I grimace.
“Like a Rottweiler,” Angie shivers back to me. “Just a thought as you're leaving again after the summer. If you're gonna shag him, do it sooner rather than later.”