The Band Boy

Chapter Eight

WHILE MOST KIDS DREADED THE end of summer, Daisy had been counting down the days. Eighty-four long, restless nights—every one of them leading up to this: Jameson’s return.

He was finally back in the States. His summer had been swallowed by grief; his grandfather passed only weeks after they arrived in Surrey, leaving the Kingston family to shoulder the funeral, the packing, and the messy details of an estate.

Jameson mentioned, almost offhandedly, that his grandfather had left the grandkids a “decent chunk” of cash, some of which the boys were already scheming to put toward new band equipment.

Even oceans away, TKC had performed. At a small pub in Surrey, Jameson told her proudly of how the locals had been just as impressed as the fans in San Mateo. Daisy, of course, wasn’t surprised.

The night before he returned, Anna insisted on a girls’ night.

“One last night with my best friend before the band boy swoops back in and steals all your time,” she teased, arms crossed as if daring Daisy to argue.

They ended up in Daisy’s bed, sprawled out with popcorn and Gilmore Girls reruns. Halfway through an episode, Anna blurted, “Do you think you and Jameson will have sex?”

Daisy bolted upright. “Why would you ask that?”

Anna shrugged, cool as ever, tossing popcorn into her mouth. “Because, I mean… have you seen your boyfriend? He’s hot.”

Daisy sank back down, yanking the comforter to her chin like a shield. “I guess I’ve thought about it, but… I don’t think I’m ready.”

Anna rolled onto her side, facing her fully now. “You’re smart, Double D. Don’t do it until you’re a hundred percent sure. Trust me.”

Her voice dipped on the last two words, heavy with unspoken things. Daisy felt as if Anna was trying to warn her, so she couldn’t help but ask. “Did you and Ryan, you know…”

“Yeah.”

There was a pregnant pause.

“Do you regret it?”

“Hell yeah, I regret it. I thought it would be fun and bond us together or something. Instead, it was uncomfortable and awkward. And to be honest, I kind of felt pressure because he was older and because he was more ‘experienced.’” She air quoted the last word.

“My point being, just wait until you’re ready.

Jameson seems like a nice enough guy, who obviously is crazy about you. He will wait.”

Daisy nodded, but smiled faintly. “Well, unlike Ryan, he doesn’t know what he’s missing.”

Anna’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “Wait. What? Are you telling me we have an anomaly—a virgin rock star?”

Daisy giggled as she remembered that night over the summer when they had briefly discussed it.

Her jealousy had gotten the better of her when Jameson recalled some bra-throwing girl in the crowd.

It nearly unhinged her. Over the phone, her fears spilled out—every what-if of groupies who could give Jameson what she wasn’t ready for. Something he likely missed very much.

His answer had stunned her. I can’t miss something I’ve never had.

With his lyrics, his confidence, his very aura, she had just assumed. Instead, the truth bonded them deeper.

Anna set the popcorn aside and grabbed Daisy by the shoulders.

“Even though he hasn’t done it, just please wait until you’re absolutely sure. I need to vicariously live through you and your wholesomeness, so don’t let me down, Double D! Promise?”

Daisy laughed and turned off her night lamp. “Yes, I promise.”

The next evening, Daisy found herself in the foyer, dressed and ready an hour early. Her nerves hummed like sparks of electricity. Tonight was the welcome-home barbecue at Rebecca and Charlie’s home. Tonight, she’d see him again.

Since his return, she hadn’t wanted to bombard him. They’d spoken briefly, but she wanted to give him room to settle. Now, though, she could hardly sit still.

“Ready awfully early, aren’t you?” Her mother raised an eyebrow at her pacing.

“Just… excited to see everyone,” Daisy hedged.

“All of them or just one?” Dena asked, her smile sly.

Daisy nearly choked. “Yes—all of them.”

Dena curtly nodded and grabbed her keys. “Sean, we are leaving in five minutes, with or without you!”

Daisy followed her mother out to the car and five slow minutes rolled by before Sean hopped into the back seat.

A while later, they pulled into the Kingstons’ packed driveway. Sean immediately jumped out of the car, lightly jogging into the house. Daisy wanted to join him, but played it cool, not wanting to act on her excitement, especially since her mother was clearly onto her.

Once inside, they spotted Margot near the staircase. Dena and Daisy went to greet her.

Dena tightly hugged Margot. “Welcome home. We are so sorry for your loss. Philip wishes he could’ve come, but he is traveling for work.”

“Thank you for that, and thank you for coming. I can’t tell you how good it is to be home.”

Then her eyes softened as she hugged Daisy. “The boys are in the backyard. I know Jameson is dying to see you.”

Daisy’s cheeks flushed.

Do our mothers know?

“Thanks, Margot. I’m happy you’re home,” Daisy quickly said before heading to the backyard.

Outside, laughter and music floated through the air. Daisy spotted him instantly—longer hair, broader shoulders, still devastatingly Jameson. And the second his eyes found hers, it was like no time had passed at all.

“Daisy!” Lenny barreled into her first, sweeping her off her feet. Kyler followed close behind with a hug of his own. Her heart swelled; she’d missed them all.

Then Jameson pushed them aside with mock annoyance. “All right, enough. We all know who she really missed.”

And then he was holding her. Familiar scent, warm strength, lips close to her ear. “I missed you so much, darlin’.”

She held him tighter. Words felt unnecessary.

Later, her phone buzzed.

Jameson: Meet me in 5 minutes.

Daisy: Where?

Jameson: My uncle’s study.

Daisy wasn’t shocked at all that by his text. They hadn’t had a moment alone since they reunited and she could tell he was becoming increasingly antsy to spend some time with just her. She looked up from her phone and saw Jameson heading into the house with that infamous smirk on his face.

Four minutes and twenty-seven seconds later, she slipped inside. He was waiting.

The second the door clicked shut, she was against it, his lips urgent and desperate on hers. Hands roamed, tongues tangled. He lifted her easily, her legs around his waist, their bodies tenderly together.

It was the most intimate they’d ever been, and instead of shyness, Daisy felt fire.

They moved fluidly together, each touch exciting her more and more. Jameson pulled back just a smidge, leaving them both panting. “I missed you.”

She nodded in agreement. “I missed you, too.”

“I wish we could stay in here all night.”

“I know, but we should probably get back out there before someone notices,” she said, lowering her legs back to the ground.

“I don’t want to hide anymore,” he murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Don’t you want to walk down the hall holding my hand? Kiss me after shows without sneaking into dark corners?”

Her heart ached. Of course she wanted that—wanted to walk beside him, fingers intertwined, unafraid.

But the thought of everyone watching, whispering, dissecting what they didn’t understand made her stomach twist. And then there was Sean.

Her brother’s temper, his inability to see her as anything but his kid sister. She wasn’t ready to face all of that.

“Of course I do. I just need… time. Can you give me that?”

Placing his hand behind her head, he leaned down, lips barely grazing hers. “I can do just about anything for you.”

Weeks stretched into months. September turned to October, October to November, and still Daisy found reasons to keep their secret.

Jameson grew restless. She could feel it in the way he stiffened when she pulled back from his embrace, or refused to hang out with all the guys because she didn’t want Sean to pick up on something.

So naturally, her brother found out about their relationship in the worst possible way.

This particular Saturday had begun like most, with Daisy working in her studio. Exhausted from the prior night at Bullets, she blared Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll” to keep her awake.

Getting lost in the music, she began singing along, shaking her hips and head, air-guitaring between brushstrokes.

She was halfway through the song when she noticed a figure out of the corner of her eye.

Jameson appeared in the doorway, grinning.

Daisy could feel her face growing red and warm.

But the embarrassment subsided when Jameson began singing along too.

So she continued.

Their bodies grew closer as their voices grew louder.

Covered in paint, Daisy was timid to touch him.

But of course Jameson didn’t care. He wrapped her sullied arms around him and moved with her to the song.

Eventually, their lips locked together in a passionate welcome.

Hands were everywhere as they made their way to the worn tarp on the hardwood floor.

They rolled around laughing and grasping at each other, never seeming to get enough.

Jameson was on top of her, with her legs wrapped around his waist when it happened.

The music was so loud that they never would have noticed someone opening the door. One minute, Jameson’s mouth was pressed against hers and the next, it was abruptly being ripped away.

Sean held Jameson by the shirt as he shockingly took in the situation.

“What the actual hell?”

Everything froze.

Barely hearing him over the music, she hurried to turn it off. “Let him go, Sean!”

Daisy yelled at her brother, who still held on to Jameson by his now torn shirt. Fear ripped through Daisy; she didn’t want them getting into an altercation. This was exactly what she wanted to avoid.

“I told you to stay away from her!” Sean shouted in Jameson’s face.

Jameson calmly affirmed. “I tried, man, but…”

He paused and looked at Daisy, unsure of whether to continue.

“But what?” Sean bellowed.

Jameson broke free only to say the words Daisy hadn’t dared dream out loud: “I love her.”

Daisy’s mouth dropped at his admission. While his proclamation of love wasn’t exactly how she’d imagined it happening, she couldn’t help smiling.

“You love her?” Sean hissed.

Jameson simply nodded his way and said, “Yes.”

The next thing that happened was what Daisy had feared most.

Sean cocked back his fist and landed it squarely into Jameson’s face.

“Sean! Stop!” Daisy pushed Sean away and rushed to Jameson’s side.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I think I actually deserved that.”

“Damn straight you did,” Sean condemned before rushing out. They watched as he retreated, slamming the door on his way.

“Your lip is bleeding. Let me grab a towel.”

Daisy was on the verge of tears as she wiped the blood from Jameson’s smiling mouth.

Why is he so cheery?

“Why are you smiling? You know you’re the one who got sucker-punched in the face, right?”

Jameson grabbed her hand, stopping her from working on his lip. “I’m not happy because I got my arse handed to me. I’m happy because he finally knows. We’re free, Daisy.”

She instantly felt awful. She never realized just how much he truly wanted to come out of hiding and reveal their relationship. He was actually happy to have taken a beating if it meant they could be free.

More tears came as she professed, “I’m so sorry.”

Jameson wrapped her in his arms. “No tears, darlin’.”

She of course didn’t listen and continued bawling. “This whole time you’ve wanted this, and I’ve been so selfish!”

“Calm down, babe.” He chuckled lightly and tried to soothe her.

“You had your reasons, but please don’t get down on yourself, okay?

We both knew Sean would take this poorly.

I’ll go talk to him a bit, make him understand.

And if he doesn’t understand today, he will eventually, because I’m not going anywhere. ”

Daisy shook her head and breathed him in. His presence alone soothed her, but his positive words gave her the reassurance that everything would eventually be all right.

“Come on.” He helped her off the ground. Grabbing her by the hand, he led her inside the house and upstairs to Sean’s bedroom. “Wait out here while I talk to him.”

Daisy nodded and let go of his hand. Jameson loudly rapped on Sean’s door. After knocking for a few seconds without an answer, Jameson slowly twisted the loose knob. The door quickly opened to a somber-looking Sean with headphones over his ears.

Jameson closed the door, leaving a small crack open.

Daisy eavesdropped from the hall, heart hammering as Jameson laid it bare.

“Hey, man.”

Sean must have seen him because he harshly responded, “What do you want?”

“I want to talk about what just happened.”

“As far as I’m concerned, there is nothing to talk about. It’s all pretty clear. You’ve been hooking up with my little sister when I specifically asked you not to! And then, to top it off, you lie about it. I asked if you were into her and you said no. I mean, how long has this been going on?”

“Since your birthday party,” he confessed.

There was a weighty pause, then Sean began to cynically laugh. “Of course it has.”

“Look, man, I’m sorry about lying to you, truly. But I won’t be sorry about being with her because—”

Sean interrupted, “Yeah, because you love her, I heard.”

“Yeah, I do.”

Daisy’s heart fluttered. She would never tire of hearing him say that.

“You’re like a brother to me, Sean, but please don’t ask me to choose because if you do, you may not like the answer.”

He wouldn’t choose. He wouldn’t apologize for loving her.

Sean didn’t speak for a long while. “I’d never ask that. It’s just gonna take a while to get used to, I guess.”

Jameson blew out a loud breath. “Yeah, I get that.”

Sean’s anger cooled, if only slightly. “Just please don’t flaunt it in front of me.”

“We’ll try.”

It wasn’t an approval, but it wasn’t the end.

Daisy heard what sounded like a handshake, which filled her with an ounce of hope. Other than Jameson getting punched, this was going much better than expected.

Jameson quietly shut the door behind him and helped Daisy off the ground. They had just entered her room when he asked, “Did you hear all of that?”

“Yes.”

“And?”

She bit down on her lip, fighting the urge to smile. “And… I love you, too.”

“Good, that’s very good.”

His forehead rested against hers, relief settling in the space between them.

“You know what song fits this moment?” he whispered.

“What song?” She grinned.

Without hesitation, he hummed softly the tune to a song she immediately recognized. It was, after all, her favorite. The lyrics smoothly rolled off his tongue as he swayed her back and forth.

Jameson started to sing it under his breath, low and steady, like the rest of the world had gone quiet.

When he reached the chorus, happy tears blurred her vision.

When he finished, she laughed softly and wiped at her cheeks.

“‘Angel,’” she whispered. “By Aerosmith.”