Chapter 19 Amber
amber
It was surprisingly easy to fall into a routine with Tate. He worked on getting the village ready and I helped out here and there. Mostly I wrote music and helped my mother with decorating for Thanksgiving.
She was ready to Christmas-fy the house, but my dad was adamant about waiting until Thanksgiving was over before he let her pick out a tree.
This time, we were waiting on a tree from the famous Brothers Three Christmas tree lot.
Regardless, she kept me busy with baking for the cookie exchange she did with her friends. I also stopped into the bookstore a few times as promised with my book recommendations. I ended up helping Courtney with a whole display and even got a few of my fellow musical friends to participate as well.
It blew up on her BookTok account and ended up becoming a feature in the store.
People came in to make videos with the display and even caught me in the store a few times.
I was usually reticent to actually show myself in videos with fans, but these seemed innocent enough until my fans started stalking the store and put an end to it.
But like clockwork, the evenings were filled with reading, music, and cooking with Tate.
I even helped him decorate his place for the holiday.
Since the village was becoming a testament to Christmas, it was bleeding over into his house.
I was allowed to be creative director as he crawled around on the roofline to hang lights.
And because Tate was a child at heart, he bought some ridiculous light show kit so the whole house would be a freaking concert.
He loved the holiday so much I couldn’t help but find the joy in it as well.
The beginnings of a song started percolating in my brain as well. I tried to push it out, but it was no use. Once the kernel of a song started, it had to happen. Whether it actually became a song I recorded remained to be seen.
Clothes and my acoustic guitar found its way over to Tate’s place as well. I found that the new surroundings inspired me, but I had a feeling most of it was the man himself.
When I ended up with a handful of songs, beyond the holiday one that was trying to kill me slowly, I put feelers out to a writer friend of mine to see if she was good for a Zoom call.
I didn’t expect to hear back from her until after Thanksgiving, but I got a random call back while I was helping Tate with another set of lights for the front of his house.
“Are you sure you want to do that line way up there?”
Tate looked down from the extender ladder. “If I wrap them around the attic windows it can look like eyes.”
I bundled into my parka and stomped my feet against the whipping wind. “You’re crazy,” I yelled up to him.
“Yeah, but you like my crazy,” he shot back.
He was right.
Unfortunately the designer who was helping him create the Haven Wonderland of Lights gave him too many ideas for his own place.
He was like a kid in a candy store when it came to the various components that could be programmed for a house.
If I didn’t put my foot down about turning off the display at ten in the evening, he’d have the house strobing until dawn, and my parents would kill him.
As he finished up string number eleven for the evening, I felt my phone rumble in my jacket.
I kept an eye on him as I pulled out the phone, surprised to see it was a Facetime.
Jamison DuCaine’s icon filled the screen. I hit accept and her angular, stunning face filled the screen. “Hey, Sparkles, what are you up to?”
I laughed. “James, I didn’t even know you knew how to use Facetime.”
“Oh, I know how to do all the things, it’s more of a fuck that situation.” She waggled her jet black eyebrows. She leaned in. “Where the hell are you?”
I swung around to show off Tate’s handiwork. “Hanging lights with my...” Boyfriend seemed such a weird word for what we were. “Guy.”
James whistled. “Hey there hot handyman. I have gutters that need tending.”
I laughed. “Back off, woman.”
Tate glanced down with a questioning face.
“Tate, say hi to Jamison DuCaine. James, Tate Reynolds.”
Tate gave me a sharp look. He quickly slid down the ladder in a way that made my chest seize. “Are you kidding?”
“Hot damn, Sparkles how tall is this guy? Did you know I like to climb trees?”
“Shut up.”
James gave me a cheeky smile. “Give the big guy the phone. I want a closer look.”
“Please don’t embarrass me.” I sighed and handed the phone to Tate.
Tate took the phone. “Um, hi.”
“Well, aren’t you pretty.”
He swallowed, glancing at me. “Thanks?”
“You fucking my girl?”
Tate’s eyebrows shot up and he slanted a look at me.
I leaned around so James could see me too. “What did I just say?”
“The only way I’d embarrass you is if you weren’t getting naked with this hot man-slice.”
Tate’s ears went red. “Um, we’re together if that’s what you mean.”
“Together, together? Like wild “Mambo No. 5” with an extra side of Alabama Shakes?”
“Don’t mind her. She speaks in songs and rude innuendo.” I plucked the phone out of Tate’s hand. He gathered me closer so he could still be in on the conversation. I looked over my shoulder. “Are you a Brooklyn Dawn fan, Tate?”
“I am. I saw them in concert in Philly a few years ago with Molly.”
“Well, well. So what you mean is I still have a chance against Sparkles?” James’s grin went Cheshire cat wide.
“Oh, um no. Sorry, I’m very taken.”
I pressed my lips together against a stupid smile.
James rolled her eyes. “Fine, fine. You pass the first test. You’re hot and all, but I need to talk shop with your girl.”
Tate laughed. “I’ll leave you two to it.” He kissed me on the neck with his cold lips. “I’m going to go add this to my playlist.”
“Are you done on the ladder?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, then I’m going inside.” I waved at him and hurried inside the house.
James narrowed her eyes at me. “So, are you getting a good dicking out of that guy at least?”
“Geez.”
“Just say yes or no. Preferably yes. A guy that hot can go either way. In a number of ways.”
I laughed. “I forgot how chaotic it is to talk to you.”
“Still not answering me.”
I sighed and plopped on the couch. “Yes. In fact, he’s been known to make me hit more than one high note.”
“Hell yeah, girl.” She set her phone on something showing off her long, lean form sitting cross-legged on a leather couch.
“Where the heck are you? That doesn’t look like your big empty house.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Shut up. I’ll have you know I actually bought a couch for the Canyon Road house, thank you very much.”
I laughed. “A whole couch? So what is that a bed, chair and couch now?”
“I needed something to watch football on, sue me.”
I shook my head. “I was hoping to catch you for a Zoom writing sesh.”
“Actually, I’m in Winchester Falls for the month. We’re working on Logan’s charity shindig for Christmas. Usually we record in July, but he’s doing a live show at The Barn.”
“Oh. No shit?”
“Yeah. So they don’t need me for a few days while they do the kids and turkey thing. How about I crash over at your place?”
“You don’t want to stay with them and eat?”
“Nah. Too much kid shit.” She shuddered. “Logan and Izzy have three of the heathens running around these days.”
I laughed. “Kids aren’t demons you know.”
“Tell that to the four-year-old who has a mean left hook when he doesn’t want to go to bed.”
“I take it you’ve been staying at Logan’s place while you’re in town?”
She nodded. “Yeah, his studio is aces.”
“Good to know.”
“Why? You looking to record?”
“I’m not ready for that, but if he allows people to rent out studio time, I might be interested in the future.”
“Yeah, Logan does a lot more production these days than touring since he’s had the kids. I can definitely vouch for him if you’re looking to try a different sound.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Look at you, Sparkles. Thinking outside of your little pop bubble.”
I sighed. “The label always gives me grief when I want to try something new, but I don’t owe them a new album until the end of next year and I can always push it back if need be.”
“Getting brave are you?”
I shrugged. “I have about five new songs scribbled down, but I could use a little help.”
“You know I’m always down for writing and playing. Sure you want me horning in on you playing house over there?”
“He’s actually going to be crazy for the next week or so with his own project. I’ll show you around when you get here.”
“Cool. I’ll head out tomorrow. I’m sure I can borrow one of Logan’s toys from his garage.”
“It’ll be nice to see you, James.”
“Yeah, it’s been a million years. I didn’t realize you lived kind of close to Logan. We would have dragged you into the Christmas melee ages ago.”
“All good, I have enough Christmas in my life.”
She laughed. “Oh, right. Forgot about your Mariah moment with a Christmas song.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“Lindsey loves it. She was singing it during rehearsal actually. If you’re not careful she’ll end up covering it at the show.”
“Let her have it.”
James laughed. “Not a chance. Okay, I’ll see you sometime tomorrow afternoon. Deke is here and somehow we end up playing drinking games with trivia. Asshole is the only one who can go toe-to-toe with me for shots.”
“I’ll send you my pin for directions.”
“Works for me. See ya, Sparkles.”
“Bye.” I tossed my phone on the couch beside me then scooped Velma onto my lap for our evening cuddle. “Guess I’m going to have a playdate for a few days. Wait until you meet, James.”
Velma chirped at me, then put a paw on my face.
“You want third meal, huh?”
She started purring in response. I got up with her in my arms, holding her like a baby. My shoulders weren’t as big as Tate’s to tote her around that way. We played pick your meal and decided on turkey patè.
I wrinkled my nose at the scent as I dumped it into her favorite dish, then cleaned up after our dinner. By the time Tate came back in, I had a bottle of wine open and Hozier’s latest album playing on the record player.
“Hey.” He kissed my neck. “Did you have a nice conversation with your friend?”
“I did. So, you have the hots for James?”
He cleared his throat. “No. I, uh...” He coughed. “Sorry about that.”
I grinned and laced my fingers behind his neck. “It’s okay, most men have a thing for James. Hell, half of my dancers do too.” At his surprised look, I planted a kiss on his lips. “Can’t say I didn’t have a crush on her my own self when I was nineteen.”
He banded his arm around my back and lifted me off the floor. “Do not put such thoughts in my head.”
I laughed, throwing my head back as he hauled me off toward the bedroom. “Wait. Wine.”
He backtracked and grabbed the bottle and I snatched the glasses. He set me down inside the door, walking me back to the bed, his eyes flashing with heat.
“So, talking about James has you all hot under the collar?”
“Nope. Just you and the color in your cheeks. What were you guys talking about?”
“She’s coming for a visit. I’ve been writing songs and wanted some help.”
He frowned. “You’re writing already?”
“I know, surprised me.” I unbuttoned his flannel shirt, pushing it off his shoulders. “It’s a little different. I think the songs will do well with James’s influence. She’s got a way with lyrics and riffs.”
“I didn’t realize you worked with other artists.”
“Oh, yeah. Same as you bounce ideas off me and Molly and sometimes the persnickety Bill. It works the same.”
“Learn something new every day.” He lowered his mouth to mine. “Then I won’t feel guilty for the next few days while we get the village set for opening night.”
“You never have to feel guilty, Tate. I understand about dreams. Same as sometimes I won’t be available for you either.”
He gripped my hips. “I don’t want to think about that just yet.” He closed his mouth over mine.
I didn’t want to think about it either.
Not just yet.