Page 24

In sheer panic, I threw my yarn and needles on the other side of the couch and jumped to my feet just as Landon’s eyes met mine. “Her,” he simply said.

“Yes, it was me,” I announced.

My eyes volleyed between him and the boys. “Matty, you told me you needed another member. Landon here just moved next door yesterday, and I heard him playing. He was good, more than good, so I asked if he could join you guys,” I rambled.

Emmie slowly nodded. “Okay, we do need someone on the rhythm. Let’s see what you got.” Emmie took charge as the lead. He waved a hand to Landon to come in while Mikey mumbled a hello, and Matty regarded us with his usual grim expression.

“Cool,” Landon mumbled, sauntering in like he owned the place and pulled out the lone acoustic that was leaning against the wall. “May I?” he asked, eyeing Emmie.

“Go ahead,” Emmie replied.

Landon eased down on a wooden stool and tweaked the tuner on the guitar for a couple of minutes before he gestured to the boys. Matty and Mikey both frowned at Emmie, but he pointed for them to start.

And soon, one of their familiar songs filled the garage as Matty’s drums created a steady beat, Mikey’s bass notes rooting the music while Emmie’s powerful voice crooned through the microphones. I held my breath as I watched Landon belting atune that laced through the song like perfection. Like he had been practicing his whole life for this. I thought he only played the piano, but I thought wrong.

The skepticism on the boys’ faces changed into an excited one as they all merged into one like they were meant to do this.

Almost like they were born to do this.

Just like that, I spent the entire first day of summer break watching them in awe. If the boys’ music was incredible before, they were only more spectacular now. I didn’t even know Landon’s music was the element they needed in their songs until now, and I don’t think I could ever go back to listening to them without him.

He completed them.

Like he was the missing piece that brought them together.

After a couple of songs, they even went back to his house and brought his keyboard and started to practice with it. The music only got more beautiful.

I sat there on the lone futon, gawking at his mad skills, and Landon’s eyes were always on me. This wasn’t doing anything to curb my crush. In fact, everything he was doing only escalated it.

And I had no clue what I was going to do.

The boys seemed to love him and took him into their fold to the point that by the end of the day, they were laughing and talking with him like he was their long-lost best friend.

I hate that boys could become friends so easily, without even trying so hard. I wished I could make friends like that. Without planning, or changing, or trying to find something common.

I didn’t even know how the time passed, but it was already sundown when the boys were winding down. While the three padded out of the garage, Landon lingered by my side.

“Thanks for inviting me. I had a great time,” Landon said, weaving a hand through his dripping wet hair.

“I’m glad. And I should thank you for coming over. I thought you weren’t interested so I wasn’t expecting you to come this morning,” I replied.

“Yeah,” he mumbled. “I had nothing much to do.”

“Oh, okay,” I said like a mundane fool because I didn’t know what else to say.

Multidimensional, I wasn’t that.

I was as one-dimensional and as simple as a girl could be.

I wasn’t interesting. I didn’t have any mind-blowing thoughts, my humor and sarcasm fell flat, and my conversations involved topics that others often started.

I was more of a follower than a leader.

And I preferred to stay that way.

I chose my battles, kept my head down, and let my brother defend my honor if needed.

My only hobby was knitting, a hobby that most people considered boring.