Page 15 of A Little Christmas! 4: Song

Much like Zachy, he’d finished everything on his plate while they’d been talking.

“It’s about time we start heading back,” Daddy said, as he paid the check Beth brought over and told her to keep the change.

“You didn’t have to buy me lunch,” Song said, reaching for his wallet like he was going to try and give Daddy money for it.

Daddy gave him the same stern, pointed look he always gave Zachy when he tried to pay for meals when we were out, and Song eased his hand away from his pocket.

“Thank you,” Song said.

“You’re welcome. I’m glad we got to spend some time together today,” Daddy said.

“Me too, it was fun.”

Song slid out of the booth, and Zachy slid out behind him and was treated to a hug from Song, who immediately looked sheepish when they broke apart.

“I’m sorry, I should have asked first,” Song said.

“No, it’s okay, I love hugs, especially from my friends, and you’re gonna be my very best one,” Zachy said, getting a bright smile from Song in return.

“Looking forward to it,” Song said as they headed for the door.

It sucked, waving goodbye on the sidewalk, knowing he was going to have to wait a whole three days before he could hang out with Song again, but at least they had video chats and texting. As far as Zachy was concerned, that was the next best thing. Heading up the block, Zachy wondered how soon they could plan a sleepover because that would be awesome, though they’d probably wind up exhausting his poor Daddy and Papa with late-night giggles and shenanigans. And games, all the games, and so much coloring that there would be new pictures to cover the fridge with, especially if Daddy and Papa colored with them.

With plans already unfolding in his head, the only thing left was to wait for the perfect time to suggest it and plead with the puppy dog eyes to have his very first sleepover and a whole night of nothing but fun, fun, fun.

Chapter 6

(Song)

“How’d the auditions go?”

His older brother’s voice startled him, and Song jerked, milk dripping off the end of his hair as he raised his head to look at Suede. Shit. He’d fallen asleep in his cereal again.

“We have a new singer,” Song said as he reached for the napkins Suede held out and carefully blotted the milk from his hair.

“That fast? You sure you guys aren’t jumping into a worse situation by rushing to replace Carson?”

“Yeah, actually I think things are about to get a lot better for us,” Song explained. “Ajay’s delivery is phenomenal, and he’s already got an established following. Doesn’t drink either and doesn’t like to party.”

Suede pulled the chair out across from him and sat, unwrapping a sandwich that looked like it had come from the gas station down the street. He looked as exhausted as Song felt and way older than his thirty-three years. Worry lines wereetched into his forehead. Song couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen his brother without them.

“That’s a hell of an improvement right there,” Suede replied.

“He’s a little too,” Song explained. “I met him at the club the night I met Zachy. Zachy was the one who suggested he audition and even helped me get it set up after I told him we only had six people respond on the message board after we announced we were having auditions.”

“You’ve mentioned him and his daddies a lot lately,” Suede said. “Is there something else going on with them that you haven’t shared yet?”

“No,” Song replied. “I just really like hanging out with them. Zachy’s Daddy Gage used to be the sound engineer for Shriveled Rose. He was around the industry a long time and said I can pick his brain anytime I needed to.”

“Are you hoping for more than just friendship with them?”

That was Suede, always direct and to the point.

“Maybe, I dunno, I want to get to know them better before I let my thoughts stray too far in that direction.”

“Good idea. You don’t want to invest too much emotion into something that might fizzle out in a week or two.”

“Yeah, I know.”