Page 92 of Hard Rock Muse

“You did,” Jessie said, an indulgent smile on her face. “And I am very proud of you.”

Gael puffed out his chest like he’d received a gold medal.

“You must really love the guy to put up with him,” Becca winked at Jessie.

Jessie snuggled into Gael’s side. “It’s a tough job, sometimes, but he’s worth it.”

“Love you, too, babe.” Gael swooped down and captured her lips in a kiss. She squealed with laughter and flailed as he pressed her back into the sofa cushions, pretending to ravish her.

“You mind toning it down?” Cerise asked with a grimace on her face. “I don’t need to see my brother sucking face.”

“Oh, right,” I said. “I sometimes forget he’s your brother. You don’t seem very much alike.”

“Do you have siblings?” Cerise asked.

“My baby sister, Abby. Well,” I amended, “she’s not really a baby anymore. She’s already in college.”

“I still can’t believe it.” Seth shook his head, looking horrified. “That cute little bookworm is incollege.” He slapped a hand to his face. “When did we all get so old?” he bemoaned.

“You’re the youngest of us,” Julian reminded him. “You’ll still be jumping around on stage when the rest of us are walking with canes.”

“I’m two years younger, not twenty,” Seth grumbled, before turning to me. “You should bring Abby to one of our shows! I’m sure she’d get a kick out of it.”

“You mean, after watching us play shitty cover songs in the garage, she’ll be impressed to see you on stage like a real rock star?” I asked.

“Hey, even back when we were playing shitty songs in a garage, we were still rock stars,” Seth grinned. “It’s all about your mindset.”

I chewed on that thought while the others continued talking, and in Gael and Jessie’s case, making out.

Was it all about the mindset? It was true that once our band had broken up, I’d started doubting myself. I’d worked on that solo album with Keith, but in retrospect, I knew my heart wasn’t in it.

But now, writing this song with Julian, I was feeling inspired in a way I hadn’t been in years. Composing again, just being around music again, fulfilled me in a way little else did.

I’d thought I’d put Ever Darling, the rock star, behind me. I’d thought she was only a part of my past.

But maybe she could still be a part of my future.