Page 34 of Paint Our Song

Miles would be giddy about being able to hang out with the band if Calvin’s silence wasn’t so unsettling. He has no idea what he and Theo talked about, but it’s clearly got him on edge. Calvin’s staring at the ground and his shoulders are tense, and he’s shaking his knee so much that Miles is honestly impressed he isn’t tiring himself out.

“So… How’d you all meet?” Gabby asks.

“We started the band back in high school,” Gil says. “Used to play at school dances and all. Took a break when we all went our own ways for college, then started playing again a few years back. Guess we were pretty good because we got a record deal after Theo posted videos online and they went viral.”

Chase scowls and folds his arms. “Fuck Theo.”

“Hey.” Calvin turns to Chase, frowning.

“No, fuck him!”

Calvin shifts in his seat and his elbow knocks against Miles’s, his warm skin startling Miles more than it should have. Frowning, Gil shakes his head at Chase, but he’s already started.

“He thinks he’s too good for us.”

“Creative differences,” Gil corrects. “He wanted to do more. He wanted more tours, more concerts, more releases. We were all going through our own things and couldn’t keep up. Family stuff, that kind of thing.”

Chase snaps, “He wanted too much, and when we suggested slowing it down, so we wouldn’t get burnt out, he said these godawful things back.”

Voice low, Gil says, “We all said awful things.”

“Cal didn’t.”

A sigh escapes Calvin, and Miles wants to reach over and smooth the crease between his eyebrows. He wants to put a hand on his knee too, to get him to stop shaking it so much.

Calvin mutters, “He was angry and didn’t mean it. He apologized.”

With a groan, Chase rolls his eyes. “You should be the last one toforgive him, with what he said to you.”

Miles simultaneously wants to know more and also wants the conversation to end right there. Before he’s able to stop himself, Miles meets Calvin’s eyes and asks, “What did he say to you?”

A beat of silence passes. Calvin, hesitating, says, “He said I was too ordinary.”

“…What?”

Miles’s mouth hangs open in shock. Becausewhat the hell?Calvin looks away, and Gabby makes a disgruntled sound beside Miles.

“There was an entire argument,” Gil says. “Chase and Theo were at each other’s throats, and Cal here was staying out of it—but then, when Chase said that Calvin could take his place as front man, Theo went and said that.”

“And it was Gil’s last straw as well,” Chase says, shrugging. “Of course, I regret a lot of the shit I said, but he didn’t have to bring Cal into it. Heespeciallydidn’t need to bring Cal into it. The hell was he even going off on you about again earlier? What, he’s pissed because you brought Miles? After what he said to you, he has some nerve.”

“Chase,” Calvin says. “Please stop.”

“Who the fuck treats their boyfriend like this?”

His—what?

“Ex.” Calvin’s tone couldn’t be more icy.

Gil scrubs a hand over his face. “Chase. You’re being an asshole.”

“You… you didn’t know?” Chase’s voice dwindles as he looks between Gabby and Miles, and his face is white. “Cal, shit. My bad.”

“It’s whatever.” Calvin shrugs and runs a hand through his hair, then tugs at his shirt.

All his fidgeting is making Miles anxious as well, and Miles realizes it’s because he’s tracking his every movement. He’s about one eye twitch away from asking him to calm down, somehow feeling the strong urge to soothe him.

Chase grimaces. In his defense, he looks like he regrets what he’s said. He keeps moving, turning in his seat and drumming his fingers against the table, until Gil places a hand on his wrist and squeezes it. Chase’s shoulders drop and he lets out a deep exhale.