Page 71 of Resonance

“There was a key outside,” I continued. “He found it and let himself in.”

“I put it back out there, just in case. Goddammit.”

I laughed.

“What?”

“Just in case I lost mine, right?”

“Just in case,” he insisted.

“Stubborn old man.” God, I missed him. Just that tiny exchange kicked up a longing in me that felt the size of Tennessee. “You’re having fun out there, right?”

He hesitated. “More than I anticipated, yeah, I suppose.” I tried not to let that disappoint me, because it was wrong and selfish and I knew it. “Aiden probably figured he’d just freeload a little more while I was gone. He got kicked out of his apartment a coupla’ weeks ago. I’m sure he’s been couch surfing, and god knows he’s never missed an opportunity. Put him on the phone and I’ll get him gone.”

I nibbled my lower lip, glancing around the corner to spy Aiden sitting on the edge of the bed just kinda staring off into the distance. Something about the curve of his shoulders and hunched back struck me as defeated and weary.Goddammit. “You don’t have to. It’s fine, I mean, unless you just don’t want him here on principle. He’s kind of a dick, but I know how to navigate around that trait.”

“That a subtle dig?”

“Was it even subtle? If so, my skills have drastically improved over the last week.” I grinned. “But yeah, unless he’s secretly a serial killer, I can handle it if you can.”

Dan grunted and went quiet again, considering, I guess, then exhaled a noisy sigh. “All right, just let me talk to him for a minute.”

Aural Addiction, Episode #18 transcript:

Dan:How’s the coffee today?

Owen:Perfection. I love that you’ve got it down now.

Dan:I still don’t believe you can tell a difference.

Owen:There’s a huge difference. This is spot-on.

Dan:Yeah? Guess what. It’s one pump of vanilla and a Splenda packet.

Owen:That… that is cold. You set me up. And Splenda? What the hell?

Dan:Admit it still tastes good.

Owen:You’re so immature.

Dan:Admit it.

Owen:Fine, it tastes really good. Can we move on to the music now?

Dan:I don’t know. Not sure I trust you to know the difference between a jazz and pop song.

Owen:[laughing] God you’re an ass.

Dan:Hee-haw. Drink up.

Chapter 25

“Big bro,” Aiden drawled as he came on the line. “How’s tour life?”

“You’d know if you hadn’t dropped that last gig.”

“The pay was shit, and they were overworking us.”