Shortly after Rick left, Bryce received a text from Lucy asking if practice was still on for this evening. Before my accident, Bryce had arranged a practice session and a fish ‘n’ chips dinner at the apartment with the members of Live Trepidation, Lucy and Nic.
After I lost the baby he had completely forgotten to re-schedule them and was about to cancel when I insisted that he didn’t. Cancelling was the last thing I wanted, I wanted things to go back to normal, and fish ‘n’ chips on a Saturday night was normal, so I convinced him that the change in atmosphere was just what I needed.
An hour later, I was sitting on the sofa in the man-cave with Charli at my foot gently drawing pictures on my cast. So far, I had a rainbow, a unicorn, and she was now attempting a Crusty Demon. Lucy was at the keyboard practising, and Nic was sitting next to her with Alexander on her lap. He was practising too, slamming his little hands down on the keys and having a wonderful time. Nate was playing pool with Derek and Matt, and Will was lightly tapping out beats on the drums. Bryce was sitting on the arm of my chair playing the guitar, strumming chords that every now and again sounded familiar.
When he started playing the riff in “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, I casually lounged back, putting my hands above my head, deciding I’d join in and sing along. Before I knew it, he changed the song. I removed my hands from behind my head and pouted at him because I really liked that song. He smiled at my protruding bottom lip but kept playing the new tune. It didn’t take me long to figure out that the new song was “Layla” by Eric Clapton, so I chimed in and sang that one instead. Then, like clockwork, he switched the song yet again. I glared at him but he only smirked back at me. I listened to his new choice and caught on that it was “Wanted Dead or Alive” by Bon Jovi, so I blurted out the opening line while smirking back at him.
Suddenly, the rest of the band were gathered around and were watching me play the guessing game with him, as Bryce would switch to a new song and I would quickly try and guess which one it was before he’d switch again. I thought I was doing a decent job, guessing songs like “Dr Feelgood”, “Enter Sandman”, “Back In Black”, “Foxy Lady” and “Johnny B. Goode”. But then he’d decide to try and make it a little harder, by playing stuff I hadn’t heard of and completely random songs like “Just A Girl” by No doubt and “Mister Sandman”—which I laughed at, because he pulled a stupid face as he played it.
It wasn’t until I guessed with such enthusiasm that he was playing “Eruption” by Van Halen that he gave up the game and said, ‘You win’. I’d tried to do a happy dance but obviously couldn’t, so went with the happy-clap instead, and I was rewarded with a quick soft kiss on the lips. It was in that moment that I decided I wanted to surprise him and learn to play the guitar so that I could play for him. I thought that maybe he would appreciate me learning something he was so passionate about. It was also a gift I could give him, a gift I could give a man that appeared to have everything.
He’d disappeared for a short time with Lucy and Charli to cook the fish ‘n’ chips. So I took that opportunity to approach Derek and see if he wouldn’t mind giving me some secret lessons.
I motioned for him to come over to me then spoke in a hushed tone. “Um, Derek, can I ask you something?”
He looked around the room in a sneaky type of way with a cute grin on his face. “Yeah, why are you whispering?”
“This is gonna sound completely crazy, but I was hoping you’d do me a favour.”
“Okay, sure. Fire away.”
I giggled. Yes, giggled like an idiot at his choice of the word ‘fire’, remembering Carly’s burnt fiery hole that she wished he’d put out with his hose. I had to reign myself in again, much to my embarrassment and his amusement. “Aren’t you gonna ask what the favour is before you agree?”
He chuckled. “No, how bad can it be?”
I raised my eyebrow at him and he sat back just a little. “Nup, still can’t be that bad. So, what can I do for you?”
I leaned over so that I could whisper in his ear, I didn’t want anyone else hearing my plan. “I want to learn to play the guitar as a surprise for Bryce and I was wondering if you’d teach me.”
He shot back away from me. “Seriously?” He sounded somewhat amused.
“Yes, seriously. There’s not much I can give a man that has everything, but this is something I can give him. I think he’d enjoy it.”
He scoffed, but in a good way. “Yeah, I think he would too. Of course, I’d love to teach you. When do you want to start?”