Night Shifts Black(39)

"The guys?"

"Sorry. Sweeny and Eli."

His shy smile makes an appearance, and I immediately brace for whatever triggered it.

"Ok … "

"Yeah, so TJ told them we were hitting the studio Friday."

"Hitting the studio?"

"Recording."

"They're recording?"

"Songs? Music?"

I give him a look. "I get that. I mean, I'm surprised they're here to record. I thought you were just going down by yourself on Friday to fool around."

Casey cringes. "Yeah, about that … So TJ pretty much wet his pants when I sent him the work tape. The Label went nuts and is sending a trailer with our gear."

I stare at him. He's clearly not finished explaining what that means.

"Ok … "

"Well, so, basically they booked the studio for the day and want us to track the entire song."

"The song? What song?"

"'Greetings from the Inside.'"

My eyes widen. "Wait, our song? You're going to record our song? Your actual band. Night Shifts Black."

Casey grins and nods. "Yeah. I think we are."

I let out my breath, stunned. I don't even know what to think, let alone say. "But, I thought...we were just messing around, right?"

He shrugs. "Maybe at first, but it's really good, Callie. Even Luke thinks it's worth a shot. The guys are here now and we've got three days to work on it together. By Friday we should have something worth laying down."

I shake my head, amazed, terrified, confused. "Won't they be upset?"

"That we're actually moving again?"

I shrug. "I don't know. I mean, they don't even know me and now I'm butting in?"

"Butting in?"

"Lyrically speaking."

He laughs. "Is that even a thing?"

"I don't know. Is it?"

"If it's good, they won't care. Luke and I do most of the writing anyway. We're the ones getting our toes stepped on. Ok, well, I should get back to them."

I nod. "How's Luke with all of this?"

Casey shrugs. "Good, actually. I'm surprised, but he's with them now. It's almost noon so we're having some food sent up."

"And how are you with it?"

He looks confused. "What do you mean?"

I shrug. "I don't know. You're about to introduce your controversial new girlfriend to your band-mates?"

He grins. "I'll be fine as long as you don't let them see you like that."

I laugh and swing at him, but he ducks away, suddenly pulling me toward him instead. My blood starts to pound as his eyes meet mine with a breathtaking intensity. He's going to kiss me again. Right now. Right here, and I almost gasp at the fire ripping through my body when our lips collide. I reach into his hair, pulling him against me with a greedy abandon that surprises both of us. I've never wanted anything so much in my life.

"Casey … " I breathe, eyes closed as his lips caress my neck, his hands gripping my towel, dangerously close to starting something we both know we can't finish right now.



       
         
       
        

"I know," he groans. "I know."

But he just feels so good. My own fingers are on the waist of his jeans, instinctively pulling at the clasp. I almost hate our guests for taking this from me. I don't care, I don't want to let him go, and allow our kiss to take on an urgency I know he won't be able to resist. Especially when I undo the top button of his jeans and pull his hips into mine. It's not fair, but I want him to suffer as much as I am right now.

He breathes a curse, pausing as he rests his forehead against mine. We hover like that for a minute, momentarily paralyzed by our mutual denial. When he finally manages to pull away, I can see the longing all over his face. We're both breathing hard, staring at each other, wondering if there's some way to alter Time so we can have this moment we both so desperately want.

He takes a deep breath and shakes his head with a wry smile. "You did that on purpose," he charges.

"Did what?" I ask with a mischievous smile of my own.

He gives me a mock glare, but his return grin betrays him. "Come out when you're ready, you vixen."



∞∞∞



I spend a little extra time on clothes and makeup after Casey leaves, still burning from our heated encounter. I almost regret trying to stir him up, since I'm paying just as high of a price now. I can still feel his firm body pressed against me, begging to be explored, to give itself over completely. He was mine for a second, and now I'm addicted. I suck in a deep breath, willing my racing pulse to calm itself, and finally manage to focus on reality and the unnerving prospect of meeting the rest of the NSB "family."

I glance at my reflection again and sigh. There's no hope for my hair, which is soaking wet, so I comb through that and hope for the best. At least my casual look will prove Casey, Luke, and I are close enough to be past the "trying too hard" stage. If only they knew.

I brace myself and draw in a deep breath, nervous for some reason. It's not that I care what the others think for my sake, but for Casey's. Obviously, his life will be a lot easier if they like me.

The conversation dies the second I come into view, and I plaster a warm smile on my face.

"There she is!" Casey cries, jumping up from his stool before anything can get awkward. "Guys, this is Callie."

"Callie, this is Eli and Jeff, but everyone calls him Sweeny."

I wave. "Nice to finally meet you," I say.

"You look great," Casey whispers, kissing my cheek. It's sweet, but I can't tell if he's sincere or acting for his band-mates. My guess is they need to believe our relationship is legit, too. 

"Thanks," I say with a genuine smile once I conclude that Casey's is also. What a weird situation, pretending to date my actual boyfriend. He gives me a knowing look that indicates he's still reeling from our bedroom scene also, and my blood starts pounding again.

I swallow. "You guys just came in this morning?" I ask, somehow managing to ignore the throbbing in my veins.

"Yeah, as soon as we could," Eli says. "Had to once we learned this guy rejoined the planet."

Luke gives him a smirk, but only shakes his head.

"Heard you guys have been working on some stuff. Can't wait to hit Jackson Street Friday," Sweeny continues.

Casey grins and slings his arm around me. "Actually, yeah. Thanks to Callie. She got me writing again. We can drop some ideas over the next few days and see if any stick."

Their expressions change a bit, and I wonder what they're thinking. Are they annoyed that I've invaded their turf or impressed that I got the ball rolling again? I decide it's best to just smile and stay out of it. I certainly didn't expect what actually happens.

"Callie's for real, guys," Luke chimes in. "You'll like her stuff. It's good."

Casey and I both stare at Luke in shock. The others seem to visibly relax at his approval.

"Looking forward to it," Eli says.

"You're a writer?" Sweeny asks.

I almost laugh at the ironic question and catch a subtle glance from Casey.

"Apparently," I reply, and Sweeny looks appropriately confused.

"She is," Casey clarifies, squeezing my shoulders.

"Cool," Eli says. "Oh hey, it's still downstairs, but we brought some of your stuff, Case. TJ said you were looking for a few things to prepare for Friday."

"My gear?" Casey asks as though Santa himself just offered him the pick of the North Pole Warehouse.

They return his infectious grin. Apparently, he has that effect on everyone.

"What we could anyway. Just your small controller and the acoustic. Don't get too excited, we weren't going to mess with the amp, so we didn't bring your electric."

Casey doesn't seem concerned. "What about my recording stuff?"

"Assuming you've got your laptop and drives, but the interface, mics, and boxes are in the case with the controller. No kit though. You'll have to wait for the trailer on Friday," he adds with a smirk.

"Come on. You couldn't spring for an extra carryon?" Casey teases. He looks about ready to run from the room in search of this mysterious cart of gifts.

I'm not entirely sure what any of this conversation means, so I remain silent and keep my ignorance to myself.

"Just go, Case," Luke mutters, but seems amused more than anything.

Casey nods and gives us an apologetic look. "I'll be right back. Gonna go find my stuff."

"They said they'd bring it up as soon as someone was available," Eli explains, but clearly that's not an option.

"It's fine. Be back in a minute!"

With that, Casey is gone, and it's just the rest of us staring after him in amusement.

"Good call, guys," Luke observes to the other two. "He deserves to catch a break for once."

They seem confused, but not enough to ask. "How are you doing, man? We heard what's going on."

Luke shrugs. "Fine. I have my girl Callie here to keep me from going completely nuts."

The other guys are no more surprised than I am by Luke's comment. I glance at him, but he's not looking at me. In fact, his tone is so casual, so nonchalant, I almost missed the significance of that statement.