I can feel Luke's gaze and wonder what he's thinking. Can he tell I'm falling in love with his best friend? Can Casey? I wonder if Casey feels the same way. If not, I'm going to have to get control of this train before it crashes head-on into a wall. I had promised Casey he couldn't break me and I intend to keep that promise.
"So are you guys working on the song today?" I ask, mostly to make conversation as I move to the stove to start a pot of water.
"That's the plan," Sweeny responds. "Our trailer is supposed to get here by 3PM so we can get really serious after that."
I nod. "Does anyone else want tea?"
I can feel Luke's amusement and cast him a quick glance.
"You and your tea," he teases.
"What? Don't even pretend you didn't like it," I warn.
He smiles and leans back in his stool. "Actually, it wasn't bad. I'm man enough to admit that."
"What, you're a tea-drinker now? What happened to you, bro?" Eli asks.
Luke shrugs. "Yeah, it's true. You've got to watch this girl. She may be small, but she will uproot your world before you even know what's happening."
"She certainly got to Casey," Sweeny smirks, and I shake my head in disbelief.
"Yeah, because a shy poet from Shelteron, PA is going to be able to boss you superstars around. Please," I mutter. I can feel their humor behind me as I set to work on my tea.
"Ha! You've done nothing but boss us around since the day we met," Luke counters.
I spin around with a mock glare. "Oh, like you didn't need a good kick in the ass," I quip, and the others laugh. Even Luke grins and shakes his head.
"I didn't say I didn't. Just that you excel at it," Luke defends.
Eli laughs. "Man, Baby Casey's got his hands full … "
"You know our boy. He'd have it no other way," Sweeny returns, and I roll my eyes at all of them.
"So was that a no or a yes to the tea?" I ask.
They smirk, and we all turn toward the door when it crashes open. I rush to help Casey as he shuffles inside, hands and arms full of bags and drink carriers.
I almost choke when I catch a glimpse of the logo.
"Jemma's?" I ask.
He grins, and as usual his sweet gesture threatens to unravel me.
"Thought we could all use some French toast, and since you two are banned from the premises … "
Luke laughs while Casey drops the rest of his load on the counter and begins distribution.
"Coffee. Coffee. Coffee. And … tea." He kisses my cheek as he hands me my cup, and my heart just about bursts in my chest. There's just no way he's real.
"I'm assuming there's a story here," Sweeny interrupts, eyeing his container of French toast with suspicion.
"Breakfast club was at Jemma's Café," Luke explains. "It's how we all met."
"This is so sweet, Case, really," I say, not wanting to embarrass him, but unable to hold it in any longer. His grin is priceless, and I can't stop my arm from wrapping around his waist. He gives me a quick squeeze back, and I let go.
"Aww, you want a kiss from me, too, Case?" Sweeny teases, leaning forward with puckered lips.
"Shut up," Casey snaps, shoving him away. "Eat your food."
I laugh, just as my teapot starts to whistle. "I was going to force them all to drink tea," I explain, removing the pot from the burner. "They owe you for rescuing them."
"This actually isn't bad," Eli comments through a mouthful of bread.
"It's the powdered sugar," I explain, and I can see Luke and Casey trying not to laugh.
"Huh?"
I can feel their amused looks, and it's too much.
"I'm kidding," I say to Eli when my smile breaks. "We talked about the powdered sugar for a good five minutes the first time we had it. Long story."
"Oh, hey! I was thinking about the intro to 'Greetings,' and I think Sweeny should do that lick after the piano," Casey announces, all business.
"The bridge lick?" Sweeny asks, and Casey nods.
I can see their minds working. "Before the rest of the band comes in?" Eli asks.
Casey shakes his head and cuts into his French toast. "No, no, at the same time. With the drums, bass, and rhythm."
Their eyes change, and I can tell they like it.
"Yeah, ok. Maybe. What do you think?" Sweeny asks Luke.
Luke shrugs. "I think it would work. It's a pretty in-your-face song so why not hit them early."
"You said the trailer is here at 3:00?" Casey asks, and Eli grunts.
"Supposedly. They're supposed to call the second they roll in."
Casey nods. "I talked to that Mara lady on my way out. She said they have a room we can use."
"Private?" Luke asks. "We don't need any of this leaking out."
"She says yes. In the basement."
Luke nods. "Ok." He turns to me. "Can you stand watch just to make sure?"
"Can I have a black 'Security' t-shirt?"
Luke rolls his eyes and shoves me.
∞∞∞
Even though the equipment hasn't arrived yet, the guys want to scope out the rehearsal space and make sure it will work. They seem impressed with the size and seclusion of the storage room Mara shows them, and her tight face actually appears to approach an outright smile at the fact that Night Shifts Black is working on their new single in the basement of her hotel.
"Let us know what you need, if there's anything else we can get for you," Mara gushes.
Luke glances around the room. "This is great, Mara. Probably just a small table and some chairs, I guess. Maybe a few bottles of water?"
She nods. "Absolutely, Mr. Craven. I'll take care of that right away."
She hesitates for another moment, as if still trying to piece together this incredible development in her head.
"Thanks, Mara. We appreciate it," Luke says, guiding her toward the door.
She even smiles at me on her way out, and I can't help but snicker.
"I think she's starting to warm up to me," I comment after she's gone. "At the very least, accepting the fact that I will continue to exist."
Luke laughs and shakes his head. "You're too hard on her. Do you have any idea how many people she has to thwart on a daily basis?"
I hadn't thought of that. "Fine. Good point," I concede with a sigh. "Ok, well, I guess I'll go wait for your chairs and water while you work," I say, moving toward the door, but Casey grabs my arm.
"Not a chance," he barks, surprising me. He smiles to lighten his tone. "You're not our road manager, Callie. It's not going to be like that, got it? We pay people to get us water and chairs. Not you."
I swallow, slightly embarrassed, but mostly touched more than anything. "I know, I just … "
"You like to take care of people, and I love you for it, but we need you here, ok? This is as much your song as ours."
I stare at him in disbelief, speechless, and then my eyes flicker to Luke who only shrugs with a grin of his own.
"He's got a point," Luke agrees. "Besides, our security team needs to stay with us. Things could get dicey."
I laugh in exasperation. "Ok, ok. But I'm going to be the best darn bootleg-recording-thwarter you've ever seen."
Casey extends his hand. "Deal. But only if you promise to work on more songs while you're waiting to thwart."
I grin and squeeze his hand. "Deal. But only if you promise to make-out with me on your breaks."
The others roar, and Casey looks stunned before shooting me a mock glare. I'm pretty sure he's actually blushing.
"I knew there was no way you could handle her!" Sweeny laughs, smacking him on the back. "Called that."
Casey rolls his eyes but rewards me with a grin.
∞∞∞
The trailer arrives a few hours later, and the band and small crew who delivered it get to work unloading its contents. I can tell this is second nature to them, and suspect I'll only be interfering if I try to help, so I stand back, holding doors for the most part. Casey looks like a little kid again as he moves his toys into the storage room, and I love watching him unpack his drums from their cases. He sets to work with an expertise that shouldn't surprise me, and yet does, once again. One day I'll get used to his brilliance, but I think it will probably take a while.
Eli and Sweeny work on their own equipment, and even Luke joins the effort. I had wondered if they were going to send his stuff, and am happy that he seems happy they did. I can't believe how much that trailer held, and am in shock that the large storage room now seems tiny, crammed with instruments, stands, and monitors. Eli, Luke, and Sweeny connect their guitars to large boards which are lined with smaller boxes and connected to amps.
"It's a pedal board," Luke explains as I study the little blinking lights and buttons. "Listen."
He starts to play, and I notice all kinds of changes to the sound depending on what he hits with his foot.
"Got it," I say.
He returns to tuning and playing with his boxes as I maneuver toward Casey. Casey has his kit fully assembled now and is in the process of adjusting it when I approach.