Chapter 9

"So, Kirsten is going to sit in with us?"

Skyla paused in the act of putting her hair up, glancing over her shoulder at Andi.

"Yes."

"I mean, it's good that we're going to play, but?—"

She turned away from the bathroom mirror to face her friend. "But?" Kirsten had spent the night, but she'd gone home to change and grab her guitar.

They hadn't done anything. Kirsten had taken her upstairs and poured her into bed.

They'd slept hard, and Kirsten had been in the shower when she had woken up.

More's the damn pity.

"But on the album it will be Lucie, right?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Well, I guess that depends on how fast Lucie recovers and how much work we do while we're here."

"She's a bar monkey, honey, and not exactly honkytonk material."

"You did not just say that." Thank God Kirsten was not in the house at the moment.

She was about to redneck up a bit.

"I sure as shit did. She's got a tattoo on her neck. She's got piercings. She's a bit of a butch..."

"So? She's a hell of a player. You've never even heard her." Her toes were starting to tap, and she crossed her arms under her breasts.

"Fine, whatever, but she's not a professional studio girl. I'm just being?—"

"An asshole? Come on. I'm not stupid."

"No, but you're on some sort of mid-career crisis. Slump after the sophomore album. It happens all the damn time. If you want to find yourself, I'm not sure you need to do it with her."

Her mouth dropped open. "Jesus, Andi. Pot and kettle much?"

"This pot isn't the cash cow."

"Moo, motherfucker." She yanked a sweater on over her silk long underwear top, then stomped into her boots. She did not need this shit. She knew she was more valuable as a boss than a friend, but that didn't mean she always wanted to be reminded of it.

"Hey. You know that we're just looking out for you. And Lucie."

"I know." Except she didn't know that now, did she? She felt like Andi didn't trust her to make good decisions. Which made her want to go all say I won't and make super bad ones. "I'll just tell her we don't need her."

"Sky…"

"What?" She whirled around, throwing her hands up. "I just wanted to jam today, not fight about shit. I figured we could all use some stress relief. But fuck it. I'll just go into the studio and lay some vocals and then no one has to worry about it."

"Don't be a drama queen, now…"

"Don't make me fucking fire you," she snapped, and it was Mich who slapped her hand on the table.

"Enough. Andi, go to our fucking room. Skyla, you aren't firing anyone. Everyone is hungover, and half your band is headachy from the altitude. Please, can we have a couple of days and lots of water?"

"Sure. Y'all get acclimatized and call me if Lucie needs anything, okay?" She headed for the door, grabbing her parka and gloves. She would text Kirsten and tell her she would meet her at her place. Or something.

Gig cancelled. Can I come over?? Pls.>

There was a wait of the three dots, then. Sure. We can hang or go play with my friends.>

I'll wait for you outside?> She just needed out of the house. She knew she probably wasn't being any more reasonable than the band, but she just couldn't even right now. Too much stress in too short a time. So yeah. They could all take a breather.

B right there>

The bumper-stickered Subaru pulled up in about three minutes, and she hopped in. Geoff was heading out the door as they pulled away. She waved at him, and he nodded, but she wasn't wanting to stop and talk.

"You okay?" Kirsten asked.

"Just tension. Everyone is tired and stressed out, and I'm the odd one in the group. I'm their friend, but I'm their boss too, so it gets some friction." She sighed, rubbing her neck.

"Oh, I bet. We're going to this place—MM Outfitters. They have a bunkhouse and my friends Kiley and Britt are there, along with a few others. We jam sometimes—super crazy casual. Think silly karaoke."

"That sounds perfect." Skyla grinned, already feeling lighter. "I haven't had a not-for-work session in ages. You don't count, because that was like foreplay."

"It so was. I—I want you to relax. We're super casual; there will be snacks and lots of lazy girls in flannel."

"Thank you, honey." She beamed at Kirsten, glad to just be out and about with this woman, going to meet her friends and maybe play and sing some for fun, not profit. She had a great life. One most people envied. She knew that. But damn, sometimes she just wanted to let go and have fun.

"You're welcome. I just want to hang, play, breathe." Kirsten winked over. "With you."

"Ditto." She put a hand on Kirsten's, loving the way that made Kirsten suck in a deep breath.

They ended up near the river at a wild-looking set of buildings, with rafts and skis and sleds stacked along the outside walls.

"MM Outfitters…" Skyla tilted her head. "What does that stand for?"

"Marmot and Moose. Or at least that's the story." Kirsten got out, crunching on a crust of ice and snow. She grabbed her guitar. "Come on."

She wasn't one to say no to an adventure, so she hopped out too, guitar in hand.

"Hey, girlies!" The door opened, a pretty girl waving from the blankets draped over her shoulders. "There's cocoa in the crockpot!"

"Hey, Britt." Kirsten gave her a one-armed hug. "This is Skyla. Sky, Brittany. Cocoa?"

"Yes please! Nice to meet you, Brittany." She got a warm smile.

"Come on in. We're having a snow day."

"A snow day?" Skyla glanced at the sky. "There's no snow."

"Not yet. Huge storm coming. We're going to make a happy pile and make a ton of music."

"I'm all for it." Skyla grinned wide, her cheeks actually hurting with it. "Will there be booze later?"

"Hell, yes. But it's early yet. Come meet everyone." Brittany led her to meet a long, tall woman with short, sun-bleached hair and rangy, athletic build. "This is my girl, Kiley."

"Skyla." She held out her hand.

"I know you, lady. Skyla and Kiley. Sky and Ky. I like it."

Skyla hooted. "Me too!"

Kirsten put her guitar down, and Skyla found herself surrounded by laughing women, a couple older, a few younger, and soon she had a mug in her hand and a cozy spot on a well-loved sofa, blankets around her and over her lap.

She had a feeling things would warm up once they all got packed into the smaller lounge area she was in. But the bustle was fascinating.

There were guitars, a bunch of bongo drums, a tambourine, and a ukelele. Kirsten sat next to her, almost snuggling in.

"You good?"

"I am." Her hands itched. "I should have brought my rig, but I'm comfy and this is damn good cocoa."

"Mmm. It is." Kirsten grinned. "I love the hint of cinnamon."

"Yeah. Is this—a normal thing?"

"During bad storms, you know it. We hang out, goof off, stay warm and cozy."

"This way no one has to crank up their heat. Liz and Lupe let us use theirs. And we generate a ton of hot air, right?" Brittany raised her mug.

"More than. Besides, they love to come down and listen." Kirsten leaned back, rolling her head on her neck.

"Mmm. They own this place?"

"Yep. They do all the outdoor sports. And if they don't do it, they can contract with someone who does. They're the ones I told you could hook you up with sleigh rides and dog sledding."

"Neat." It really was. She could tell by the way the people who worked here casually used the space that it was like a family, not just a company. "This has been here forever, huh?"

"Yeah. The ladies started it together, and they've built it and built it into this weird, wild family."

"It looks amazing already."

"Hey, dude! We have a real singer in our midst." That was a youngish man with long hair and a North Face zip-up jacket, grinning at her. "Cool."

Her cheeks pinked, but she dipped her chin. "Thanks. I'm just here to hang."

"Oh." His face fell. But then he gave her a hang ten sign. "I get it. A little vacay. That's cool. Anyone want a doughnut? I brought a big box in."

"Doughnuts!" A cry went up, and Skyla couldn't have helped her laugh for love or money.

This was like a weird, one-off novelty song. She hummed a little to herself, and she heard Kirsten chuckle.

"Yep. Just here to hang out."

"Hey, now. It's just in my blood."

Kirsten nodded, lips soft on hers for a heartbeat.

She gasped, reaching out to grab Kirsten's arm. She wasn't sure if she was trying to get her closer or push her away. A little thought on that made her realize she was definitely pulling.

And she wasn't alone.

This room was filled with strangers.

But they were friendly strangers, right? Not that she was going to make out with Kirsten in front of them, but a harmless touch here and there wasn't going to end up on TikTok.

"You don't have to stress it, honey. You can just breathe." Kirsten leaned back and watched her with a little half-smile.

"I'm getting that vibe, for sure. It's weird, because I'm so used to worrying that anything I do will end up on social media." Skyla took a deep breath, then let it out. "This is special, honey."

"Yeah. It so is."

Skyla peeked out the window, and the sky was going dark, like a huge thunderstorm was brewing. The chill in the air had gotten weird, too, like it was going to hail. Or that was what it would do in Texas.

"Wild, huh? Storm is coming."

Someone started strumming a guitar, playing Bob Dylan, the sound soft and sweet.

"It's pretty as well as ominous." And she was suddenly thinking of Garth Brooks and "The Thunder Rolls". That kind of atmospheric story song.

She smiled as Kirsten grabbed her guitar and started doodling, joining in like it was the most natural thing ever.

Soon enough she was humming along, but she held off singing because she didn't want to come off as that bitch who strolled in and tried to steal the show. She wasn't.

Someone handed her a guitar and went over to stoke the fire in the pot-bellied stove. She strummed, feeling out the tuning and the strings, then got into a rhythm with Kirsten, playing a little thump and strum to give a tum da dum to it.

Kirsten began to sing nice and low, rumbling with her whiskey-soaked voice.

They worked through "Blowin' in the Wind", then a John Denver song, the other kid playing with them grinning as they started to gel. Bonnie Rait next, and then Kirsten gave her a wicked smile, starting the chunky guitar sound that led into a huge Melissa Etheridge hit.

And that smile was daring her to sing it.

Lord know she never walked away from a dare, so she just let it rip. The best part was that everyone sang along—good voices, bad, it didn't matter. This wasn't a performance; this was a jam session.

People hooted and whistled, and when the other kid with the guitar swung into Garth Brooks's "Friends in Low Places", she shouted with everyone else.

"See, you do know a country song," she teased Kirsten.

"One or two, yeah." Kirsten chuckled softly. "Look at the snow come down."

She blinked as she looked out the window. "Holy shit, y'all."

The snow was like a white sheet, and it seemed bitter out there, but in here? It was warm and cozy, the scents of fire and chocolate and whatever was bubbling in the big common kitchen making it feel amazing.

"We have food and bathrooms, right?"

"We do." Kirsten chuckled again. "You might text the band and just let them know you're safe. They're not any more used to this than you are, right?"

"Mmm. Look how nice you are." She didn't want to, but she texted anyway, letting Mich know she'd be gone all day, at least. She was gonna sit here and watch it come down.

"I just know that this is fun." Kirsten leaned in, lips against her ear. "There might be green later, if that's a problem."

"That is so not. I work for myself. No random tests involved." She winked, because she was feeling amazing. Like she was already flying.

"Cool. You want to take off your boots? I'm going to put on fuzzy socks." Kirsten pinked, unpainted eyelashes fluttering. "I brought you a pair."

"Oh, you know how to treat a girl. Hot chocolate. Music. Fuzzy socks."

"Soon there will be tortillas soup and green chile chicken enchiladas," someone said.

"But for now there's those doughnuts."

"Bring it on. I can run a few miles at the gym tomorrow." Skyla waved a hand like that would magically erase any calories today.

"Calories don't count during a blizzard." Kirsten's friend sounded so sure. "Nothing but love does."

"That sounds like a song too." She played a few chords.

Suddenly Kirsten was playing with her and they had another skeleton of a song, just like breathing. How did that happen? When they stopped, several people were staring at them, and one girl handed her a notebook and a pen.

"Thank you, sweetie. I definitely want to note that down."

"That was awesome," the guitar boy said. "I'm Kane, by the way."

Colorado sure had the corner on K names.

"Nice to meet you, Kane."

"Same same. Y'all want to play it again? I'll do the rhythm."

"Sounds good." She looked at Kirsten, who nodded. And away they went. She noted shit down, and by the third run through a girl with big braids and a nose ring was singing harmony.

"Oh dude! This is almost as much fun as Yahtzee!" That was a young girl who was sitting with some hot stacked woman who was either her girlfriend or was fixin' to be.

"She means it. She loves Yahtzee." The other girl grinned, and yeah. They were so doing it.

"Music gets in your bones," Kane said.

"That's it exactly. It's in all of us. We can't resist it." And if someone said they didn't like music, Skyla didn't trust them.

"It's the human condition and the closest we'll ever get to the gods," Kirsten agreed.

"Let's play."

Skyla struck up another song, and the whole building seemed to ring with it.

She couldn't think of a better way to spend a day than this. This was perfect.