Chapter Fourteen

Greg sat across the kitchen island from Jaron, who held a cup with water under the tap. "I'm going to sing tonight at TJs bar. For Brian."

The water overflowed the cup. "You can't blurt that out." Jaron dumped the water, ice and all, down the drain and then used the dishcloth to dry the outside of the glass. "You got him to go out with you. Why sing? And can you sing?"

He'd never been good with words, and he needed Brian to understand how he felt. Singing was the best way to do that. "I've never wanted anyone as much as I want Brian."

Jaron filled the cup with ice. "Brian doesn't do long-term relationships. But he wanted to with you. So when you shut him out, he took it hard."

"I know. That's why I'm willing to put myself out there. Gotta do something."

Jaron slid the glass across the counter. "What are you singing?"

"Thanks." Greg knew his face was turning red. "A song called "Everything". It's a rock song. Like a ballad."

Jaron's eyes got big. "You're gonna do karaoke to that song. Greg, Greg, Greg." He shook his head as if Greg had already disappointed.

"No. It will be good."

Travis came in a few seconds later, Carter behind him like his little shadow. Travis walked up to Jaron, wrapping one arm around Jaron's waist, hauling him close to his side. "Hey there, sexy."

Jaron grinned. "Hey yourself."

"Daddy and Papa get like this sometimes," Carter said, plopping down on the stool next to him. "I'm going to marry Seth."

"Seth, huh? How are you going to ask him?"

Seth was a dark-haired kid Carter had known since kindergarten. He was a cute kid, but shy. Not as outgoing as Carter, which seemed to balance them out a bit.

"I won't have to ask."

"Why is that?"

"Seth will do what I say."

Greg laughed, probably for the first time in a long time. "You are hard to resist, little man. I will give you that much." Greg ruffled Carter's blond hair.

"Papa, am I going to Grandma's tonight?" Carter asked.

Jaron turned in Travis' arms. "Yes."

"Good. Can Brownie come too?" Carter and his dog were rarely separated. Brownie was a great dog too. Carter had trained him in all the basic commands. He sat by Carter's stool with his tongue hanging out.

"Sure."

"I'm gonna go pack for Grandma's." Carter started for the stairs.

"Pack clothes, Bobby. Underwear, pants, shirt, and socks."

"It's Carter now. Remember. And I know."

"Not toys. I mean it, Robert Carter Heath."

"Can I take one toy?"

"No." Jaron would cave. The roll of his eyes and the sigh told that story.

"One toy, Carter," Travis yelled.

"You guys got a date night?" Greg took a drink of his water.

"Yep. Why?" Travis narrowed his eyes.

Greg smiled. "I'm not gonna kill your night. I thought maybe we could double. It might make Brian more comfortable if you guys were there." And Greg wouldn't have to search for something to say during the uncomfortable silences. Or talk about Roger's death. He didn't want anything ruining their date.

"Yeah, we can do that."

Greg nodded. "Thanks."

The music for the song Greg wanted to sing was long and slow. He tried to get it right. Practice made perfect and he hadn't done that in a lot of years when it came to his guitar.

Roger had bought it for his fifteenth birthday. They had left for Harbor Shire before Roger could start drinking and came back with the guitar. No fanfare or lingering in town for the sake of doing so. As soon as they had walked in the house, Sherri started in on how they didn't have the extra money and Roger had said that maybe she shouldn't shoot up all the money they did have. They went at it from there. The chief showed up and broke up the fight.

His hands shook when he picked it up and put the strap over his shoulder. The weight of it felt familiar, reuniting with an old friend. He strummed a few cords to test it out. Tuning it came next.

His parents had yelled at him whenever he practiced. He had ended up going over to Kyler's house, in his basement. Kyler's aunt had been a bitch most of the time, but at least she had been kind enough to lend him space.

He had forgotten how playing calmed him. The vibrant sound created a peace he hadn't experienced in a long time. He played a chord he needed to practice. There were little moments in the music where a delicate touch was needed. The whole song was about emotion, not about guitar skills.

Greg had his bedroom door open, so he wasn't surprised to see Neil standing in the doorway. He stopped playing, putting his hand over the strings. "Am I bothering you?"

"I was listening. The music sounds like love."

Greg smiled. "It's the song I'm playing tonight for Brian. Maybe I could practice on you."

Neil could sing. He had a beautiful voice, and he could play the piano. Neil had a natural gift for it.

"Sure," Neil's smile got bigger. He walked into the room and pulled out the desk chair.

Greg began to play, singing the lyrics the second time around. It always seemed to help him get into the emotion of a song and concentrate better when he closed his eyes as he played. When the lyrics worked through him, he couldn't help but picture Brian in the room. Maybe he was a sappy fool who would get his heartbroken right after the words stopped, but he'd be even more of a fool if he cared about that at all.

When he finished, he felt a hand on his arm, and he startled. He half expected to find Brian there instead of Neil.

"Slow down the fast part."

"But that's how the band played the original."

"See if you like it better. It would be better if it stayed slower. Then at the end don't play your guitar." Greg must have appeared skeptical because Neil waved a hand. "Try it."

So Greg played and sang.

When he heard Neil's voice, he let his fade. God, Neil sounded like an angel.

At the very last line of the song, Neil put his hands over Greg's to still them but kept singing. His voice was so quiet. It sounded like a plea. That was precisely the emotion Greg wished to convey.

"See. Better, right?" Neil asked when he had finished.

"Much better. Thanks, Neil. Would you mind going over it with me a couple more times?"

"Sure."

They practiced for nearly an hour. They even started practicing another song they could do for fun after Greg performed. It was easy to learn and didn't have a lot of lyrics to remember. Not that Neil had a problem with any of that.