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Chapter 12
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No Strings Attached Chapter 13
Big Mike took a deep pull of his Cherry Coke and signaled for the waitress. "Can I get the check and another one of these," he pointed to his plate. "to go? Thanks.""I got it, Mike.""Nah, you get the next one.""Okay, thanks. So, Leia did really good, right?""At what?"I paused. "The recital. Playing. Nervous, but she settled in. She even did that little foot stomp thing like Jimmy. Cute as hell.""Wasn't there, but good to hear it went well.""You... What? Sure you were. She saw you. When she first came out.""Nope. Forgot all about it. I'll make the next one.""You shitting me?""I said I'll be there, I'll be there.""That's not what I meant and you know it.""Yeah, whatever."Pushing back in my chair, I looked across the table at him."Are you pissed at me?"He threw his napkin on his plate. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fucking pissed. It's been a quarter of a fucking century. What the hell is wrong with you? I wasn't close to Rebecca, not like I was with you, but I knew her. Probably bette
No Strings Attached Chapter 14
Eyes still flashing, she leaned back and looked at me, waiting for me to continue. I guess that was something. She wasn't just storming out."I'm not a psychic, and I'm not trying to make any stupid claims that make me into anything other than a jackass that shit all over Jimmy, but his wasn't a story with a happy ending. And yeah, I was a dick. I got it. For the time it took to write those articles and for all the effort it took to avoid telling you it was me, yeah. A big dick."But I'm not going to fall on my sword and pretend that's the whole story. He's sober. He didn't just get sober, he's staying sober. He's cleaned up. He's playing better than ever before. You know where he was yesterday? He was the reward for a high school band class. They averaged an eighty-five for a big test or some shit and he went in and spent the afternoon with them. Jimmy. Mr. Rock Star spent his afternoon jamming with some high school kids because they got good grades. He plays with Leia all the time.
No Strings Attached Chapter 15
"I told Jimmy.""About you and me?""About Curt Llama.""Ah."There was a tense, awkward silence."I mean, I didn't really tell him. He kind of overheard.""How pissed is he?""Um. He said that was 'classic Alex,' called you a fucker, and said he was going to ask for a raise."Alex laughed, startling both of us."Shit. Well, he probably deserves it at this point."Again we fell quiet. I sipped water to fill the silence."When you said you'd make it right if I gave you another chance, what did you mean?""I want to do the right thing," he said."What does that even mean, though?"Alex put his glass of water back down on the coffee table and hesitantly took my hand. I let him, my heart fluttering when his fingers brushed against mine."Well, for starters, if I was lucky enough to spend a night with you again, I wouldn't leave while you slept. I have realized that it's a shitty thing to do."I couldn't help it; I laughed."I'm not gonna keep shit from you. No secrets, no... no other alte
No Strings Attached Chapter 16
Alex POVI wasn't angry. How could I be angry? It was just. No matter how fucked up things got, you could only get truly angry if you thought that things weren't fair and just. I deserved every bit of this. Ember was fate, slapping me in the face and telling me it hadn't forgotten what I'd done. Two and a half decades had gone by and I'd successfully hidden. My guilt was in the past and I was living my quiet grey life. No love, no glory, no fame but also no pain.Then she strode through the wreckage of my life, making me remember what was possible and what I had lost. I'd fucked women over the past twenty-five years. I'd had good times since my world ended. There were even times when I was happy. But Ember was the first thing since they died that was real. She was the first new person that I felt that I might be able to love. And she turned out to be my son's best friend and I was such a crappy father that I didn't even know she existed.Well played, Fate.I couldn't go back to my bed
No Strings Attached Chapter 17
"You are?"I nodded and sat on the edge of her bed."I'll call Al—uh. I'll call the studio again tomorrow and we'll... we'll see. Maybe Uncle Jimmy can come over instead and help you learn some new songs."She sniffed again, wiping her face with the pillowcase before sitting up."I'm sorry I yelled at you, Mommy," she said. "I didn't know you were sad, too."I had to blink very rapidly and stare up at the ceiling as she hugged me.She was practicing her guitar a few minutes later, quiet strumming as I gently closed her bedroom door and went back to the kitchen. I picked up my phone and scrolled back through the messages.I'm sorry. I didn't know. Can we talk?Ok, if you don't want to talk, that's fine. Can you just let me know you're ok?Should I bring Leia for her lesson tonight or no?Called Lini, she just said you're not there. Alex, just tell me if you're okay. I'm worried.It's been four days. Are you even fucking alive?You asked me to keep bringing Leia for lessons but I can't
No Strings Attached Chapter 18
He sat down in my office a few minutes later. I got up, closed the door and then sat back down."I'm not sure where to start. I owe you an apology. I'm not going to sugar-coat it. I'm not sorry for what I did, but I am sorry about how I did it. On top of that, I should have told you as soon as you started working here. Not many people know I'm Curt Llama, but you deserved to know.""Okay.""Okay?""Yeah, we're good."I told him we were bumping his pay up to $1,500 a week and then we went over the songs. We discussed his approach, what his thought processes were and why I went in the directions I did. He asked the right questions and seemed excited."So, uh, feel free to say no. I, uh, I sorta started working on my own stuff. I mean, I've always done that. If you play, you don't really have a choice, but I've sorta gotten serious about it. If you could, uh, maybe take a look? When you have a chance? Or not. Whatever."I smiled at how nervous he was. "I'd be happy to, Jimmy. Nervous?""
No Strings Attached Chapter 19
"I miss you."He didn't hide the surprise that time, although surprise wasn't quite the right word. There was a bit of shock, but something darker flashed across his face, something almost painful."This can't work," he said."What can't?""This." He gestured to me and then to himself. "There was already enough against us from the beginning. Now knowing that... I mean, shit, Ember, we already knew I was old enough to be your dad without throwing in the fact that you actually used to be friends with—"He stopped suddenly."With Eddie," I finished."You were my son's best friend and I never even knew you," he said. "I look at you and I see another fucking reminder of how much I failed them.""I don't remember ever meeting you," I said. "That doesn't mean you failed them. I mean, shit, besides Baylee, I don't remember half of Leia's friends, and she's literally friends with them right now. It's not like it's also been twenty-some years. And they... his last name--""We used my wife's," h
No Strings Attached Chapter 20
I came again, and at least one more time after that before Alex groaned and came inside me. He held me tight as he finished, hugging me to him like he would never let go, or maybe could never let go. I fought to catch my breath, kissing his neck and running my fingers along his back as he rested against me."How fast do we have to get dressed?" he asked after moving off of me, his arm extended so I could curl up against his chest."Dunno."He kissed the top of my head."Anyone ever tell you you're loud in bed?""Is that a complaint?""Fuck no.""Well, don't get used to it." I kissed his chest lightly. "We'll have to be a little quieter once you move in. I don't need Leia hearing that."He laughed. "Move in?""Mm-hmm. You're not getting away from me that easy this time.""I'm not sayin' yes, but what if I want you to move into my place?""Okay, but I practically have a built-in babysitter here.""Mm. I see your point. You think we'd need a nanny."I laughed at his gentle teasing, revel
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