Strings Attached, page 2
Melissa packed up her gear and headed out. Drew made her way down the short hall, past the other lesson rooms, the ensemble room, the office, and then on to the sales floor. She loved this place. Most of the time, anyway. Her dad had built the business from scratch, and since college, it had become her second home.
“I just need to close out the register and we’re ready to go.”
Drew turned to her father. “Okay. I’ll get the lights and lock up.”
He grinned. “Melissa seemed pretty excited when she left. How’d she do with that Bach piece?”
“She rocked it, Dad. I’m so proud of her.”
“She’s a talented kid. Reminds me of you when you were little.”
“Don’t insult her. She’s way better than I ever was.”
He finished counting the bills in his hands and looked at her thoughtfully. “Don’t sell yourself short, kiddo. You could’ve made it big if you’d stuck it out.”
“True. But I’m happy with what I’m doing.” And she was, most of the time. She put away a few items that customers had left scattered around the store. “Besides, you know I couldn’t have handled being around all those Hollywood phonies all the time.”
He finalized the deposit and sealed the bag. “Just don’t wanna see you have any regrets, that’s all.”
She saw the usual sadness pass over his eyes and again wondered if he’d settled for less. He thought she didn’t notice, but she always did. Drew circled around the counter and kissed his cheek. “No regrets. I love teaching. The boss here is kind of a pain in the butt sometimes, though.”
“So is the help. Good thing he’s such a softie and keeps them on the payroll, eh?” He chuckled at her teasing.
“Good thing.” That payroll would be bigger with higher revenues, Dad. For all of us. If you’d only take my ideas seriously.
They parted ways after they locked up the shop, and she made the short drive to her modest, one-bedroom apartment. She couldn’t afford much, but it was home. Every picture or decoration she owned represented something she loved. Classical music. Paintings. Sculptures. The secondhand furniture was in good shape, and most importantly, it was comfortable.
Three cats greeted her and demanded to know why she was working late again instead of staying home to cater to their every need. She scooped up Vinnie, a black and white Maine Coon, who purred loudly and ate up the attention. Next it was Fret, a tiger, but she wasn’t in the mood for lovin’—she wanted her supper. Andres, the oldest, sat aside watching and waiting. He was a big, round, fluffy orange tabby with soulful green eyes. She scratched his head and chin. She set down three bowls before heading to the bedroom to change.
She fixed a sandwich and curled up on the couch. Now Fret was her best friend. She hopped up next to Drew and began rubbing her cheek against her, all the while acting as if she wasn’t trying to sneak a peek at what Drew was eating.
“Hey, you just ate. This is mine.”
Fret didn’t care. She tapped her arm repeatedly with her paw. Drew let her sniff the peanut butter sandwich, and she backed away. She gave Drew a look as if to say, “Why aren’t you eating something I like?” before settling in the opposite corner of the couch. Drew petted her. “Told ya you didn’t want any.”
Andres cuddled up beside her. Vinnie darted into the room and batted around several toys before taking his usual place on the back of the couch behind her. He stretched out, dangled his legs, and rested a paw on her shoulder. He purred contentedly and kneaded her intermittently.
She turned on the TV, but as usual, there was nothing that interested her, so she shut it off. Maybe she’d read for a while. She browsed her bookcase, but she’d read everything at least twice. She couldn’t afford to buy anything new. She loved lesbian romances, but the selection at the library was limited. She usually opted for detective novels if she couldn’t find anything else. Besides, sometimes the romance stories made her sad. It would be nice to have a girlfriend. She laughed at the thought. How was that ever going to happen when she never went anywhere? She closed her eyes and withdrew a book at random.
Being single wasn’t so bad. It made life simple, which was the way she liked it. She had her freedom. Her cats kept her company. She loved her job, and she got to work with her dad—a big plus there. She smiled.
The holidays were right around the corner. Hopefully, the shop would do well enough in the fourth quarter to keep it going. Otherwise, she wasn’t sure what she’d do. She sighed. Worrying about money right before bed was never a good idea. Worrying never solved anything anyway. What she needed was a plan to increase the bottom line. Her father had built a very successful store, but he was stubborn and resistant to change. He repeatedly rebuffed her suggestions to keep up with the new technology and the way things had changed in the retail world. The business needed an upgrade.
So much for not worrying. She reread the same page for the umpteenth time and gave up. She went to bed with her cats, her worries, and the ever-present niggle of loneliness she kept pushing away.
Chapter Three
A bright white light flashed through Nikki’s eyelids. What the hell was that? Another one. Damn it. She opened her eyes and was blinded by another flash.
“Say cheese, hot shot.”
“What the—”
The woman stuck a smartphone in her face again and snapped off another picture. “I just wanted a little souvenir of our night together.”
Nikki pulled the covers up over her naked body, realizing her upper half had been completely exposed. And now this stranger had pictures of it. Great. Just great. “Is it morning already?”
“Six o’clock. I need to get to work.” She bent and placed a kiss on Nikki’s lips. “Thank you for a very memorable evening.” She tossed back her blond hair and smiled. “Even if you did call me Jaymi three times.”
Oh shit. “You said that was your name.”
“Amy. My name’s Amy. Don’t worry. I’ll remember your name. And our night together.” She scribbled on the notepad on the bedside table. “My number. In case you’d like company again next time you’re in town.” She smiled. “So, what’s the deal with Jaymi and Shawn, then? Is that all just an act, or do you and Shawn take turns with her?”
Nikki bolted upright, clutching the sheet to her chest. “You watch what you say about Jaymi.”
Amy stepped back, obviously alarmed by the ire in Nikki’s tone. She quickly recovered and winked. “Wow. Somebody’s jealous. Does Shawn know you’re imagining her girlfriend while you’re—”
“Get out.”
Amy grinned. “Glad I could uh…fill in. Jaymi’s a doll. I can see why you’d want to fuck her. See you later, stud.” She left.
Nikki fell back onto the bed and let out a growl. “I’m done. I’m so fucking done.”
She didn’t realize she’d fallen back asleep until a knock on her door woke her up. She checked the clock. Shit.
She scurried to the bathroom, threw on a hotel robe, and answered the door. Jaymi was red in the face.
“You’re not even dressed? We’re leaving in fifteen minutes.”
“Give me ten to shower, and I’ll meet you down there.”
Jaymi took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. She was most definitely pissed. “Don’t worry about checking out. Lance is taking care of it.”
Nikki nodded, just wanting Jaymi to leave her alone.
“Nik, what’s going on with you?”
“Nothing. I’ll see you in a few minutes, all right?” Jaymi stared at her and didn’t move. “Don’t worry, Jaymi. You know better than anybody how quickly I can get ready.”
“Unfortunately, yes I do. It’s a miracle I don’t have high blood pressure.”
Nikki grinned at her. “If you grab me a coffee on your way out, I’ll beg for your forgiveness and be your servant for life.”
Jaymi gave her a playful shove. “Like you haven’t promised that before.”
“Yeah, but this time I mean it.”
“You’re wasting time, Nikki.”
She spun and dropped her robe just before she entered the bathroom—in Jaymi’s full view. She probably wouldn’t even notice, but just in case…
Jaymi’s words echoed in her head as she showered. Wasting time. Ain’t that the truth.
She should have told Jaymi a long time ago she was in love with her. If it weren’t for that damn rule they had about not dating bandmates, she might have. Then again, those boundaries probably saved the group on more than one occasion. Nikki knew in her heart she could never be the kind of partner Jaymi needed. Then Jaymi fell in love with Shawn, and it was clear as day they were meant to be together. Nikki never had a chance.
Wasted time. By the time Nikki told Jaymi the truth about how she felt, it was too late. And now, things were awkward. Not all the time, but sometimes when they were alone, it was all Nikki could do not to reach out and take Jaymi in her arms and…
Shut the hell up. It’s never going to happen, so just forget it. She shut off the water and dressed quickly, with only minutes to spare. She raced onto the bus and slouched into a seat. No one even glanced up to see she was there.
Nikki fumbled with her phone and considered calling her friend Randi, who used to be her favorite “friend with benefits.” Not anymore. Randi had a steady girl now, too, and a new career training police dogs. She was probably busy.
She aimed the remote at the TV and searched for a distraction. She found a football game and muted the sound so she wouldn’t disturb the others. At least they were headed east and would be home in a few hours. She hoped the falling snow wouldn’t slow them down too much.
Home. Where she could spend more time alone with her thoughts.
Great.
***
Nikki hauled her luggage up the stairs and left it in the laundry room. Her luxury condo had all the modern conveniences, including a two-car garage where she housed her Mustang and motorcycle. Not the best set of wheels for New Hampshire winters, but she would be taking care of that problem soon at the Jeep dealership. She had plenty of money now, so why not spoil herself? She’d moved into this place last summer during the band’s break. It had state-of-the-art appliances, four TVs, the best stereo system money could buy with wireless speakers in every room, a spare bedroom where she kept her instruments, and expensive art on the walls. The works.
It was nothing new to have an abundance of possessions, but it felt better now knowing she’d bought them all with her own hard-earned money. Still, they were merely things. She had no one to share them with…yet.
She stripped and settled into the Jacuzzi with a glass and bottle of wine. She sipped and closed her eyes. The tension melted away. She couldn’t wait to sleep in her own bed tonight. Away from the band.
Away from Jaymi.
Away from the fans that followed her and always wanted something from her. An autograph or photo was fine. That kind of attention never bothered her. But for some, it wasn’t enough. For some fans, it seemed as though all they wanted was to get into her pants. It was flattering, and she couldn’t deny that she enjoyed sleeping with all those women, but it was nothing more than sex. They never wanted anything else. No one cared about getting to know her. No one asked what her favorite color was or what she liked to eat or what her hobbies were or what other interests she had besides music. Lately, the sheer emptiness of their adoration was smothering her.
Half the bottle was gone by the time she got out of the tub. She walked to the window and watched the snow continue to fall. She finished off another glass. She turned and looked around. She was surrounded by every possible material thing she’d ever wanted.
She’d never felt so empty in all her life.
Chapter Four
“Come on, Dad. Please think about it. If we’re going to keep up with the competition, we’re going to have to make these investments soon.” Drew hated putting her father on the spot. She’d been reluctant to step on his toes—and his pride—by pushing him out of his comfort zone, but she needed to convince him that their livelihood depended on it.
Her dad’s laugh lines creased his handsome face. His body had grown soft. His thick, sandy hair hid his grays well, but they were there. Drew’s would probably look the same when she was his age. She hoped she’d be that lucky.
“It’s not that I’m putting down your ideas, Doodlebug, but we just don’t have the money right now. Even if we did, we’re a small business, and I intend to keep it that way.” He spoke gently, with kindness in his eyes and a patience she’d gratefully inherited. A trait that she knew made her a successful teacher, but one she found increasingly frustrating at the moment.
“I’m proud that we don’t have corporate micromanagers dictating our pricing or policies or highfalutin stockholders telling me how to run my business. That’s why our customers shop here instead of the big chain stores.”
It was hard to stay upset with him when he used her childhood nickname and said things like “highfalutin.” Mom should have appreciated those little things instead of putting him down all the time.
The bells on the door chimed. The rest of the conversation would have to wait while she took care of the customers. “Welcome to DJ’s. I’m Drew, and this is Jerry. Let us know if we can help you with anything.”
The two women said hello, and then the rusty-haired one said, “Thanks. We’re here to check out some guitars.”
They looked familiar, and it only took a second or two for her to place them. Jaymi Del Harmon and Shawn Davies of the local band Passion Play were in her store shopping for guitars. She reined in her excitement—this could be good for business. She liked their music, but she didn’t really consider herself a huge fan. She wondered if their success had turned them into snobs like the people her mother associated with.
“Are you looking for acoustic or electric?”
“Both, actually,” said Jaymi.
“Our equipment truck was in an accident last night,” explained Shawn. “Wiped out in the snowstorm and tipped over. Then someone slammed into it, and the whole thing caught fire.”
“Oh my God. Was anyone hurt?”
“Nothing serious, thank goodness,” Jaymi said. “But we lost all our instruments, so we need to replace everything.”
“Wow. I’m so sorry. I’ll do whatever I can to help. What would you like to see first?”
Shawn smiled. “I remember you. You sold me a Gibson SG a few years ago.”
“Yes, I remember. Was that lost, too?” How sweet was that? Shawn’s the one who’s famous, yet she remembered me. How refreshing. Maybe they hadn’t changed at all.
“Afraid so. That was a great axe, too. I’m gonna miss it.”
“You’re in luck. I have three in stock if you want another one.”
“Cool.”
“I’m happy to see Passion Play doing so well. You’ve done New Hampshire proud.” She didn’t need to be a fan to know how to treat her customers. Especially when she knew they could afford to spend a lot.
Jaymi said, “Well, thank you, Drew.”
Jaymi’s sincerity melted her heart. She was sure she was blushing. Drew handed Shawn a cable and told her to plug into any amp she wanted. She took down the first guitar Shawn selected. Jaymi said she’d be in the acoustic room.
They were in the store for almost three hours. While they tried out guitar after guitar, they stopped and politely chatted with other customers and gave autographs to everyone who asked for one. At one point, they played an entire song together. It was like being at a private jam session. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and their presence breathed new life into the place.
They left with seven instruments that came to almost twenty thousand dollars in sales. The minute they were out the door, she and her dad hooted and hollered with joy.
The next day, their drummer Brian came in and spent a small fortune on a drum set and several accessories. He said his cousin Jaymi raved about the place, and he was a big believer in supporting small local businesses. The day after that, she sold three bass guitars to their bassist, Kay Burnes. Jaymi and Shawn came in again and stocked up on strings, effects pedals, two amps, and a few other odds and ends. Her dad waited on them this time. Drew was busy teaching, but she couldn’t help but be distracted knowing who was in the shop.
When Melissa came out of her lesson, she got the surprise of her life. Jaymi sat with her and showed her how to play a song. Shawn helped her out with her fingering, and then the three of them played a song together. Melissa floated out of the store on cloud nine. Drew was beyond touched that they’d spent so much quality time with one of her students.
They were now close to making their annual sales goal with two months left in the quarter. She wasn’t about to count her chickens, but now she was anxious to keep the momentum going and find ways to sustain it.
She sailed home with her business wheels spinning. If she could get Passion Play to do regular appearances when they were home, imagine what it could do for sales. Having all of them together might be too much for their shop to handle. She didn’t want to cause mayhem, but one or two of them at a time?
“What do you think, Fret?”
Fret was a music lover. She’d named her that because as a kitten, she would bat at Drew’s fingers while she was playing her guitar.
The juices were flowing now. She’d always wanted to start an after-school ensemble program for kids. Maybe even a scholarship fund so that kids could afford instruments and lessons. The store hadn’t been making enough profit for those things or for the additional employees they’d need. They had two part-timers and a part-time assistant manager, but otherwise, it was just her and Dad. She loved her job, but if things didn’t turn around soon, the shrinking budget might force her into a career change. He was paying her twenty-five percent below her market value. He’d never find a replacement manager at that salary. No one with her level of expertise would accept such a measly offer.
