John nodded again. “I'm writing a song for Adam. Something I've been trying to write for a decade, but the words only recently came together. Right before you drove up, I was trying to search for a place where I could perform it for him. Like an open mic night or something.” John paused, shaking his head as he thought aloud. “It has to be public. It has to bebig. Just singing it for him here,” he went on, gesturing at his house, “won't be enough.”
Everett looked at him. “Sing it at the wedding.”
John blinked. “What?”
“Sing it at the wedding,” Everett repeated with a casual shrug, like the suggestion should have been obvious.
John frowned. “But it'syourwedding.”
“So?”
“So,” John stammered, “it's your day. I don't want to hijack that. It wouldn't be fair.”
“John, I'm offering,” Everett said with a laugh.
“I don't know.”
“Hang on.” Everett went to the door, leaned out, and called, “Mor!” He waved his hand, and John watched as Morgan got out of the white sedan and came up to the porch.
The boy stepped inside and gave John a smile. “Hey, John. How are you? How's Adam?”
“Good,” John got out. “He's sleeping.”
Morgan chuckled, giving him a knowing nod. “Yeah, that sounds about right.”
Everett slipped an arm around Morgan's shoulders. “Did you know John was writing a song for Adam?”
Morgan gasped. “Oh my god! That's so sweet.”
“I told him he should sing it at the wedding.”
Morgan gasped again, louder that time. He covered his mouth with both hands, then gave a little bounce of excitement. “Yes!” he exclaimed. “Yes, you totally have to. Oh my god. That would be so cool.”
“But…it's your day,” John repeated.
“John,” Everett began. “How many times do I have to tell you? You're family. You won't be stealing our thunder or whatever else you're thinking. We'll always want to share and celebrate with our friends. Trust me. It'll make our day even more amazing.”
“It'll beepic,” Morgan insisted with a grin. “Oh! I'm gonna call Trevor. I'll get the band in on the surprise. It is gonna be a surprise, right? I can't wait to see Adam's face! Maybe when they take one of their breaks, it'll be perfect for you to step in. Maybe they can even announce you. This is gonna be so awesome!” Morgan pulled out his phone as he rushed outside.
Everett chuckled, watching his fiancé hurry off. “Well, if that doesn't convince you, I don't know what will.”
John relented with a laugh. “Okay. Fine. Only if you're sure.”
“I'm sure,” Everett insisted.
Everett left a few minutes later, and John went to check on Adam before he returned to his guitar. He played the song through once more, his heart picking up speed as he imagined getting up in front of a crowd for the first time.
It was going to be nerve-wracking as hell, but he knew it would be worth it. He couldn't wait to see Adam's face. Couldn'twait to give the boy the words he'd been trying to write for a decade.
The song came to an end, and John smiled. He quickly put the guitar away, then snatched up the notebook Adam had given him, the one withRhyme and Rieslingon the cover. John checked his notes in the other notebooks that he used for all his messy ideas, then grabbed a pen and opened Adam's notebook to the first page.
Above the first line, John wrote,“Man to Man.”
Then he carefully penned out the final version of the lyrics, taking his time to make sure the letters were neat and legible.
Once it was done—the page finally filled after a decade of sitting there, taunting him with its emptiness—John sat back and couldn't help grinning.
John's phone vibrated, showing a new text message. He set his pen aside and picked up the phone, opening the text from Morgan.
