I give Otis an easy shrug, knowing full well that Norrie is the instigator of this. If Cody had known I was coming, he wouldn’t have shown up.
"Well, I’m here," I say, my eyes looking around the room before landing back on Cody, daring him. "Not gonna throw me out, are you?"
"We weren't expecting you today." Norrie cocks his head my way.
I had agreed to come but not as soon as this. I’d an unexpected day off from my work at the gym, so I came here
"Guess I'm full of surprises," I respond as I set my guitar case down with more noise than necessary. Cody looks like he’s about to say something else, but I cut him off before he can get going. "And I'm not here to take over, if that's what anyone is worried about."
My brother’s fists clench tighter, eyes practically burning a hole in the wall behind me. "No one agreed you could be a part of this."
I take a breath, the gap between us seems to get wider every time are paths cross, and I can’t even pinpoint where it all started.
Choosing to ignore Cody’s comment, I continue, "What I’ve already heard is really good, but it seems like we need all of us to get that edge. Unless you're willing to crash and burn, of course, just to prove a point."
The room's so still I can hear Cody’s teeth grinding. He turns to Otis, like he's looking for backup, but Otis just stares down at his drums and mutters, "You guys are family. Work it out between you."
Ruby gives Otis a sideways glance “Maybe we should take a break."
"We’ve only been playing for an hour or so," Cody snaps at her.
Otis leans back, crossing his arms like he's trying to shield himself from flying debris. "Let’s just cool it for a minute, yeah? Before someone throws a punch."
"Let’s cool it," Cody repeats, his nostrils flaring.
“Cody, we agreed to try.” Norrie stands up from the chair he’s been sitting on. Nodding at me, he motions for me to get my guitar out. “We must succeed. Egos aside.”
I walk over to the workbench, set my guitar case down and pop it open. All eyes are on me as I pull out my instrument and run my fingers along the fretboard, testing how she feels.
I start a riff
"Keep it simple." Norrie instructs.
Otis and Ruby follow my lead. Cody stands there, and for a second, I think he's going to grab his guitar and storm out.
It’s in that moment I realize how much I want this to work. Not just for the chance to play but for my relationship with my brother.
Cody finally picks up his guitar, and staring daggers at me starts to play.
Otis’ drumming gets tighter, more intense. He hits thesnare hard, like he's putting his whole weight behind it, and I feel him locking into my rhythm, pulling Cody in with him. Ruby’s carefully chosen notes on her keyboard mix perfectly while Norrie’s voice, gravelly and strong, melts into the wall of sound.
“Your words still echo in my head
Like bullets fired, all full of lead
I gave you truth, you gave me pain
Now I'm baptized in the rain
The silence screams your name so loud
I wear regret just like a shroud
But this soul you left for dead
Is rising up instead.”
"Yeah, like that," I call over the music.
