“It’s a beauty, I’ll say that much,” Twila said, as she leaned against the counter. “And it has history, too. All the items in my store do.”
“Beggin’ your pardon, ma’am, but what exactly do you mean by that?”
Humor played on Twila’s face. “Every object in this store has a story behind it, like where it came from, who its last owner was, and what brought the piece into my possession. This comb dates back to the 1930’s. I haven’t had it long, so I’ve failed to research the complete history. However, I do know there is a legend attached to it.”
While Cassie may not be much of a history buff, she did love legends and lore. Hearing Twila’s explanation only furthered her curiosity. “What kind of legend?”
Still leaning on her elbows, Twila glanced back to the hair comb in Cassie’s hands. “Well, you see, these are camellia flowers. Legend has it that when a camellia flower is in a person’s possession, it will awaken his or her soul. Once the soul is awake, it longs for its true half.”
“True half?” Cassie stifled a laugh. Twila wholeheartedly believed in what she was saying. The way her eyes glistened in the light said as much.
“Yes, sugar. A true half—the soul’s counterpart.”
“So according to legend, if I wear this hair comb, I’ll find my, uh, soul’s counterpart?”
“That’s correct.”
The urge to laugh tickled Cassie’s chest. She should hand the comb back to Twila and head for home. The top of the hour was approaching and she’d wasted enough time inside the antique store waiting on Ally’s mother. She didn’t have time for silly legends or notions, and she sure didn’t have time to waste pining over a man.
Yet the more she gazed at the comb, the harder it was to give it back.
“So what do you think? Shall I wrap it for you?”
Why not? Wasn’t I just bitching earlier about needing a hair clip?
Flashing Twila her sweetest southern-belle smile, Cassie shook her head and opened her purse. “No, ma’am. I think I’ll wear it. I have to do something with this mop atop my head.”
A chuckle slipped past the woman’s lips as she rang up the purchase. Cassie wanted to kick herself for not asking the price before hand. Weren’t antique items expensive?
Screw it. It wasn’t like she was poor. She wasn’t rich either, but she’d spent more money on her ex than what she would the comb. Besides, Twila was right. She hadn’t done anything for herself in a long time. Not something like this.
At least she could leave once she paid for her purchase. There would still be plenty of time to do laundry and get ready before meeting Ally. Tonight was going to be so much fun. And who knew. If she wore the hair comb, maybe she’d run into her soul’s counterpart…
Yeah right. This was one legend she’d most definitely debunk.
* * *
The words Call Ended populated the screen on Theo’s cell phone as he stared in silence. A dull thump formed behind his temples, forcing him to close his eyes and press his thumb and middle finger to the sides of his head.
This could not be happening. Not tonight. Not three hours before their gig at Midnight Blues nightclub.
Funny how a similar thought crossed his mind years ago, when he and Parker Pearson got into a fistfight their senior year. Unlike that day, he wasn’t in the middle of a fight or missing an opportunity to get his band noticed. They’d been noticed, which is why he was back in Savannah, experiencing déjà vu.
“Goddammit, Jeff,” he mumbled under his breath. All he needed was for his brother to hear him and start asking questions. Though he knew he had to tell Jonah what happened, the thought of explaining the details had him gritting his teeth.
This wouldn’t be a tea and cookie conversation. This would be an argument full of sarcasm, hostility, and guilt trips. Whoever slung the most shit would win.
Shifting his eyes across the walls of Jonah’s hotel suite, he observed the empty hallway, feeling a sense of relief. Jonah was nowhere in sight. Good. If his brother hadn’t heard his phone call with Jeff, then there was still time to form a backup plan.
While Theo empathized with Jeff’s current situation, he couldn’t afford to lose his lead guitarist on such short notice. Not even for a night.
He promised Jonah that he and the guys would be ready for their recording session next week. They had to be. If Jonah hadn’t offered his help, Southern Scandal wouldn’t hit the studio for at least six months. Didn’t Jeff understand how grateful they should be?
The sooner they produced an album, the faster Theo would live his dream—to sing and play his guitar before millions of people, to have the songs he wrote played across the airways, to be able to look his father in the eye and say, ‘I made it, even though you doubted me’.
Jeff wanted this opportunity just as much. So did Jesse and Allen, but the driving force behind his bass guitarist and drummer differed from that of his lead guitarist. Jesse and Allen wanted the babes. Jeff wanted to support his girl and the baby boy she carried inside her.
Ironically, it was his motivation that kept him from his duties this evening.
Though he wanted to be pissed with his friend, he couldn’t be. At least Jeff was being a man and taking care of his responsibilities. Besides, it wasn’t his fault that his girlfriend had health issues that created complications with her pregnancy. Jeff was worried about her and his son. Theo would feel the same if he…
He laughed off the thought of him having a steady girl or a kid. Maybe he’d have both someday, but not now. Relationships slowed people down. They caused plans to change and dreams to be abandoned. No way was he giving up on his, especially when he was this close to getting everything he wanted. There was no woman in the world worth that type of sacrifice.
Well, maybe…
No. Not even her. Besides, that was years ago. The thing he had for her was just as dead and buried as the hope he had to be with her one day. Yet being back home brought those feelings to the surface. Did it do the same to Jonah? It was this same damn town where he lost his hope as well.
Of course, Jonah chose to let Ally go, but it wasn’t really his choice. It was one he was told would be best, thanks to Paula Jacobs. Old biddy. She should have kept her drunk ass out of her daughter’s business and allowed her to make her own choices.
Ally would have remained in Savannah if she’d known how his brother really felt. Guess that was old news now. There was no point in thinking about the past. He’d just lost his guitarist for the evening. He sure as hell didn’t need this type of distraction, didn’t need to think about Jonah and Ally and…her. She was definitely a distraction, one that caused his groin to throb.
Damn! He needed to stop thinking about—
“Everything okay?”
The sound of his brother’s voice brought him back to the present and the not so pleasant conversation they were about to have. Thankfully, it removed the images in his mind and squelched the desire that had his dick getting hard.
Just as well. There was no sense in wasting an erection when there would be plenty of honeys ready to satisfy him after the show. Hard to believe Southern Scandal already had fans. Not just any fans, but those who were anxious to drop their panties and wrap their legs around his waist.
“Hello?” Jonah grumbled from the hall. “Earth to Theo. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah…I mean no. Well, yes and no.”
He didn’t miss the confusion knitting his brother’s brow or the gruff sound it produced in his voice. “Come again?”
“How much do you love me, big bro?”
All the tension in Jonah’s shoulders faded as they dipped lower. He leaned his weight against the corner closest to the wet bar. “Well, I guess I have my answer. Everything is not okay. What’s going on, Theo?”
Fuck… Here it comes.
“I need you to do me a huge favor.”
The scowl hadn’t left Jonah’s face, but he kept his voice steady when he asked, “What type of favor???
?
Theo forced himself to swallow.
“Remember those mad guitar skills you buried a few years ago?” He paused when he noticed Jonah’s eyes narrow. It was now or never. “How would you feel about digging them up and putting them to use? Your little bro needs a guitarist for the evening.”
Jonah snorted. Then a flurry of curse words followed.
CHAPTER TWO
Theo dug his hands in his back pockets and waited for his brother to answer, but short of a snort, Jonah remained by the wet bar, eyes closed, breath steady. Either he was in complete shock over what Theo asked him, or he was on the verge of saying—
“I can’t.” The words rolled off his big brother’s lips just before he pressed them into a thin line.
“Can’t…or won’t?”
Pushing off the wall, Jonah moved toward the sofa where Theo was standing. “Why the hell are you asking me this anyway? What aren’t you telling me?”
Now came the fun part. The explanation. The confrontation. And hopefully, the resolution. “I just got off the phone with Jeff. He can’t perform tonight.”
Jonah’s nostrils flared as he shook his head. “Why not?”
“Stacy’s blood pressure spiked and she started having contractions. They’ve been at the ER since noon. She’s stable, and the contractions have stopped, but she’s all freaked now. Jeff doesn’t want to leave her because he’s afraid she’ll stress and relapse.”
“Christ,” Jonah grumbled. He looked as though he wanted to rant about Jeff’s situation, yet doing so would make him appear heartless. His brother might be a prick to him every now and then, but he’d never been cruel to a woman.
Then again, the moment Ally moved away, Jonah changed. He didn’t have the same compassion he had when she was around. Guess it was easier to turn off his emotions to everyone than to be haunted by a bad decision he’d made.
“Come on, bro. Will you help me out?”
Pursing his lips, Jonah was about to respond but shook his head instead. He didn’t give Theo a chance to object before he turned into the hallway and disappeared. It was hard to say if he was avoiding the conversation or if he was too overwhelmed to think.
Then again, maybe he was avoiding the urge to punch Theo. There was nothing like a last minute change before a set, and Jonah had a right to be frustrated. Theo hadn’t forgotten the similar instances that happened in New Orleans.
Despite not knowing Jonah’s exact state of mind, Theo wasn’t backing down. He couldn’t. Not if it delayed him from achieving his goals. Jonah set this whole thing up. He was the one who insisted they do this gig before hitting the studio. If he thought they needed the practice, why wouldn’t he help?
As much as he didn’t want this to blow up into a wicked fight, he couldn’t accept his brother’s refusal. After a few quick strides across the sitting room, he moved into the hall, working his way to the bedroom. When he reached the doorway, he noticed his brother standing near the foot of the bed.
Jonah unzipped the suitcase sitting atop the mattress and opened the cover. While he busied himself with the items strung across the bed, Theo caught a glimpse of the shirts already inside. Guess his brother had been packing before he showed up.
Great. As if he didn’t feel bad enough asking for Jonah’s help, now he was keeping his brother from doing what he needed.
A high-pitched chirp came from his brother’s phone, but he ignored it and tossed socks in his suitcase. Did Jonah plan to ignore him, too? His brother should know better than to try. He would bug him until Jonah had no other choice than to speak to him, just like when they were younger.
Clearing his throat, he waited for Jonah to acknowledge him, but his brother didn’t turn around. He continued stuffing his suitcase, adding his shaving kit next. The tension between them built with every silent second, and when it finally ended, it wasn’t with the words he wanted to hear.
“Sorry, Theo. I can’t do it. My flight leaves in three hours.”
“So what?” he grumbled. “Fly back tomorrow instead.”
If that was the only excuse Jonah had, this battle was won. Though he didn’t like guilting his brother into doing things for him, desperation had a way of making the most virtuous person do contemptible things. Theo’s merits were already sketchy.
Before he could continue hounding Jonah, his brother released a sigh. “I haven’t played in a solid year. This isn’t about rearranging my schedule. It’s about you finding the right guy. Somebody with talent.”
When Jonah peered in his direction, he clenched his jaw and fought the urge to yell his next response. “You can sell that bullshit somewhere else, Jonah.” He folded his arms as he leaned against the doorway. “Tell me you won’t, but don’t tell me you can’t. We both know better than that.”
His brother didn’t respond, so they stood there, exchanging disgruntled glares. He couldn’t believe Jonah was being so stubborn. It was only two days ago when he offered to cancel his trip home to L.A. He was only supposed to be gone for three days anyway. Something else was going on with him.
The longer Theo thought about it, the more frustrated he grew. He moved forward with hesitant steps but kept his eyes locked on Jonah. His brother gawked at him, at least until his phone beeped again. The sound drew his attention toward the nightstand and what Theo assumed to be a text.
Jonah reached for his phone. “See.” His voice rose as he grabbed the phone and shook it in Theo’s direction. “I have other shit to take care of. I can’t stay.”
Theo drew his brows tighter and advanced on his brother. Wasn’t family supposed to come first? He remembered making that promise to Jonah years ago. Had his brother forgotten the one he made in return?
“You lined this gig up months ago. Convinced me how important it was to prepare for our album recording. You should be responsible for finding a replacement!”
His voice cracked as he hit a higher pitch, and just as quickly as his temper erupted, it diffused. He didn’t have the right to blame his brother, and he sure didn’t need to hurt his vocal chords before singing. If he wanted to get through to Jonah, he’d have to do the one thing he hated—admit he needed help.
“Jonah…I wouldn’t be asking if Jeff could make it, or if we had anyone else.”
The next round of silence dispelled his confidence. He should have known better than to think this battle was won. Then again, he hadn’t counted on something else weighing on his brother’s mind.
Time was running out. If Jonah ended up coming through, he’d need to warm up. It was hard to say how long that would take if he hadn’t played in a year. Guess his sound-producing job gave him little free time. Judging by the way his brother turned and stared at his suitcase, it didn’t matter anyway. He was determined to leave.
“Jeff won’t be ready for the recording if he doesn’t show. Why ask for my advice if you guys aren’t going to follow it? A freaked-out girlfriend is a piss-poor excuse to cancel, if you ask me.”
“Doesn’t change the fact that he had to though. For Christ’s sake, she’s pregnant, Jonah. Jeff has a whole mess to deal with. I ain’t touching it, and it shouldn’t matter. Where the hell is your heart?”
“It’s where I left it. Buried at the train station.”
The top of the suitcase flopped closed. Had it been a door, it would have been slammed shut because Jonah’s ridged stance hinted at his frustration. Guess coming back to Savannah drudged up the same feelings for him as it did Theo, regardless if it was over different women. Of course it did. Jonah loved Ally. Had Paula Jacobs not made her threats, things would have been different.
Shaking the thoughts from his head, Theo stepped backwards and gripped the edge of the dresser. “How long you gonna live in the past, Jonah? You’re not responsible for what happened.”
“No, I’m only responsible for letting her leave with the wrong impression.”
It wasn’t like Jonah left Ally willingly, but his brother did a damn good job convincing her otherwise. Her
mother left him with little choice. Had it been Theo, he wouldn’t have let anything stop him, would have told the girl he cared about that she was the one…
Yeah right. Lying was easy. Believing the lie, not so much. He was as big a coward as his brother back then. By the time they both shoved away their fears, it was too late.
“You thought you were doing the right thing. Why don’t you try looking her up? See what she’s—”
“Don’t go there, Theo. You can’t cross burnt bridges.”
Jonah tugged on the suitcase handle and set the wheels on the carpet. It made the lump in Theo’s throat thicken. His dilemma wasn’t a priority for Jonah. Escaping painful memories was.
Yet before he could accept defeat, Jonah refaced him. “Okay, I give. How long’s the set?”
It was as if a light was shining down from heaven and angels were singing in the distance. The glorious moment had Theo clapping his hands and pointing finger guns at Jonah. “Ten songs, big bro. You will not be sorry. I think this is the distraction you need. Wait ‘til you see the Friday night crowd this joint gets. Bodies packing the floor, ready to dance. Honeys at our feet, just dripping for a chance.” He pointed skyward and chuckled. “Hey, that’s not bad.”
Not giving his brother another thought, he rushed out of the room, determined to find a pen and paper. If he wasn’t mistaken, there was a pad and pen in the sitting room with the hotel logo printed on both. He didn’t need much, just something to jot down the lyrics forming in his head. Inspiration had bad timing.
At least Jonah came through for him. It would do them some good to play together. He couldn’t remember the last time they hung out or had fun. Probably in New Orleans, before Jonah accepted a job offer to be a sound producer in L.A.
What a night that had been, a drunken night of music, booze, and women, Theo’s three favorite things. Combine the three, like they did that night, and it guaranteed a two-day hangover. If Jonah let loose once he started playing, Theo didn’t doubt they’d have a repeat performance.