Love Evolution (9 page)

Avery sighed, relieved that he
’
d let it go. She took a few bites of the Japa Dog she
’
d smothered with chili, mustard and onions. Pointing to Marcus
’
Japa Dog selection, she made a face.
“
How
’
s yours?
”

“
It
’
s ok,
”
he said, noncommittally.

“
You don
’
t like it, do you?
”

“
No. You
’
re right. It
’
s gross.
”
He barked out a laugh.

“
Well, duh. I could have told you that. Toasted fish flakes on a hot dog. That is so disgusting.
”

“
Hey, the guy said that
’
s the way locals eat it.
”

“
Whatevs
.
Next time you order a dog, ask a New Yorker. By the way, no one eats a hot dog with a fork,
”
she said with her lip curled and a teasing shove.

Marcus pushed Avery back, grinning.
“
At least I won
’
t have onion breath from hell. How do you ever expect to get a girlfriend eating crap like that?
”

‘
Like I would want that to happen,
’
she thought.
‘
Maybe I should ask for extra onions.
’
While they were eating, Avery noticed a young teenage girl wearing a Brutal Strength t-shirt coming towards them.

The girl tapped Marcus on the shoulder.
“
Hey, aren
’
t you Marcus Anthony from Brutal Strength?
”
she asked, shyly.

Marcus tensed but turned around with a polite smile.
“
Yes, can I help you?
”

“
I really love your music. Could I have your autograph?
”

“
Sure.
”
He nodded and signed her notebook with the pen she provided. Thanking him profusely
,  the
girl turned and walked away. Marcus let out a shaky sigh. 

“
Why do you look so freaked out, Marcus?
”
Avery asked, with a puzzled expression on her face.

“
One fan, I don
’
t mind,
”
he told her.
“
But sometimes,
”
he looked around uneasily,
“
it can snowball and get out of hand real fast.
”

“
Sounds like you say that from personal experience.
”
 

“
Yeah, unfortunately, I got this,
”
he showed Avery the scar on the back of his hand,
“
in a mall last year in Dallas. I had to have stitches afterward.
”

“
No way,
”
she said, shaking her head in disbelief.

“
That
’
s why my dad
’
s been pressuring me to get a full time security guard, a more formal permanent thing than what I have Ray doing now. But if I do that, I can just kiss away having any type of normal life, you know?
”

Before she could respond, his Mercedes pulled up.
“
Oh, here
’
s Ray.
I texted him earlier to let him know where we were.
”
Suddenly, he leaned in close, his face an inch away from hers, and sniffed.

Avery
’
s heart thumped wildly while she wondered,
‘
What the heck?
’

“
Whew! Dragon breath,
”
he pronounced with an exaggerated cough, waving his hand in front of his face. Anticipating retaliation, Marcus jogged backward toward his ride.
“
Later, stinky!
”

By the time Avery snapped out of her Marcus- induced stupor, he was already in the car and it was pulling away from the curb.

CHAPTER 10

Exiting Marcus
’
elevator that evening, Avery went straight up to where he stood in the foyer and punched him in the shoulder.

He staggered back, making a big production of pretending to be hurt.
“
Is that the best you
’
ve got?
”
He straightened up, smiling.
“
Don
’
t tell me you
’
re still sore about earlier?
”

She shook her head, smirking.
“
No, I'm good now.
”
Twisting the hem of her shirt, she followed him into the living room.
“
I put some overdubs on
‘
Brothers
’
this afternoon. Did you get a chance to hear them?
”

“
I did. I think they sound fantastic.
”

Avery scrunched her face up.
“
It
’
s so tedious to play the exact same part over and over again, but I really like the fuller sound it brings out.
”

Marcus nodded.
“
Come into the kitchen and I
’
ll make some tea. I really want to hear about your song.
”

Once Avery had the warm mug in her hands, they moved back into the living room and sat down across from each other. Avery
’
s knee started bouncing up and down. Marcus looked pointedly at her.
“
Hey, stop that,
”
he ordered.
“
Don
’
t be nervous. I
’
m sure it
’
s good, so don
’
t worry. If it
’
s not something I think is right for the album, trust me, I
’
ll tell you. Let
’
s always be honest with each other. I
’
ve got more than enough people around who blow smoke up my ass.
”

Inwardly Avery cringed, but she just gave him a nod. She unpacked her guitar and pulled out her journal, flipping through the pages.

Marcus noticed the worn binding, and that the pages were filled with poems and sketches.
“
You draw too?
”

“
Just a little,
”
she shrugged apologetically, emerald eyes connecting with his.
“
Justin always told me this song was too sappy to use.
”

“
Let me be the judge of that, Avery. Maybe it was just too emotional of a thing for him to deal with.
”

“
Maybe you
’
re right,
”
she conceded, laying her notebook on the glass coffee table and pulling her guitar onto her lap.
“
He also said the chord progression is too simple and sounds too much like Aerosmith
’
s
‘
Dream On
’…”
She trailed off as she started playing the sweet melody, singing the words with her voice lowered to a whisper
…

Ages since I saw your face

My tears fill the empty space

Details that I can
’
t recall

Afraid I
’
m
gonna
lose them all

Mom, while memories fade, your songs reveal

Our love remains, my heart will heal

A box of music I keep close

For when I need your presence most

Mystery it holds for me

What
’
s inside brings clarity

Mom, while memories fade, your songs reveal

Our love remains, my heart will heal

Though I sing each out of my despair

Deep inside I know you
’
re there

Words unlock each memory

Your warmth, your smile returns to me

Silence filled the apartment when she finished.  Avery shifted around self-consciously on the sectional, anxious to find out what Marcus thought.

Marcus exhaled slowly and said in an awed voice,
“
Whoa.
”
He
’
d felt the longing and sadness Avery had projected as if it were his own. Marcus was beginning to think Justin must have been an idiot.
“
Avery, songs like these are the reason I do what I do.
”

She nodded, knowing exactly what he meant.

“
And you have to be the one to sing it on the album.
”

“
Oh, no, no, no.
”
She shook her head reluctantly, always uncomfortable being the center of attention on stage.  Justin had never pushed her to do anything more than backup vocals.

“
Listen,
”
he said, putting his hands firmly on her shoulders for emphasis,
“
I can
’
t even sing in that key. Besides that, you have a great voice, Ace.
”

She grinned, pleased by the compliment, and the fact that their relationship had progressed to the nickname stage.

“
I am more than happy, being the prima donna I am,
”
he continued, dimple peeking out,
“
to sing lead most of the time, but this is your song, for your mom, ok?
”
He sat back, waiting patiently for her to agree.

She closed her eyes for a moment, hesitant. But she wanted to do this to honor her mother
’
s memory, and Marcus seemed to believe she was capable of doing it. Opening her eyes, Avery nodded in agreement.

“
The song
’
s great as it is, but
…”
He stood up and motioned for her to follow.
“
Bring your stuff. I want to show you something.
”

Avery followed him down the hall to the studio, finding herself captivated by the view of his back side. Her gaze slid down appreciatively from his broad shoulders to his long legs. Her cheeks warmed. The man sure looked great in his jeans. The denim was a perfect showcase for his narrow hips, long legs, and enticing rear end.

Lost in her reverie, she almost ran into him when he unexpectedly stopped in the studio doorway. Fortunately, she avoided a collision by stutter-stepping to the side. Avery ducked her head to hide her flaming cheeks from view, and brushed quickly past him to enter the studio. Crossing to the back wall, she gently set down her guitar on one of the stands. When she turned
back around, Marcus had already taken a seat at the piano. She shook her head, wondering if there was any instrument he didn
’
t know how to play.

Motioning her over, he told her,
“
I think it might sound better if we switch over to the piano for the chorus.
”

As he demonstrated, she couldn
’
t help but be impressed by how flawlessly he duplicated the music she had just played. Leaning against the ebony Grand, she nodded.
“
Yeah, the piano definitely lends a more melancholy feel to the song.
”
Exactly what she had wanted.
“
It
’
s perfect, Marcus.
”

After a couple of hours, they were both pleased with the arrangement of the song. Marcus was one of those artists who instinctively knew where to add each additional element to a song, taking it from above average to extraordinary. He called Dalton to let him know to expect another recording, and then arranged to meet with the rest of the band at Black Cat the following afternoon to finalize it.

Marcus looked at his watch, wincing at the time.
“
I
’
ve got an early morning workout with my trainer. He
’
s
gonna
kick my butt.
”

Avery bit on her lip to keep from smiling.
‘
Mind, do not go there.
’
 

“
I
’
ll call Ray to take you home.
”

When he hung up, he grinned and clapped Avery on the back. 
“
I can
’
t believe we have two songs for the album already. I am so stoked.
”
His expression turning serious, he admitted,
“
I feel privileged to have this song on the album, Ace.  And I
’
ve got to say working with you these past few days, collaborating like we have,
”
he pointed back and forth between the two of them,
“
it
’
s been like a spiritual thing for me.
”

“
Me, too,
”
Avery managed to say, while thinking how very quickly their relationship had become that and so much more to her.