Page 119 of Say It Again
“Uh, you know I have a life outside of Daniel, right?”
“Sure, sure, sure.” He couldn’t picture such a thing. “Do you know where he is?”
Clanging sounded. “What?”
“Daniel,” he said louder. “Do you know where he is?”
“I can’t hear you.”
“Dan—! Can you get somewhere quieter?”
“Ugh, hold on.” A full minute later, a door creaked, and it was suddenly much calmer on the other end. “Okay. What now?”
“Where are you?”
“Your brother’s house.”
He flicked his gaze upward as she snickered.
“Should I tell him to keep it down?” More snickering. “He’s just struggling to contain himself. Must be all the rhapsody.”
“Hilarious.”
“Oh, I’m just kidding, silly willy,” she said, and he could almost see the hand swat as she chuckled at herself. “You silly willy man. I’m at a rave.”
“What?” He squinted. “What year is it? Who goes—? Never mind. Do you know where Daniel is?”
“At the studio. You’re not with him? Thought you’d be helping him celebrate.”
“Celebrate?” His heart lurched a bit. “What’s he celebrating?”
“The loan for the studio, silly. You silly willy.”
Aaron opened his mouth and started to speak, but nothing came out. Instead, a soft smile lifted his lips. “He got the loan?” Well, congratulations, kid.
“Yeah, how do you not know that? And why aren’t you with him? I couldn’t really hear him when he was talking about you. I figured you were there.”
“I’m about to be there.” He nodded at a lamppost. “I’m not going to let him go. I can’t. I’d rather be broke.”
She didn’t respond for a long time. Then she finally said, “Okay. You guys really are a couple of weirdos. You’re lucky you’re both so hot—”
He was already ending the call. Already sprinting down the street.
Ten minutes later, he staggered to a stop outside of the studio. He’d only ever picked Daniel up from the sidewalk. He’d never been inside. It was mostly dark in there as he hooded his hands around his eyes and peered in.
He checked the handle, and to his shock, the door was open. A ding sounded as he pulled it open, and Daniel’s voice called from somewhere in the back, “Madeline? That you? Hold on, I’ll be right there.”
Aaron’s heart rate spiked as he stepped inside. It was an old building with partially exposed brick that’d been painted black and white. It had that feel some old buildings had. Like it’d been designed with care and constructed with love. It was so Daniel in that way.
The lights flicked on, and Daniel came ambling from the back. Not chipper. But not sullen either. He halted when he laid eyes on Aaron, his hint of a smile instantly dying.
They stood in a harsh stare-off that Aaron struggled to soften all on his own. He wasn’t typically the soft one. All he could do was try. “Hi.”
Daniel’s face twitched, but he didn’t respond.
“So, this is the studio, huh?” He squatted down to angle his head at the hardwoods. “Maple? Nice.”
Daniel didn’t speak.