Page 67 of Beautiful Noise
I pushed the memories back into their respective places and accepted the guitar he all but shoved into my chest.
“Yeah, I can do that. You sure you want my name on here.” I flashed a smile and he nodded.
“You got it. What’s your name?”
“Jones. Jefferson Jones but I go by Jones.” He removed a marker from his pocket, yanked the cap off, and held it up.
I accepted, scribbled out a short message and my name, then handed the marker back so I could fully examine the guitar. “This is clean. You play?”
“For a couple years now. Nothing major. I play with a band. I just got this one a couple months ago.”
“I started my career with one of these.”
“I know, it’s why I got this one. I’m a huge fan. Cost me more than I could afford but it felt right.”
I nodded and strummed my fingers across the strings. He was likely gonna sell this now that my name was on it but he wouldn’t be the first or the last. I was used to the process. I gripped the neck and extended the guitar back in his direction but he didn’t move. His eyes bounced around briefly while his shoulders tensed and I sensed the bullshit coming.
“Would you mind, I know I probably shouldn’t ask, but if you could play something on this, you know like blessing me with your skilled hands… You know what, never mind. Thanks for signing.” He reached to accept the guitar but I pulled back. Something in me shifted and I felt my father’s presence.
Never allow yourself to be bigger than the music or out of touch with those that appreciate the music.
The memory of his words made my heart clench but I received his message.
“I can do that. It’s been a minute since I’ve had my hands on one of these.” The kid’s face lit up.
I positioned the sleek wood in my arms and flexed my fingers a few times before I began a random melody. I let inspiration guide me and within seconds we had an audience. Leijah ended up beside me and Kori across from me while lyrics blended with the melody I was playing.
Every laugh, every sigh, pulls me deeper still,
Like a river, I’m flowing, against my own will.
Thought I had it planned, but you turned the tide,
Now I’m falling into you, can’t run, can’t hide.
Her eyes narrowed and her lips parted like she was seconds from shutting me down but then a soft smile surfaced and her eyes darted around the room, no doubt gauging the reactions toher words. When Leijah joined in, adding her soft, soulful voice, Kori’s smile took over her entire face.
Leijah winked just before we fell into a harmony then I faded into the background, allowing Leijah’s voice to take the lead. There were phones in hands which meant the moment was going to go viral. Anyone familiar with Kori’s site would know Leijah and I were singing her words. The assumptions would begin flying.
This hadn’t been my intention but by the time the song was done, two things were certain, not only was Leijah convinced that she’d made the right decision about Kori but Kori was buying into it too.
The applause and shouts of appreciation were deafening, from the hundred or so people here, but I had tuned them out with my eyes on the woman in question until I heard the kid next to me.
“Do you know what you just did for me?”
“Yeah I do and you better not sell this.” I returned the guitar to its rightful owner and this time he accepted.
“There’s no way I’m selling this. Hell, I’m gonna marry the damn thing after what you just did.”
I chuckled and offered a nod of appreciation. “You have big shoes to fill. Don’t fuck this up.”
“No pressure, right?”
“Nah, none at all.” The kid left and I grabbed Kori’s hand, then paused to address Leijah. “We’re going to head out. If that’s alright with you?”
“You can do whatever you want after that little performance. I think you just made me and that guitar famous.”
“Maybe that guitar, but you already had your shine, Lei. I’ll see you in Dallas.”