Free Nocturnes by Kendall Grey Page A

alone.
    A full minute of silence fills the icy air between us. Toombs rises from his seat. “I saw your mom and dad for a few minutes. They asked about you.”
    I nod. Our parents are next-door neighbors, so this is no surprise.
    Toombs’s silvery gaze hits mine head on. “Thanks for getting Jinx’s mom a job at your dad’s bank.”
    Toombs never thanks anyone for anything, so I’m a little surprised he mentioned it. He doesn’t wait for me to reply. Just shuffles out of the kitchen toward the steps.
    As I watch him go, lyrics to a song form inside my head.
    You fixed me
    I broke you
    Same old story
    Nothing new
    I’m poison
    Body so numb
    Heart bled dry
    No longer recognize
    The stranger I’ve become
    Without you
    I don’t have a clue
    Don’t know what to do
    Without you
    A few moments later, I mount the stairs and return to my room. I haven’t written anything in my notebook for days, but now seems as good a time as any to get back into the habit. I jot down the words. When I finish, I sit on the bed and thumb through the wrinkled, stained pages. The lyrics, doodles, song ideas, and rhythms within date back to 2007. Some of it makes me smile, but mostly it hurts. Every single fucking line in here is about goddamn Toombs.
    That’s going to change.
    I toss the notebook onto the dresser and pick up my phone. My mom answers after a couple rings. Her craggy voice tells me I woke her up.
    “Hi, Rax. How you doing, hon?”
    “I need money, that’s how I’m doing.” I follow up with a laugh in hopes of charming the cash out of her. Being the only begotten son to a community bank owner and a professional layabout who’s BFFs with Zoe Zoloft, Penny Prozac, and Veronica Vicodin has its advantages.
    She sighs. “Your father said no more money. You’re cut off.”
    “What? Oh, come on. I need it to buy—” I glance around until my gaze hits the Fender resting against the red wall “—a new guitar. I broke mine.”
    “I want to help. I really do, but he’ll kill me if he finds out I sent you more.”
    “Tell him you need a new pair of shoes. I won’t ask again after this. I swear.”
    “This is the fifth time you’ve called since you left on your tour. And the fifth time you’ve needed money.” She pauses, the accusation weighing down our connection—both the phone and emotional varieties.
    “Mom, please. You know I love you. Help me out just this once?” I fine-tune my tone to desperate pleading and cross my fingers. “It’s only a thousand bucks.”
    “Rax, this is it. I’ll wire you a thousand, but after this, you’re on your own. I mean it.” Irritation frosts her voice.
    Of course she means it. Just like she meant it the four times before.
    Score. “Thanks. I promise. Never again.” Until I run out of money in a few more days.
    She exhales heavily. “How’s recording going? You getting a lot of work done?”
    “Oh yeah. Tons. Working hard every day.” I shake my head and roll my eyes.
    “I saw Toombs on Sunday. He said you two had some sort of a falling out.”
    My turn to exhale. “Yeah.”
    “I won’t get in your business, but you’ve been friends since you were little kids. I hope you can get past whatever came between you.”
    I doubt it. Jinx isn’t going anywhere. “I’m sure we will.”
    “Friendships like yours are rare. Don’t let something silly destroy what you spent years building.”
    “It’s no biggie,” I lie. “We’ll work it out.”
    “Okay.” The word is neutral. Her tone is argumentative. She doesn’t believe me. “Text me your details, and I’ll send the money when I get out of bed.”
    “Thanks, Mom.”
    “I love you, Rax.”
    “Yep. Later.” I end the call.
    I’ll work out this shit with Toombs, all right. I’ll work it out all over Lola’s naked body. My mayorship in Pussyville has officially reached the end of its term. I’m now a man on a mission. It’s time to engage in some reckless, inappropriate behavior with a hot slut. I’ve