Layla Dorine - Guitars and Choices

Guitars and Choices

Layla Dorine

Published by

Desolate Press

Osage, IA 50461

This Book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, duplicated, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publishers prior written consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Guitars and Choices

Copyright 2017 by Layla Dorine

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are

either the products of the authors imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Cover Artist: Rue Volley

Edited by: Candi Coen

Crossfactor Editing Services

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by

any means without written permission of the author.

Chapter 1

Tag! Rory yelled, smacking his uncles arm and running away. Youre it!

Asher lunged at the little boy but couldnt catch him, so he chased Alexia instead. They ran around an oak, scaring a squirrel up the tree. Conner stuck his tongue out, so Asher changed direction and chased him past the grill where Morgan stood cooking and watching them all play.

Tag! Asher gasped as he tackled Conner, the pair rolling along the ground.

Conner ended up on top, tickling a squirming Asher.

Now youre it again, Conner yelled as he took off, laughing.

Asher lay in the leaves and watched them all huddle and conspire against him. Morgan, he whined. Theyre ganging up on me.

No fair tattling! Rory declared from across the field.

Morgan chuckled. Guess youd better do less whining and more chasing.

Asher rolled back to his feet and rejoined the game, laughing as he chased his sister.

***

Flipping burgers on the grill, Morgan watched the three older ones playing with the youngest, seeming as carefree as children themselves. It reminded him of Asher and Alexia when they were little, the way theyd chased each another and their dogs over the fields and hills. He smiled as he watched Alexia pick Rory up and teasingly use the boy as a shield against Asher while Conner tried to load water balloons in the drinking fountain without being seen.

Theyd come a long way in the past two weeks, and while he knew the wounds theyd suffered werent fully healed, moments like this gave him hope that one day they would be. He roared with mirth when Conner pelted Asher, Alexia, and Rory, the balloons bursting and drenching them. The trio shared conspiratorial looks and started closing in on Conner, a half-circle of menace, until Morgan bellowed, Dinner! and they all turned to race toward the grill.

The first few minutes at the table were chaos as everyone grabbed sodas from the cooler and Asher and Alexia both attempted to help Rory with his plate.

I can get it, the little boy insisted, standing on the seat to try to reach over them for the potato salad and deviled eggs.

Somewhere in all the chaos Conner had started taking pictures, and Alexia had seemingly decided to skip the meal and go straight for the fruit salad. Morgan saw Asher still, his green eyes sweeping over the field and the path and playground beyond. Though he went right back to joking with the others, Morgan hadnt missed the flash of hurt in his eyes or the way his smile seemed strained.

Dammit, Colton, Morgan thought as he carried the platter of meat to the table. Hed been hoping Cole would show up ever since Asher overheard him issue the invitation. He set the platter down, gave Ashers shoulder a gentle squeeze, and then went about filling his plate while keeping an eye on Asher.

Asher still wasnt eating well. Hed only taken a hot dog and a deviled egg, and he nibbled on them slowly. Just when Morgan was about to suggest Asher take a little more, Conner put his camera away and slid his arm around Ashers shoulders. Settling onto the seat beside him, Conner pressed his head against the side of Ashers head, whispering something Morgan could only partially make out. It was enough to get Asher to put a scoop of potato salad on his plate before Conner went about filling his own.

Smiling, Morgan dug into his food, grateful that Asher was finally connecting with someone.

***

You worry too much, Asher whispered to Conner, whose plate was piled high with a little bit of everything.

Conner chuckled. When it comes to you, I dont think thats possible.

Ha, ha, ha, Asher grumbled as he popped the tab on his soda and took a long drink. The cold felt good on his parched throat.

Rory was dismantling his cheeseburger, so Asher reached over and put it back together.

Come on, I like it that way, Rory protested.

And thats fine at home, where we can chuck you in the shower after youve covered yourself in ketchup and pickle juice. Unless you wanna take a bath in the duck pond, youll keep it all together.

Fine. Rory pouted until Alexia reached over and tousled his hair; then he was all flailing hands and squeals of protest as he tried to brush it back down.

Asher grinned. Now you look like a porcupine.

Scowling at his uncle, Rory gave up trying to fix his hair. His eyes lit up as they landed on the can of whipped cream sitting in a bowl of ice on the table. Before anyone could stop him, hed snatched it up and sprayed Asher, leaving his face a sticky mess. Silence descended over the table for half a second, before everyone cracked up.

Now you look like a, um. Rory turned to Alexia. What was that monkey we saw at the zoo?

Saki monkey, Alexia told him, nearly falling out of her chair. And you do, Asher, oh my God, I wish I had my sketchbook.

A couple of subtle clicks told him that sketchbook or no, this moment would not be soon forgotten. Asher blinked and reached up to wipe his face, only to have Conner catch his hand and stop him.

Conner ran a finger through the sticky cream on Ashers cheek, then sucked it from his finger. You make a good dessert.

Ashers eyes widened and he felt his neck flush. Suddenly it was far too warm for a fall day and his jeans were feeling too tight.

Conner smiled and dipped a paper towel in a Dixie cup of water to wipe off the remaining mess.

Now youre helpful, Asher muttered, but held still and let Conner finish cleaning him up. Not like he really wanted to move; he was waiting for his jeans to feel less restricting, shocked that such a simple act had affected him so much. Of course, it was hard for him to look at Conner at all without feeling some level of desire.

Conner dabbed Ashers face one last time with the paper towel, then backed away and returned his camera to its bag. Asher sat there lost in thought for several moments before he turned his attention back to his plate. He thought hed seen desire in Conners eyes, but he wasnt sure. They hadnt spoken about taking their friendship to another level since the night Conner had rescued him from Catfish. The only thing that had really changed was that they were spending more time together than they ever had before. Most nights Conner came to the bar after work, ate his dinner in the kitchen, and then helped Alexia fix platters of fried cheese curds and chicken wings. Sometimes he helped Asher or Morgan behind the bar, the two experienced men teaching him how to bartend. Asher had drawn the line at Conner helping to bounce; he didnt want any drunk guys taking a swing at him.

Now that the music issues had been sorted out, the bar was packed each night. Asher still played, though only once a weekironically enough, on Ladies Night, after Dalton had suggested to Morgan he should try out the concept. Provided, of course, that he didnt hold it the same night of the week as Daltons. In exchange, Asher had agreed to play at Daltons once a month, too, and according to Dalton, the ladies were almost as gaga over Asher as theyd been over Dare.