Pleasure in the Rain by Cooper Inglath

Author:Cooper, Inglath [Cooper, Inglath]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fence Free Entertainment, LLC
Published: 2013-12-16T07:00:00+00:00

♪

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

Holden

Thomas and I are standing in a circle, talking with some people who work at the label. Case walks up and steps into the group. He makes small talk with the ones he obviously knows, then looks at me, saying, “Have you got a minute, Holden?”

“Ah, sure,” I say. Thomas raises an eyebrow at me. I have to admit I’m wondering what this is about.

Case leads the way. I follow him through the foyer and out the main door of the house. It’s dark now, and the lights shining out from the windows throw shadows across the huge old boxwoods. We follow a rock walkway to a bench where Case sits down. I take the spot beside him. His phone buzzes. He pulls it from his pocket, turns off the volume and then sticks it back again.

“How you doin’, Holden?” he asks.

“Fine,” I say. “How about you?”

“Some good days. Some bad days,” he admits.

“I can’t imagine how hard it’s been.”

“Holden, you were as much a victim as any of us.”

I start to reply, but not knowing what to say, I just nod once.

“Are you and CeCe seeing each other?”

His question surprises me, and at first, I’m not sure how to answer. “No, we’re not,” I finally say.

“Why?”

“I don’t really know the answer to that.”

“Is it because of Beck?”

“I think it’s really just everything that happened. I guess it’s been more than any of us could make sense of.”

“Here’s the thing, son. Life’s short. We hear it all our lives, but none of us really get it until we lose someone precious to us. We don’t get a second go around. If I didn’t know that before, I know it now.”

I nod once, not trusting my voice to respond.

“Her mama’s worried about her,” Case says then. “I told her I would speak to you. Neither one of us wants to overstep our bounds, but here’s how I see it. A whole lot of things got broken that night. Whatever it is that you and CeCe have, that doesn’t need to be one of them.”

I consider this for a few moments and then say, “To be honest with you, Case, I’m not sure I have a lot of say in that.”

“If you want her bad enough, then I guess you’re gonna have to be willing to fight for her, son. Even if she’s the person you’re fighting.”

“You’re a good man, Case. I hope people tell you that a lot.”

“Got a lot of sins to make up for,” he says with a half-smile.

He stands then. “I’d better let you get back to the party. They’ll be wondering where you are.”

I stand and stick my hand out, “Thanks, Case. I mean it. For everything. You’ve been incredible to us. We wouldn’t be here tonight if it weren’t for you.”

“Don’t sell yourself short. Real talent will always find its way to the top. You three have definitely got that.”

“That means everything coming from you.”

We walk back inside, and just as we step through the door, I see CeCe talking with Michael Parker.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.