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Another Day in Paradise
Afraid the housekeeper would bag her up and put her in the bin, Silvia fled to the deck, determined to stay out of the woman’s way. It was her fifth day in LA, and the first time she’d insisted in staying home while Jim “went to work”, like he called it.
About to release the fourth cut of their last album, Deborah wouldn’t give him a break, and Silvia knew he wanted her by his side as much as possible. So she’d gone with him to two late-night talk shows, a radio interview that had included a short live acoustic set, three interviews with paper and online magazines. They dined out every evening, usually with Sean and Jo, and Tom and Liam hopped in now and then. Later they would go for a drink to some bar or some club, but they never stayed as late as the first night, for the club opening.
It was exhausting sometimes, and Jim was surprised she didn’t even blink every time Deborah added something to his schedule. So he didn’
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No Return What About You
Jim played good boy the whole week, letting Deborah drag him around anyway she liked, and gave her the red light on Saturday, after the signing with the Squad.“I’m taking Sunday off, to start working on the new songs with the boys on Monday.”Deborah didn’t argue, knowing she could consider herself lucky she’d been able to clear so many pending issues over the last five days. So she only reminded him about the online Q&A they had scheduled for Wednesday, and the fundraising dinner on Thursday evening.“Yeah, yeah,” Jim grunted, starting his truck.On Sunday, he and Silvia spent the whole day at his place, phones off. And she would always remember it like both an amazing and a spontaneous, natural moment between them, that helped her keep in mind how much room she found in him to be herself.“I think it’s the first time ever we’re together without a clock ticktocking over our heads,&rd
No Return The Tyrant
Sean drove to Santa Monica in the warm noon, feeling more than ready to play until dinner time nonstop. However, he couldn’t help wondering if Jim would be able to focus on their music, knowing Silvia downstairs and waiting for him. Not the musing he would’ve chosen, but it was better than wondering how many corny love songs Jim had made over those three weeks of marital bliss.He saw Tom’s car on the driveway and found the bassist had made himself at home at the porch, smoking a joint while he read something on his phone.“He’s home,” said Tom, seeing Sean’s stormy scowl as he got out of his car. “Guess he’s already upstairs, ‘cause I heard him play.”That would explain why Jim hadn’t heard the doorbell. Sean produced his spare keys and opened the front door. They’d hardly walked in when they heard Jim’s guitar pouring down the stairwell, as if he hadn’t closed the door to
No Return After Dinner
Liam and Walt joined the rehearsal on Tuesday, and the whole band spent six hours straight locked up in the attic studio. By the time they put their instruments down, Silvia had texted Jo to join them there and they had already ordered food for all of them. The musicians were tired, so they left shortly after they finished dinner.Jim was glad to see Silvia shake her head when he tried to help her in the kitchen. He would’ve liked to lay back on one of the loungers at the deck, or the living-room couch, or his bed, but he stayed sitting at the isle to keep her company, dropping by Twitterland while she put some order around.“I dated my flight today,” Silvia said out of the blue, in a carefully casual tone.“Already? What’s the rush?” he asked, chuckling at a tweet from a Polish fan.“I’m leaving on Friday, Jay.”He looked up, taken aback, to find her filling a trash bag with empty cans.
No Return Dirty Trick
Deborah hated it every time Silvia picked up Jim’s phone, leaving her no choice but to accept her words excusing him. But on Wednesday, she was glad to hear her pick up. Deborah confirmed Jim remembered the live stream scheduled for that afternoon, and smiled to herself when Silvia used the plural about being in her office in a couple of hours.She disconnected and called Ron over. Her assistant didn’t hide his disbelief as he wrote down on his phone the list of errands she needed him to run in the next ninety minutes. She didn’t give any explanation, but she was determined to turn around the unwavering negative buzz about Jim’s new chick, and the fundraising dinner the next night was an excellent chance to do it.To keep the Q&A from going on forever, only Jim, Liam and Tom would take part of it. Sam had everything set at the conference room by Deborah’s office, so the musicians would go straight there.As soon as she had the three of them sitting for makeu
No Return The Number One Fan
It took Silvia a couple of minutes to get over the relief of escaping Deborah without needing to get rude. Then she realized her savior was the last person she would’ve ever expected, and now she was alone with him in his car, while he cursed the traffic under his breath.She didn’t have the slightest idea why Sean had intervened on her behalf or where they were going, and his evident foul mood wasn’t exactly an invitation to ask anything. She hadn’t forgotten what Jim had told her about him back at her home, but whatever Sean had said to his brother was between them, and nobody was more of an outsider than her when it came to Sean.He drove toward the studios area without even glancing at her, to pull over at a narrow street outside a hidden bar. Silvia managed to not jump out the moment he stopped the car and saw him go straight to open the bar door and hold it for her, so she could only walk in.It was a small shadowy place, with a few
No Return Two Bodies
“Now you believe me?”Jim chuckled while Silvia kept shaking her head slowly, eyes out the windshield.He’d joined her and Sean at the bar by the time they were done with their beer, and his brother had left without a word, just nodding goodbye at them with one last glance at Silvia.Jim took the way to his home, hearing her incredulous account of her close encounter with the eldest Robinson.“I mean, from the moment I left you to your Q&A, it all felt like I’d stumbled on an acid and it fell down my throat, getting me lost on a bizarre trip,” she said, making him laugh. “All of a sudden I’m wearing a frigging Versace! And diamonds! What the hell! And a minute later, I’m having a beer with Sean?” She threw up her hands, feeding Jim’s laughter. “You know what’s the craziest thing of all? Seeing you walk into the bar was the most reassuring thing to
No Return Unspoken
The sun touched the bedroom window looking south about noon, waking Jim up. He threw an arm across his face to shield his eyes and felt around with his other hand. The bed was a complete mess, all the covers fallen to the floor, and he was sprawled on it flat on his back. His hand landed on Silvia’s shoulder and slid down her skin in no hurry, as he registered his sore back, his stiff thighs, the exhaustion nesting in every muscle.The night before had been just crazy.He and Silvia had a pending conversation about her promise to come back, and Jim didn’t want to leave it for long-distance communications. But looked like she didn’t want to talk about it, so every time he tried to bring it up, she managed to distract him. And after those three weeks sleeping together, she knew how to keep him distracted alright.Until he’d just given up trying to have that conversation and sought some payback for so much distraction. Which was why now he f
No Return What Lightning Needs
Jim strolled out of his closet still pulling up his old shorts, never caring about the trail of water he left behind. The bed was neatly laid with clean sheets, even though the housekeeper hadn’t arrived yet. He headed downstairs, almost enjoying his foul mood and ready to feed it on anything he found at hand.He stopped short before walking into the kitchen, where Silvia was sitting at the isle, typing on her phone while she waited for him, a cold lunch for two served before her. He saw the home-sweet-home scene and spun on his heels.She looked up, hearing his footsteps clatter up the stairs, and sighed. She could only hope Jim wouldn’t go off on her before she had any kind of answer for him.Jim didn’t stop until he reached the studio on the third floor. His eyes moved between the rack of guitars and the wall piano.He snorted. Enough of nice melodies already.He lit a joint and rummaged one of the side tables for pen and paper, to write down th
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