A Beat in Time by Sandrine Gasq-Dion Read Free Book Online Page B

them.
    “Yes, just yes!” Aarin bounced in his seat. “It’s perfect!”
    “I don’t think I can write about the two of us. You guys don’t understand how painful that was for me.”
    “Writing about it is therapeutic. Look at it as cleansing it from your body.”
    “Aarin is vegan, he cleanses a lot.” Mikey winked.
    “Thanks for letting me know.”
    “Just think about it, Serena.” Aarin leaned forward and smiled. “I think this story is one to be told.”
    Write about Jensen and me? That was like ripping a scab off that wasn’t ready yet. It hurt and it was painful. And now I had to see him every other day. I didn’t know if this could get any worse.
    ~*~
    It got worse.
    My tub wouldn’t drain, I had a leaky faucet, and for some reason, my microwave decided it didn’t want to work. The repairman came out and fixed the hole in my bathroom ceiling, but I was still fighting with the leaky faucet that kept me up all night with its dripping. I headed out back to the electric panel and stared at all the switches. None of them said microwave.
    Fuck.
    I flipped them all off and on and hoped like hell my microwave would start. I could cook, but these days it was microwaved meals. I didn’t have time to cook an actual meal for myself. I went back in the house and was relieved to see the microwave blinking. My phone rang and I grabbed it.
    “Hello?”
    “Ah, so you’re talking to me,” Ann said.
    “That depends. Did you set me up?”
    “With what?”
    “Jensen, Ann.”
    “Darling, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I asked around and was told he was the best.”
    “He’s my ex, Ann. You have no idea how painful it is to see him now. We broke up after dating for almost 2 years in high school.”
    “Oh my God, this is perfect! You need to write the book about the two of you! They’ll make it into a movie and Phil Collins can do the sound track! Have you ever heard that song ‘Separate Lives’ by him? That would so work for this!”
    “I think they used that in a movie already,” I deadpanned.
    “Have you started the book yet?”
    “No. I can’t come up with a single plot line.”
    “You have one. You just don’t want to use it.”
    “Ugh! Jesus. I’ll think about it. I’ll have to run it by him anyway.”
    “Just change his name.”
    “You’re the legal eagle here.”
    “I’ll take care of it. Other than that, how’s life in Flagstaff?”
    “It’s good. I’ve met some people and gotten some notes.”
    “Okay. Keep me in the loop, and Serena?”
    “Yes?”
    “Get laid please.”
    I hung up with a growl. What was with everyone and my damn sex life? Or lack of one? I had toys for fuck’s sake. They didn’t talk and they didn’t take the remote. I smiled at the thought and grabbed a microwaveable dinner.
     
    ~*~
     
    I was right on time for my first lesson and I found his studio the first time. I was so proud of myself right now. Jensen walked out the front door and my hands immediately began to sweat. I needed to get my shit together for fuck’s sake. I was a grown woman who—
    “Hey, you,” Jensen winked.
    Fuck. There went my knees.
    “You okay?” Jensen asked.
    “I’m good,” I nodded, following him into the studio.
    He opened a door in the back and I walked into a room with two drum sets side by side. Jensen handed me a folder and I opened it, eyeing its contents. Jensen took a seat and handed me ear protection.
    “Okay, so let me break this down for you,” Jensen began.
    I swore I was trying to pay attention, I really was, but listening to his voice and the way he talked with his hands, I didn’t know how much I was actually going to learn. I was so damned nervous around him and that was not like me. I had to get over whatever this was because I had a job to do and bills to pay.
    “It’s boom, chick, tap, chick.”
    “Huh?” I lifted my eyes to his.
    “Boom,” Jensen stepped on the bass pedal and I quickly put my ear protection on.
    “Chick, tap,