Still Water by A. M. Johnson Read Free Book Online

the last part. The sound system kicked back on. The first participant on stage had finished.
    I leaned in closer and watched as he did as well. A pleasant warmth filled my limbs. "Lily."
    "Lily." My name rolled effortlessly off his lips. "I like it."
    Before I had a chance to ask his name, Todd's voice broke my bubble.
     

CHAPTER SIX
    Todd
     
    T HIS IS NOT FUCKING HAPPENING RIGHT now. My jaw clenched at the sight of my best friend and Lily looking a little too close for my damn comfort.
    "What's up, Seth?" I nodded my chin in my roommate's direction. Lily leaned back when she heard my voice. She was flirting with Seth, and her cheeks were pink. I wanted to punch Seth in his damn face.
    "Hey, bro." Seth grabbed my hand and pulled me in for a hug. He placed a firm pat on my back as I did the same to him. "What's up with this open mic shit? I came here for Red Light."
    "They canceled." I watched Lily as she tried to appear unaffected by the fact I knew Seth. "Lily, I see you met Seth, my roommate?"
    "And best friend." He winked at her. He fucking winked . We needed to talk. This was not happening again.
    "Really? Todd has friends?" She smirked at me.
    I leaned over the bar, purposely getting in her personal space. "I've got lots of friends, sweetheart." I held my eyes on hers. The yellow was subdued in the dim light, and the blue and green tones mixed and created the most unusual color. I almost lost my game. Almost.
    "I bet you do." She looked back at Seth dismissing me. "Nice to meet you, Seth."
    "Likewise." Shithead gave her a cocky grin.
    "Can I talk to you for a second?" I tried to keep my voice under control.
    "Sure. Talk to you soon, Lily." He grabbed his drink and followed me to the back office.
    Once we were in my office, he spoke, "So you got it bad for that chick?"
    "What? You could tell?" I sat on my desk as he leaned in the doorjamb.
    "You just basically came over and pissed on her, bro. So yeah, I could tell. I was just flirting. I'll back down. No worries. Okay?" Seth looked at me with pleading eyes. All the humor – gone. Seth was there when I lost everything. When my world dissolved. When I left Elizabeth and everything else behind me. Even though Elizabeth deserved Sawyer, and he one hundred percent deserved her, it didn't make it any easier. The thought that I even cared enough about this Lily chick that Seth had noticed… well, it was killing me. Two days and she's got me all mixed up. This was such bullshit.
    "Thanks man. I don't know. I think she hates me."
    "Oh yeah, she hates you all right. Fucking loves to hate you." I didn't miss his double meaning. He punched me in the shoulder, and I laughed.
    "Yeah, she does. Let's go get you another drink." I smirked.
    "Sounds good."
    "How was work?" I asked as we headed back out to the bar.
    "Sucks, I hate finance. Working for my dad is killing me, bro. I've got to get that job up on campus. I'm still waiting to hear back." Seth furrowed his brow.
    "You'll get it. They'd be stupid not to hire you. You know everything there is to know about music. You'd be a great teacher." I shoved him lightheartedly in the shoulder.
    "Thanks, sweetie. Should we hug now or later?" Seth gave me the dumbest shit-eating grin I'd ever seen.
    "You're such a tool bag." I smacked him on the back of the head.
    "Pot… meet kettle." He laughed.
    Our laughter was cut short.
    The sound of a guitar playing softly caught my attention as I walked through to the main part of the bar. The slow melodic flow of " Rivers and Roads" by The Head and the Heart, one of my favorite songs, drew my appreciations to the stage. My breath hitched as she sang the first few lyrics. Seth bumped into me because I had stopped mid step.
    "Dude wh—" His words dropped off as we both listened to the haunting voice. Lily sang the familiar lyrics, lyrics that spoke of loss, family, and distance. The unbelievable sound coursed through my veins. It was the most remarkable thing I'd ever heard.
    "Holy shit," Seth