Ball Peen Hammer Read Free Page B

two or three days to do the drive, depending on weather and traffic.” I clear my throat. “But, um, yeah, once I get down there, whatever you need, I’ll be happy to supply it.” Oh my effing God. Did I just say, “I’ll be happy to ‘ supply it’?” What am I—a customer service rep for a lumberyard? “Uh, I should have about a week before classes start once I get down there, so maybe we can shoot the video then?”
    “Great.”
    “The editing might take a little while for me to finish, to be honest—I’ll have a full load of classes and weddings to shoot on weekends, thanks to your parking spot.”
    “No worries. We’ve got six months ’til the album release.”
    “Oh, okay. Great.”
    “I’m super excited about this, Maddy. Thanks. Hannah said you’re, like, a genius filmmaker.”
    “She did? Well, I dunno about that . I just love visual storytelling. I think maybe I see connections and themes where other people don’t?”
    “That’s exactly how I think about songwriting: connections, themes, stories. Same-same.”
    “Wow. Cool.” I want to say more but my tongue is too tied up. I can feel my cheeks flushing.
    “So, okay, Maddy,” Dax says breezily. “I gotta get my ass to the studio.”
    “Right on,” I say, but then I cringe at myself. I never say that. “Thank you so much for the parking spot, Dax. It’s a life-saver.”
    “Glad to do it. Well, okay. Catch ya later, Madelyn the Badelyn.”
    Oh my God. Hannah told him about that? I’m gonna kill her.
    “Catch ya later, Dax... the... ,” I reply. Battle Axe? Frickity Fracks? Crap, I can’t think of anything even remotely clever to say.
    Oh, he’s already hung up. Thank God.
    I put my phone down and slap my forehead with my palm. Why do I always crumble like feta cheese around guys I’m attracted to? How the heck do other girls manage to come off as smooth and flirtatious and snarky in these situations? I’ll be happy to supply it , I said to him. Good lord.
    Like a turtle crawling into her shell, I return to doing the one thing that always transports me to my happy place: editing video.
    Twenty minutes later, my phone buzzes with an incoming call. Oh my God. That’s Dax’s number on the display screen.
    “Hello?” I say, my heart racing.
    “Hey,” Dax says. “It’s Dax—Dax Morgan.”
    I smile to myself. As if I know another Dax? “Hi?” I say.
    “So, hey, I just went across the hall and told Hannah about our conversation and, um, it turns out I’ve got one more favor besides the video to ask in exchange for the parking spot. Sorry.”
    “Oh. Okay. Sure.” My skin pricks with anticipation. “What do you need?”
    Dax exhales. “Um, so I’ve got this brother . Keane.”
    “Keane?”
    “K-e-a-n-e. He’s been wanting to visit me here in L.A.—I guess he’s been invited by some huge talent agency to audition for them. So, anyway, would you be willing to give Keane a ride? I know it’s a huge favor, but he’d pay for half your gas.”
    “Sure,” I say without hesitation, and instantly make a face at myself. What the hell am I doing? I don’t want to drive over a thousand miles with a complete stranger in my cramped hatchback. “Sounds great,” I add brightly, yet again pissing myself off.
    Dax lets out a little puff of air, obviously relieved. “Great. I’ll let him know what’s up and text you his number so you two can work out the timing.”
    “Great.”
    “Okay, well,” Dax says, “I’d better get myself something to eat before I head to the studio.”
    “Okay. Thanks again for the parking spot.”
    “Sure thing. Catch ya later. Bye.”
    The minute I hang up, I flap my lips together, annoyed with myself for saying yes so easily. I have no desire to drive for two solid days with some dude I don’t know. I’m terrible with new people. And, damn it, I was looking forward to having some uninterrupted solitude to mentally prepare for the major life changes ahead of me.
    I sigh audibly and put my