Page 103 of Tumbling Hearts

“Don’t matter if I got no money,

if my friends aren’t hangin’ ’round.

I’ll shine my shoes on my own two feet⁠—

Nothin’ can hold me down.”

It’s a busy day later still, as they arrive at Sunset Sound to continue recording in the studio. They never finished enough songs to make a full album last time they were here, so this extra time is necessary. Toshiko departs from them all, though, staying with Yasuhiro instead to work on her own music obligations. She also won’t be staying with the Brooms at their motel either, per Yasuhiro’s request. With only a week scheduled here in LA and plans to return to Michigan for a while after this, as her manager, Yasuhiro wants to keep her mind focused on her own career. If she stays with Gene, he knows she’ll be bound to get side-tracked. Gene supposes that makes sense, as evidenced by their time during the summer, when she irritated Yasuhiro by how much she slacked off and smoked with Gene.

For being as sweet and posh as she is, she’s certainly not perfect. Maybe that’s why Gene likes her so much.

But now, with her gone for the week, his mind readjusts. Here at Sunset Sound with Ray and the band, it’s time to focus.

And of course, he focuses on Ray.

It’s so easy to, with Carol gone and Toshiko away as well. This is how it was before either of them were dating anyone—just them and the music, no one else to distract them. They gear up to practice some more songs as they head into the recording booth. Pat clicks her drumsticks together to set the tempo and Gene starts the song off with a catchy riff. His fingers are all healed now, so he can strum with as much force as he wants. Stefan’s bassline follows, Nicky hits the higher notes on piano, and Santiago supports the rhythm with his own guitar. While Ray doesn’t sing as they record the instrumental, he still helps, shaking it up with some maracas.

After a few takes, finding one they’re all happy with, they move right onto vocals. Gene doesn’t want to take a break just yet when the going is good. He heads right back into the recording booth with Ray, putting headphones on and standing close to him, sharing the same mic.

Ray sings the first verse solo, as he usually does. Gene can’t help but stare at his gorgeous profile. Hearing him sing so close to him, watching his mouth form the words, those lips so tantalizing, it makes Gene’s heart skip a beat. His heart works even harder when it’s time to sing the chorus, and Gene leans in, so close he can feel Ray’s breath on his cheek⁠—

“Moon’s in the sky, the night is young,

I’m ready, I’m ready, yeah⁠—

Let’s shake it, baby, shake it,

Comin’ round, yeah, right at ya.”

As they finish the chorus, Gene smiles, and Ray does something he’d never expect⁠—

He leans in and gives Gene a peck on the cheek.

Gene giggles—he can’t help it—did Ray seriously just do that? But then, he realizes, since they’re recording, they caught his giggling on tape.

“Sorry, cut, cut,” Gene says, still giggling. He looks through the glass to the other side, watching the sound engineer mess with the knobs and buttons. Santiago watches them too, standing next to the rest of the Brooms behind the glass, giving them both a smirk. Oh, he would smirk at that, alright.

“Ray, what are you doing?” Gene asks playfully.

“You just did such a good job singing.” Ray bats his long eyelashes at him.

“Well, alright. Thanks,” Gene chuckles, his cheeks burning. “But now we gotta do another take, since I laughed.”

“That’s fine. I’ll do however many takes, if it means I get to sing with you longer.”

Gene’s heart beats madly, wondering what everyone out in the main room is thinking, watching them. But no one seems to mind. Santi looks overjoyed, if anything. “Yeah, sure. We’ll sing as many as we need to.”

And so, they record another take—without messing up this time. Ray doesn’t kiss his cheek again. But now Gene is eager; maybe he can get more kisses once they return to their motel. The way Ray smiles at him, stirring up his insides, makes a fire burn within him. It’s been too long—much too long—since he’s touched Ray. He hasn’t tried anything because of Toshiko’s presence, but maybe, if she’s not here, he could get away with something…

But doesn’t that make me horrible, wanting to cheat on her as soon as she’s gone?

He reminds himself of something he’d told Ray all the way back on the Fourth of July.

This can be our little secret. No one has to know.

If she doesn’t know…

Gene and Ray walk out of the recording booth, back into the main room. Santi stands up from his seat, giving them a few claps.