Page 92 of Tumbling Hearts

He turns to look away. But as he does so—Gene grabs his hand. That gets him to look up.

He grabbed my hand right in front of Toshiko?

“Hey, Ray. It’s okay,” Gene says. “Let’s, um… come with me for a sec.”

“Come with you?” The lump in Ray’s throat dissolves.

“Just for a sec.” Gene then looks to Toshiko. “We’ll be right back, dear. I just want to talk to him for a moment.”

“Oh, go right ahead,” she says, always so polite, not even bothered that their hands are linked. “After all that happened with your girlfriend, Ray, I’m sorry.”

“It’s… it’s alright. Thanks,” he says awkwardly.

“So… here,” Gene says, pulling Ray into the recording booth. He shuts the door behind them, leading them to stand behind one of the large partitions, out of sight from the band. They’re not completely hidden—someone could easily come around and find them—but they’re hidden just enough to where they have a little more privacy than they would’ve if they’d stayed out in the main room.

Gene hasn’t let go of Ray’s hand this entire time. Their fingers link together, held up close between their chests. “Gene…”

“Ray, baby, look,” Gene says. The soft look in his hazel eyes makes Ray’s cheeks heat up. “Everything’s fine. I’m just writing one song by myself. We still have everything else we write together. Think of ‘Golden Sunset’, that one’s ours. Same with ‘Someone Like You’. We’ll write so much more like that, too. Together. We’re the Flare Twins, after all.”

Ray smiles his first smile since they’d recorded vocals earlier.

“Yeah, you’re right,” he says. “All the songs we’re recording are ones we’ve written together. All the stuff for the Dusty Brooms. We’re the Flare Twins.”

“See? You get it now.” Gene smiles back, always so very handsome. “Though I… I can’t say I’m surprised that Carol just bailed.”

Ray can’t help but let out a chuckle. Shouldn’t I be more upset? After everything? But it’s hard to be upset when Gene’s right here with him, holding his hand. “Yeah. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised either. I wasn’t exactly… the best boyfriend.”

“You can say that again,” Gene chuckles as well. “Here, we should probably get back out there.”

“Yeah, for sure.”

They finally, unfortunately, let go of each other’s hands and walk around the partition toward the main room. So much is running through Ray’s head. He’s glad that even after all this, Gene isn’t really upset with him. He was rather caring, bringing him over here to talk with him in private. Though, on that note—it further proves Carol’s point that Gene is always first in Ray’s mind. Gene takes up so much of his thoughts that it’s not even funny. While he probably should be sad that his own girlfriend broke up with him, honestly, he doesn’t really feel that way at all. He already heard the worst of it back when Carol first found out about his cheating. Now, something’s been lifted from his chest—a weight is gone.

It’s relieving.

But he can’t admit that to anyone. Well, anyone except for Gene, maybe Santi.

Another emotion creeps up, though: guilt. While Ray feels relieved, what about Carol? He did this to her. He caused her turmoil, her frustration, making her believe he wanted more than he actually did. Or, maybe, perhaps she’ll feel freer, too? Maybe Santiago was right—that this all is for the better.

As long as she doesn’t tell anyone that I cheated on her with Gene.

He trusts her well enough to not say anything. But that worry will always be at the back of his mind, regardless. He’s not sure what’s going to happen from here. Carol still lives with them all back in Michigan. Is she going to move out? He’ll figure that all out later. And so, he schools himself as they walk into the main room, Gene reuniting with Toshiko.

Gene’s girlfriend.

Just because Ray and Carol broke up does not mean that she’s gone. But it’ll have to be fine for now.

If Gene still has a girlfriend, Ray can’t keep dwelling on her.

He’ll let Gene write her a song. But the rest of their music they record here in this studio will be songs they’ve written together.

Another instrumental section is recorded. Gene is happy the Brooms are still able to perform well, even after the earlier stress of Carol suddenly leaving. Tim Price had just swung by and picked her up about half-an-hour ago, from what Dennis had said. Gene isn’t entirely sure what’s going to happen now. Well, other than Carol won’t be staying with them any longer. Not while they’re here in LA, not back home in Michigan, no—she’s done. She’ll still need to grab her things, like her suitcase in their hotel and her belongings back home, but that’s not Gene’s problem.

Honestly, he’s more than relieved to finally have her gone. Her traveling with the band has been the source of so much stress for him. Granted, he still has to worry about Toshiko, but at least she’s none the wiser about anything he’s done with Ray.

It’s conflicting—while with Toshiko, he doesn’t exactly want to be an asshole and continue on with everything he’s been doing with Ray. No, think of how hurt she’d be if she knew. He made a promise to her back when they’d first made their relationship official to be exclusive to her. And as soon as she wasn’t around, he broke that promise instantly. He highly doubts she would’ve done the same thing to him while on her own tour in Japan.

No, instead he’s been a cheating prick, just like how Ray has been to Carol.