"But singe my drumsticks again and I'll make Don look like a fluffy kitten."
Aaron just laughed. I guessed when you worked for a major demon, threats from a wolf were like the miaow of a cute kitten.
"Right, guys." I said. "I'm going to scrap the song I wrote for Freya."
"Wise move, man." Zak said and Noah and Roman nodded their agreement.
"I'm starting again. I spent some of this morning humming a new tune, one I think will be much more suited as a song for the woman you want to make yours forever. It's called Thirty-Seven Seconds."
This time when I sang the lyrics I'd managed so far, the band and Aaron just sat in silence and listened. And then they applauded.
"Really? It's okay?" I sought reassurance.
"If that doesn't get her to mate-bond with you, nothing will." Roman said. "It's amazing. Let's focus on that track so you can get back on yours with Freya."
Freya
It was my fourth room change in two weeks, so when I woke up, I didn't know where the hell I was. Until I heard my mum shouting at my younger brother, telling him he was going to be late for school. Ferdie was fifteen and so laid back you needed to check he had a pulse. I got up, put a robe around myself and went downstairs.
"It's only science, Mum, this morning, and seeing as I'm an entrepreneur, I don't need to pass that."
"Making fake IDs for your schoolfriends to get served in off-licences and selling fags for a premium to them is not being an entrepreneur; it's being a criminal in training." Mum scolded. "Now get your arse moving and get to school, or I'll drive you there, give you a big kiss at the school gates, and yell, 'I love you, Ferdiwerdy'."
"Fine." He got up and stomped out of the room without even saying good morning to me or asking me why I was home. Sulky teenagers were a law unto themselves. I knew first-hand; it hadn't been that long ago I'd been one myself.
"Tea or coffee?"
"I'd love a cuppa this morning please, Mum."
She switched the kettle on and got a teabag out of her jar, placing it in a mug.
"You sleep, okay, baby?"
"Yeah, actually. Once my mind settled, I seemed to sleep really well."
"And so how are you feeling about things today? Does a life with a caring, millionaire rock star still sound unappealing?"
"I like him, Mum." I admitted honestly. "I like him a lot, when he's not being an arsehole alpha, and even then, at times it's not so bad." I thought of us in the bedroom. "But he can't just click his fingers without any effort and expect me to jump. So, I feel the same way this morning. That being away from him is the right thing to do. I need time to myself to think about what I want, because he's saying he's all in, Mum, and that's an overwhelming statement by someone who, just six days ago, didn't want to know me."
"It sounds wise, lovely. Just don't cut your nose off to spite your face, okay? If you do like him, then make your own demands. Tell him he needs to make an effort to show you how much he wants you."
I nodded. "Yeah, maybe, but for the next few days, I'm not thinking about romance, Mum. I'm just going to think about myself and what I'm going to do. I have no job now, and I loved working with jewellery."
"Go ask for your job back."
I shook my head. "No, I didn't like the staff I had to work with. I've been thinking about becoming my own boss. Do you remember how I made you those earrings once, the ones with the little charms on them?"
"Of course I remember. They're in my keepsake box."
"They are?"
"I treasure them, Freya. You put on a heart, a mum charm, and an ice cream cone because we both loved strawberry Cornettos. They bring me wonderful memories when I look at them."
"That makes me so happy." I got up and hugged her. "I'm going to open an Etsy store and sell handmade jewellery, things like that where I'll have base earrings, chains, and bracelets and then people can pick memory pieces for them. I'll start from there and see how it goes."
Ferdie walked in. "You want to do band ones. Use your connections with The Paranormals. Guitar charms, plectrums, microphones. You think too small, sister."
"Ferdie, you little genius. You might be onto something there, but I'll have to ask the band because I reckon I'll need to form some agreement with them. I could have lines from their songs engraved." I started to get excited. "Little discs with things like, 'my heart beats for Rex', 'my soul sings for Zak', 'my heart thrums for Noah', and 'Roman rocks my world'."
Ferdie grinned. "Ask them about doing full merch: t-shirts etc. I could do that part. Those slogans you just said would work across t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, totes, mugs." He looked at Mum. "Do I seriously have to go to science, you just know we're quids in here if she gets permission for this. Family business, Mum. You won't need to teach little bastards anymore either."
"It'll be very embarrassing for me to turn up to school and find my own child isn't in my class. Now get a move on or you're getting that lift." Mum's voice rose. "However, it does sound like a very promising idea." She smiled at me. "Enjoy your day. Your dad's already at work, but he's looking forward to seeing you tonight. You have the place to yourself. Enjoy it."
They left, and looking around the kitchen, I sighed in contentment, welcoming the chance to have some time completely alone. I'd start with a nice hot bath and take it from there.
The hot bath turned into a long, hot bath. I was a wrinkled prune by the time I'd emerged, but I was buzzing with excitement about my possible new business venture. I called Erica and asked her to find out if they'd give me permission to run with the idea and what cut of the profits the band would want. Erica was almost as excited as I was.
While blow drying my hair, it did occur to me that while I'd started off with an idea about my own business, thanks to my brother's brainwave, I was about to connect myself back to the band. Oh, it's only a tenuous connection, I reassured myself. You'll be selling other things. I mean if I were printing off t-shirts, I might as well think of some other styles and go the whole hog with selling jewellery, tees and hoodies, plus gifts. I was the Queen of Sass. This girl could think up some humdinger slogans.
I'd been home less than a day and my future was already looking brighter. I got on my phone and started looking for information that would help me set up my business. I had a purpose and it felt darn bloody good.
The rest of the week passed quickly. I spent my days doing research and making samples, ordering supplies, and my evenings with my younger brother who showed me Photoshop, other sites where you could sell stuff, and a whole host of other useful websites. I'd known my brother was tech savvy, but I really did think he was a future millionaire in the making now. For all he was a gobshite teen, he really did know his stuff, and so right now, his big sister was in awe and proud of him.
It was the following Sunday night and we were in the kitchen while Mum and Dad watched some TV.
"You do realise if you marry Rex you'll not need to work at all, right? And if you keep me in a line of credit I might not have to either." Ferdie announced.