Connected: Part 4 of the On The Edge Series

Chapter 10

"Yes, I call him Timmy... sometime Tim-Tim-Aroo." My diffusing tactics were impervious to Luke's spiral.

"And you didn't think you should share that with me before I met with one of the best guitar players ever to live?"

"How am I supposed to know when you're going to come face to face with Jimmy Page, and why would me dating Billy affect that?"

Luke responded with a silent opening and closing of his mouth.

"I warned you," I argued. "Remember, I told you to be cool."

"Not funny, Lil! I don't know how to be cool. He's like the coolest."

"Okay, first, he's just a guy like any other guy."

"Except he's won like a million awards and has worked with a who's who of musicians. Yeah, just a regular old guy. How could you not tell me this?" Luke's eyes grew wide with a mix of shock and awe.

"It just didn't seem like something that needed to be shared," I shot back.

Billy must have heard our escalating conversation. He poked his head out of my office and added, "everything okay?"

"Oh, yeah, yeah," Luke casually shot back.

"Luke thinks you're the coolest guy who has ever lived and is completely fanboying out here," I added, causing Billy to drop his face with a blush and Luke to sputter a series of incoherent syllables. "Can we move on now? Billy is a musician, and Luke is... wait, what is it you do here again?"

"I'm a Network Engineer," Luke groaned. "And you're the worst," Luke added with a whine.

"I only kid because I love," I teased back.

"No, I don't think that's true." Luke jabbed a finger into my ribs, causing a laugh to escape my lips. "Ow, your boney ribcage hurt my finger."

"You hurt your finger poking me, and you want me to be sorry?" I scolded.

"These are my engineering fingers. I might have to file a claim," Luke continued as he dramatically held his finger.

"Oh, you do that; I know you love paperwork." I shoved him before heading back to my office for my coat.

"So, you're Lily's Billy?" Luke said as he turned his attention to Billy.

"Proudly." Billy smiled. "So, you've mentioned me," he added to me with an annoying tease in his voice.

"Oh, she's mentioned you," Luke began, and I could sense a babble was about to start. "I could never figure out why her standards were so high, but now... I mean... obviously..."

"Obviously," Billy agreed before a chuckle rolled from his chest. "I'm glad you've mentioned me," he murmured close to my ear as I tucked back into his side. Both the sentiment and the tickle of his hair pulled a smile to my face.

"Plus, I mean..." Luke absently said as he drew our attention away from each other.

"You mean what?" I giggled.

"It's not like anyone is going to take a run at Billy Collins' girl," Luke blabbed away. I could tell his mouth was running far away from his mind.

"Take a run at... what?" Billy spat.

"You know, because people always talk about your temper. I'm sure it's all false," Luke stammered. "It's because you're big... not like fat... you know, like you could take me out with a flick of your arm. That and the whole Texas thing..."

Billy's gaze curdled to a glare at Luke.

"Texas?" I asked.

"Oh, come on, Lil; the bar fight?"