Page 17 of Lyric & the Heartbeats

“Welcome to round two,” she started, and then laughed softly. “That sounds so dramatic. First, thank you for being here. I was impressed in one way or another by each of you and want to see what else you can do. Underneath your chairs is a set of sheet music from one of my most complicated songs.” She waited while rustling paper filled the room, giving them time to look it over. “I want to hear you play it. It doesn’t have to be perfect, because I know it’s a difficult piece, especially the section I chose. But even more than that…”

Andi took over, like they’d rehearsed. “You’re going to be spending six weeks crammed into a bus with four other strangers, who are most likely already in this room. Figure out the music on your own, ask for help, offer assistance, just do whatever you personally feel most comfortable with. There’s no wrong answer.”

Which really meant there wouldn’t be a wrong answer until Lyric found the correct one.

What Andi didn’t tell them was that Lyric would be inserting her nose into their practice sessions and trying to get to know them all while they played and, hopefully, chitchatted with each other.

Andi dismissed them to do their own thing, and Lyric walked over to her.

“That one is going to be a problem,” Andi stated, glancing toward Nohen.

A smile threatened to curl her lips. “I don’t know. It’s kind of… cute?”

“Cute, huh?” Andi asked dryly. “He’s been late. Twice.”

“I know,” Lyric rushed to say. “But…” She didn’t know. Something about him just made her want to scoop him up and squeeze him. Or maybe for him to return the favor.

She’d spent a few hours watching his video as well. Walking in dripping wet, late, and still playing the guitar effortlessly. The complicated riffs he’d produced had been flawless, even with his unruly hair hanging in his face.

Speaking of complicated…

Her gaze tracked the trio of her thoughts to the corner of the room, where they were each smiling and working together. Nohen had stolen one of the many guitars they’d provided and was tapping his fingers against the body while he stared at the paper in Desi’s hand.

She passed the paper to Adra and pulled a pair of drumsticks from her pocket. Then she drummed on the cushion of the chair in a rhythm Lyric recognized from her own song.

And the part that really blew Lyric’s mind? Desi wasn’t even looking at the sheet music, yet she didn’t trip up once, not at least until the very end. The dark-haired woman frowned before she started from the top, concentration lined in her expression.

Lyric forced herself to avert her gaze, studying the rest of the room.

A few loners had broken off and were strumming guitars or humming to themselves, focus painted their faces, and Lyric avoided them for the moment. She didn’t want to ruin their concentration.

So instead, she approached a pair. Two guys, both strumming guitars, and they smiled as she sat down.

“How’s it going?” she asked.

Two pairs of green and blue eyes twinkled up at her, and the green-eyed one spoke first.

“I had no idea this piece was so complicated. It sounds so… effortless when I hear it on the radio.”

“Thanks,” Lyric said simply.

“I honestly should’ve done a little more research, but who collabed with you on it?” the blue-eyed one asked.

Lyric frowned at that. “Uh… no one. I wrote the lyrics and composed the music. But if what you’re asking is who mastered it, I worked with Oliver at Blue Lights Recording Studio.”

They were both quiet for a moment, their jaws slowly sliding open. It made her cheeks heat.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I never knew it was just you on this song. Most artists have several producers in their ears and, well…” The blue-eyed one began.

“This one’s so good, I just assumed a whole team had worked on it,” the other finished.

Lyric beamed. “Wow. That’s such a nice compliment. Thank you,” she said brightly. “But no, just me. I’m very… adamant about my originality and sound.”

“For good reason,” blue said while green nodded.

They were sweet. Impressed and polite. But Lyric only felt as if she was just talking shop with two strangers. Which is exactly what she was doing.

The two musicians didn’t really pique her interest.