AllFreeNovel
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Taking pictures of Matilda every day accomplished the same thing. Yesterday, she’d been on our fishing boat, wearing a pair of shades. Today she’d sat beside me on the deck, wearing a sunhat to protect her delicate…plastic casing.
Zoe didn’t reply to the tags people sent. She didn’t acknowledge my posts. And I was learning to be okay with that too.
Maybe someday I would tuck Matilda away and stop taking pictures of her. That day wasn’t today.
“I do. Even better, so does Rory.” Flynn sat down on the deck chair opposite me and kicked out his legs. In one hand, he had a breakfast burrito and my stomach rumbled.
I’d skipped breakfast to come out and write. That was a first.
So many first for me this year.
“You played it for him? Christ. What did he say?”
“He said it was utter rubbish and that’s why he was hopping on a plane to come out here.” Flynn grinned and finished off his burrito.
As if on cue, a loud knock sounded on the front door. Even back here we could hear it. “Yoohoo, anyone the fuck home in this horror movie cabin?” A pause. “Who isn’t wearing a hockey mask?”
Flynn laughed and stood, then arched a brow at me. “Please tell me you’ve seen Jason.”
“Priestley? Isn’t that bloke into hockey?”
He shook his head. “Christ, who have I let into my home?”
Before I could answer that, he went to answer the door. I waited about ten seconds and followed him.
Rory was already inside and the two were exchanging manly one-armed hugs. Then Rory stepped back and cocked his head at me. “So, he lives.”
“Yes, the rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”
Thank God.
“Flynn says you’ve been wearing out pencils since you’ve been here. Good thing, since we’re behind on making the EP. Flynn’s setup isn’t quite to Ripper Records standard, but we can make do. At least to get started.”
I backed up. Not just in my head. My feet actually moved too. “No, this isn’t about that.”
Flynn slid me a look. “He’s a little gun shy when it comes to cutting the EP.”
“I can speak for myself.” I cleared my throat. “I’m a little gun shy when it comes to cutting the EP.”
Rory exhaled. “All right. We’ll not call it that then. How about prep work? How’s that?”
I shrugged. “I suppose that works. What about Deacon and Gray? Have they been summoned too?”
“Nah. I’m not looking to turn my place into a boarding house. The two of you are bad enough. Besides, this is just prep work, remember?”
“Right.”
“You hungry?” Flynn asked Rory. Before he could answer, Flynn pointed at me. “I know you are, so don’t even need to ask.”
“I’m a growing boy.”
“God help us all.”
Rory laughed. “Sure, I could eat.” He dropped his bags at his feet and rubbed his hands together. “Then we’ll get to work?”
I forced myself to smile. No reason to be intimidated, remember? I was excited to learn.
There was a very real chance I wouldn’t have love in my life ever again. Maybe it was melodramatic, but I didn’t want anyone but Zoe. So, if I was going to be alone, at least I could be a prolific songwriter and musician.
