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Mr. Scott briefly glances at me, and I feel like somehow he knows what I was doing with his daughter, even though there’s no way he possibly could. Our parents are clueless about our stolen kisses and heavy making out. If they did know, I’m sure they’d start making us keep our bedroom doors open when we’re together and stop allowing Lyric to occasionally fall asleep in my bed.
Mr. Scott tears his attention off me and focuses on Lyric. “You said I needed to see you play. That, if I did, I would be begging for you to be in my lineup.” He drops down in a fold-up chair near the door, reclines back, and folds his arms. “So let’s see your awesomeness.”
Lyric looks at me helplessly. She’s terrified of messing up, of her stage fright, of not impressing her father.
With my guitar still in hand, I step behind her and lean over her shoulder. “You’ve got this,” I whisper, grazing my finger along the inside of her wrist. “It’s just like the first time you sang in front of Sage. Pretend it’s only you in the room.”
She turns her head toward me, our lips almost touching. “Can I pretend you’re in the room with me?”
I nod as my heart swells in my chest. Her words pierce my soul. How much she trusts me. How much I want her to trust me. How much I’m pretty sure we’re not just friends anymore.
We’re so much more.
Chapter 10
Lyric
I feel like I’m going to throw up as I raise the microphone to my mouth and prepare to sing in front of my dad. I’d rather run out the door and hide. What keeps my feet planted on the floor is what Ayden whispered in my ear.
Just him and me in the room.
No one else is here.
No one at all.
No one.
No one.
No one.
The music starts playing, a cover song we jam out to a lot. And with a deep breath, I open my mouth and sing.
Like the first time I sang in front of Ayden and Sage, my voice is slightly wobbly. I stabilize my tone quickly, though, and before I know it, I’m rocking out, putting on a show. I hit pitches I’ve never reached before and carry notes longer and more in control. Smooth is the first word that comes to mind when I’m finished. I performed smoothly.
“Well, what do you think?” I ask my dad after we finish the song.
I’m panting and sweaty like I always am after I sing. My heart dances lively in my chest as I wait in anticipation for his response. Usually, I can pick up what he’s feeling, but right now, he appears neutral. I start to grow worried that maybe he didn’t like it, that perhaps he’s trying to figure out a way to let us down gently.
Stop being so self-doubtful!
I square my shoulders while I wait. When a grin spreads across his face, I release a trapped breath.
“You guys have a name yet?” he asks, leaning forward in the chair.
“Alyric Bliss,” Sage responds, dropping his drumsticks to the floor.
“Well, Alyric Bliss.” He stands to his feet. “You just got your first gig.”
I run over and hug him, even though it’s probably super unprofessional.
“Thank you, Daddy,” I say, hugging him tightly.
“Don’t thank me.” He hugs me back. “As much as I love you, I wouldn’t have let you be in the lineup unless I thought you were good enough.”
“Well, thanks for thinking we’re good enough.”
“More than good enough. You’re really talented.” He embraces me tighter and lowers his voice. “And I’m sorry for what happened the other day. You were right. Your mother and I should have told you.”
“You’re totally off the hook.” I pull back to look at him. “Just as long as you never do it again.”
He draws an X across his chest. “I promise.”
I smile and step back. “Do you want to stick around and play with us for a while?”
“I was supposed to go home and help your mother with something.” He rubs his jawline, tempted by my offer. “But I guess I could spare a few minutes.”
A few minutes stretch into a few hours. By the time he leaves the garage, it’s nearing eleven o’clock. He tells me to be home by one then adds that we might want to consider at least singing one of our own songs next week.
My stomach churns at the idea. Yeah, we’ve played a few of my songs, but the idea of spilling my soul out to a room adds to the stage fright.
Fortunately, I don’t stress about it for too long, because Sage suggests that we go to Maggie’s party. Suddenly, we’re piling into Aunt Lila’s car and heading toward the ritzy side of town near the docks.
“Who’s DD?” Sage asks as we pull up to Maggie’s dad’s three-story mansion.
The party has moved outdoors, people are crammed on the front lawn, around the garage, and gathered around the numerous cars parked around. Music blasts from inside and flows through the air. Twinkle lights cover all the trees and dimly light up the yard.
“I’ll be,” Ayden and I say simultaneously.
“You two are no fun,” Sage comments as he hops out of the car.
Nolan follows and the intoxicated people swallow up the two of them.
“So, tonight’s been interesting.” I remark when it’s just Ayden and me in the car.
“Definitely.” He stares at the party and the lights from the trees reflect in his eyes.
“I mean, my dad randomly shows up and gives us our first gig. Sage gets mad for some silly reason when he catches us making out…” I trail off as Ayden raises his brows.
“You really don’t know what that was about?” he questions skeptically.
“Should I?”
“Lyric,” he starts.
I heave a sigh. “Fine, I know what it’s about, but I don’t want it to be about that. I don’t want to have drama in the band.” I pick at my sapphire nail polish. “Besides, I don’t think of him as anything more than a friend, never have, especially when I like someone else.” I smile at him, but my mood plummets when he frowns. “What’s wrong?”
“Are you sure that you…?” He huffs out an aggravated breath. “Are you sure you want this—want me? We’d have to move really slow.” He looks away, embarrassed. “I’m not even ready for you to touch me yet, at least not intimately.”
“Of course I want you,” I climb over the console and straddle his lap, “slow or fast or simple or complicated. I’ll take whatever, just as long as you’ll give it to me.” I smile thoughtfully. “Hey, I’m totally putting that in a song when I get home.”
He chuckles. “It would sound pretty good, wouldn’t it?”
“It would,” I agree. “You know, one day, we should write a song together and then sing it as a duet.”
He chuckles again. “You are so ambitious sometimes.”
“That is the best compliment you’ve ever given me.” I lick my lips and move in to kiss him, hoping he doesn’t lean away.
“What are we going to tell our parents about us?” he asks as my mouth inches toward his.
“I think we should hold off on telling them for a while; otherwise, they might put restrictions on our time together, and I don’t want that.”
“Agreed.”
Our lips connect, breaths mingling.
I’m about to dive into the kiss when someone taps on the window. When I turn my head, I see William grinning at us from the other side.
“So, this is why you wouldn’t hook up with me?” he asks with a shit-eating grin on his face. “Wow, I knew you were all about being nice to everyone, but seriously, you’ve lowered your standards to him?”
“You’re just pissed off because he kicked your ass,” I say haughtily. “Nice nose by the way.”
“You little cunt.” He reaches for the handle.
Ayden shoves me back into the passenger seat and gets out of the car as William opens the door. Ayden has him by a few inches, but William is definitely bulkier. Ayden once called William a steroid freak, and with his moodiness, I’m starting to wonder myself. Or perhaps he’s just a
n asshole.
“You’re going to walk away, back to the party, before I bash my knuckles into your face again.” Ayden’s voice is low and firm, and his hands are balled at his sides as he struggles to remain cool.
William’s fingers dart to his crooked nose, probably remembering what happened the last time Ayden punched him. “Whatever. You two can go fuck yourselves,” he spats, then storms back to the party.
Ayden slides back into the driver’s seat and shuts the door, locking us in.
“Well, at least I got my first encounter with him over with.” I blow out a shaky breath. I don’t like the vile feeling stirring inside me.
“Tonight’s been full of drama, hasn’t it?” He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear, and his fingers linger on my cheeks. “I won’t let him hurt you.”
“I can take care of myself, Ayden, but thank you. For protecting me.”
