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We tossed out the titles so quickly that no one kept track of who was suggesting what. The more we suggested, the more an image in my head grew. “Okay, hang on. It’s a cover album, right?”
Alys and Maddox stared at me with expectation.
“And we’re grabbing songs from multiple eras.” I wasn’t trying to drag out the suspense, rather, I needed to solidify the idea enough to explain it.
Maddox gestured with his hands, prompting me to keep talking.
“Picture this. Album title—Alice Covered. We grab the albums from my stock that go on the playlist—CD’s, vinyl, tape… a whole assortment. We have Aubrey pull together a similar wardrobe—top, gloves, skirt or pants, from different decades. And if we need to, we toss in a little bit of furniture from Deacon.”
“Oh my God, yes. I’ll call Aubrey.” Alys grabbed her phone.
Maddox pushed away from the table, muttering something about pen and paper. A moment later he returned with a sketchpad that had battered corners and random designs scribbled on the back and front cover. “We can go with black and white film, and hand paint it, almost in gradients. A little color in the middle, and then full color by the time we get to the right.”
“Yes.” I wasn’t the visual guy, so all I saw was random shapes and images in my head, but the way Maddox sketched a series of layouts, it was all coming together.
“You’re the best,” Alys said to Aubrey. “We’re probably going to be here for another hour or two. I’ll be over there after that… See you soon.” She hung up and looked at us. “Aubrey says she’ll get some clothes together, and we can use her studio whenever we need.”
Aubrey had a space set up in her back room for photography, since she sold vintage clothing and needed good fashion shots for use online.
That wasn’t the part that caught my attention, though. “And you’re going over there tonight?”
“Yeah. She’s letting me crash in her guest room while we’re up here.” Alys made it sound like her answer was obvious.
Nope. I was going to be selfish about this. Aubrey could see them any time. “Why wouldn’t you stay here?”
“You only have two beds,” Alys said.
“And there’s room in my bed. Always.” Why was I making a deal out of this?
Because I was.
“Wait. Why does Onyx get you?” Maddox asked.
Alys scowled. “No one gets me. Why are we even having this conversation?”
“I missed you both. We’re finally back together for the next few weeks. I figured…” What? I was being weird, and I didn’t care. “Maddox can sleep with me, and Alys can take the guest room.”
“Fine with me.” Maddox agreed like that.
“Okay.” I’d pushed the issue and now I had to live with it.
Alys shook her head and sighed. “Yeah, okay. Let me tell Aubrey.” She swiped her phone screen. “Staying here tonight,” she read as she typed. “Probably be there in a day or two when Onyx realizes Maddox hogs the bed.”
“I won’t,” I said at the same time Maddox said, “I don’t.”
Alys smirked and set her phone down. “Uh-huh.”
We kept planning long past the point where our ideas were more silly giggles than good ideas, but when we were done, we had a plan for Maddox to start photographing Alys tomorrow when they were done with work.
I was conflicted, watching Alys walk into the guest room at the end of the night. I shouldn’t think it was a big deal, but I wanted her closer.
This was still good, though.
Until I climbed into bed next to Maddox and he said, “Better not try anything while I’m sleeping.”
“I never have.”
He pouted. “Why not? I’m not pretty enough for you?”
