AllFreeNovel
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What makes this time so unique, different from the others? This album hit different for both of us. We’re in a transition from who we used to be to who we are now. I know some people don’t understand, but for our first album, we were in our early twenties, and it focused a lot on living life to the fullest, fun nights out, and following dreams. That’s not us, not anymore. We’ve grown and so have our words. This album was about loss, fighting for ourselves, things we believe in, and finding love, and overall it’s more about the journey than the adventure. To me it’s our best to date, and I can’t wait for the world to hear it. It’s Blue Horizons, it’s not straight-up mainstream country, and I hope people love it.
Now there are those who know us who will hear the parts where we’re baring our souls, but that’s art, right? We find inspiration wherever we can get it, and more often than not it’s from personal experiences and emotions.
Pulling out my phone, I glance down to see if there are any missed messages from Emma. Last I spoke to her was a couple of days ago. She knows we’re here, and I told her I’d talk to her once we were done.
Emma.
More than half of the songs on this album are directly or indirectly related to her. In the beginning, when I would send the rough demos to Ash or play them for him, he would ask me questions or give me strange looks, but my lack of responses eventually led him to leave me alone, which was a good thing too. I feel better. It was all cathartic, and I think by finally getting these songs recorded, I feel free.
Free enough to see if maybe she’s interested in spending some time with me sometime soon. Do I know what this means? No. Am I hoping to explore something more permanent with her? I don’t know. What I do know is that today I’d like to see her. It’s been two and a half months.
Tapping on her name, I’m just about to send a text when out of nowhere a hand grabs my arm and pulls me into a conference room. The door slams shut, and I turn to find Emma standing in the dark with her back against the door.
“What are you doing here?” I ask. I’m shocked and I’m elated. It’s like I manifested her.
“I saw you and wanted to say hi,” she says, tucking her hands behind her and smiling up at me.
Damn, she is a sight for sore eyes, so beautiful in a light purple sweater paired with trendy jeans and her hair braided and tossed over one shoulder. She looks casual and sexy all at the same time.
I look around; it’s one of the smaller rooms with one long table that seats twelve, and two walls are made of glass. One overlooks downtown, the other the hallway. I make a move to turn on the light, but her hand grabs me again.
“Wait!” she whisper-shouts, my skin warming where she’s touching my arm.
Turning back to face her, even though it’s somewhat dark in here, I can see her cheeks have turned pink from the last remaining rays of the sun.
“If people see that we’re in here, they’ll come in, and I just want a few minutes with you.”
She’s not wrong. The label headquarters is not small, and it’s hard to go anywhere in this building without someone stopping me to talk. I move to stand in front of her so I can’t be seen from the hallway window either.
“Okay,” I mutter, giving her a smile of my own. I can’t keep it in; I’m happy to see her.
“How are you?” she asks, and there’s a hint of nervousness to her words—not that I blame her given my behavior over the last year.
It’s such a simple question but so loaded, and my eyes lock onto her mouth. Her lips are shiny and look so perfect I want to lick whatever’s on them off, and she has these stud diamond earrings in her ears that shine under the fading light.
“Good. We finished the album.” I swallow down the urge to lean down and kiss the hell out of her. It’s funny how whenever something great happens, we always want to call someone, and this time she was my someone.
“That’s great. I’m so happy for you.” She’s all smiles, and something warm drips into my chest.
“Me too. It’s really something else.”
“I look forward to hearing it.” Her eyes are large and open with honesty, and I know she means it.
A twinge of insecurity races down my spine. Part of me wants her to know what this last year has been like for me, and part of me doesn’t. Songwriting has a way of exposing parts of us that we might not want seen, but it is what it is, and I love what we just produced.
“I was just texting you.” I raise my phone, which is still in my hand, and then shove it into my back pocket.
“You were? Well, here I am.” She gives me a small smile and wiggles back and forth a little.
I shouldn’t be surprised that we’re here at the studio at the same time, even though I am. Ash planned this little trip to town, so it makes sense that his wife would be here and would plan something with her people too.
“Did you hear any of the new songs?” I’m curious and nervous to ask this question. These songs still feel raw to me. I know once I get some distance from them, that will change, but at the moment it’s like standing naked on the stage and waiting for people to judge you.
She clears her throat like she’s worried about confessing, and then she reaches up with one hand and tucks a loose strand of hair behind one ear.
“Yes, Avery said she wanted to pop into the sound booth and listen to the recordings a bit, so I did too. I heard a little of ‘For the Second Time’, and it sounded so good.”
I should say something, but I can’t. I wrote that song about her and the possibility of second chances after she stayed at my house over New Year’s. Yes, it’s also written in a way that makes the song applicable to anyone and everyone, but did she put two and two together?
