Page 35 of On the Power Play

They ran through the song four more times with Finn adjusting levels and adding to the backing track. At four they took a break to eat. Mary had Cobb salads brought in, Delia's favourite recording food. It didn't make her mouth smacky but kept her stomach from grumbling.

Delia picked up her guitar while she waited for Mary and Finn to get back from the washroom. She plucked out the most recent melody she'd been working on. Meandering and dissonant. Decidedly nothing IndieLake would ever be interested in publishing. She whispered the lyrics under her breath.

"Underneath the willow tree,

Whispers of you come to me,

In the silence, I find peace,

Echoes of what used to be."

"Sounds a little sad for a club vibe." Finn winked at her from the booth. Delia set the guitar back in the stand. "You'll be able to record that someday. You know that, right?"

Delia nodded. "When I'm old and grey."

Finn made a pouty face. "Are you feeling sorry for yourself, Ms. Melise?"

"Me?" She shot Finn a scandalized look. The idea that she could sit here with any complaints inside her head made her feel like the girl who was thrown down a walnut shoot in Willy Wonka. A year ago, all she'd wanted was a recording contract. Now she had it and still wasn't satisfied?

She winced. "I'll stop being a baby. Let's go again."

Finn grinned and hit play.

By seven, they had plenty of vocals to work with, and Finn called it a wrap. Delia stepped out of the recording booth, massaging her jaw muscles.

Finn pulled one side of his headphones off. "Beautiful work, love. I'll have a master to you by the weekend."

Mary yawned. "It sounded great. I think Christian is going to be obsessed with it."

Delia nodded and rifled in her bag for her phone. She paused when she saw a text message from an unknown number, then clicked on it.

Hey, this is Jack. Tony said I should reach out.

Looks like I'm coming out tomorrow night after practice

She read it twice, then turned the phone so Mary could see.

Mary's eyes lit up. "Wow. That was fast."

"Whatever she told you, it isn't true." Finn leaned back in his chair, and Delia rolled her eyes.

"Not everything's about you, Gallagher."

"Most things are, though, eh, love?" He set the headphones on the desk.

Mary stood. "Delia might have more energy for our session on Wednesday. Or less. Depending on how tomorrow night goes."

Delia smacked her arm, and Finn's eyes widened.

"Hockey player?"

Delia turned off her phone. "Looks like he's coming out to Toronto."

Finn scrubbed his hand over his chin. "Do they have a game against the Leafs?"

Mary shook her head. "He only has one reason to be here."

"Damn, Delia. Those must have been some tacos."

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