Page 102 of Perfect Pitch

Mitch bursts into laughter before rolling me so he’s looming over me. “You’re saying you didn’t need perfect.”

I wrap my arms around his neck. “Who I need, who I still want, is you.”

He lowers his head and murmurs, “Then let’s try a variation on the same theme, shall we?”

Just before his lips capture mine, I whisper, “Just don’t force me to sing solo. I’m still in the mood for duets.”

Mitch shakes with laughter even as his fingers graze over the curve of my hip. “I think I can compose that melody.”

Purring, I drag my nails down his back as my legs fall open for his hips. “I rather thought you could.”

* * *

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Alison Freeman Marshall, COO and General Counsel for Amaryllis Events, was spotted having a breakfast meeting with the social coordinator of the Museum of History. Could this be where Amaryllis Designs is hosting its next Fashion Week?”

—Jacques Yves, Celebrity Blogger

“Oh my god, Mama! You are not going to believe this!” I shout through our middle of the night FaceTime.

“Believe what?”

“I was contacted to have a conversation for legal representation.”

My mother’s jaw noticeably slackens. “Like an agent?”

“I don’t know. It must be. God, Mama. I’m over the moon!” I dance around the room, twirling and spinning rapidly.

“Austyn, stop moving. You’re making me dizzy,” she says sharply.

“Oops. Sorry! I feel like a soda that’s been opened where all the little bubbles come rushing to the top.”

“Or like the bottle of champagne I see in the background? Hmm?”

I shift to the right, hoping to hide the champagne that Mitch poured over me instead of bothering with something as, “Mundane as glasses, Beats.” That’s before he tipped the neck of the bottle over my clavicle and followed the line of bubbles with his tongue.

Instead of giving my mother too much information, I babble, “You didn’t see those. You don’t know what those are. I don’t know how those got here.”

She bursts out laughing. “It was a good night?”

“Mama, this whole tour has been a rush. I know it seems like it was a whim, but the more we get media attention from these social influencers, the more places are jammed. It’s such an amazing high.”

“Is it everything you wanted?” And that question right there sums up my entire childhood. Warmth steals through me reminding me of what I’ve always had—a mother’s love.

I beam. “Almost.”

Her brow furrows. “What’s missing.”

“You. I want you to be here, to feel this.”

“I did that night at Redemption, baby.”

“It’s not like that, Mama. This... it’s different now. Like I was born to do this.”

Emotions chase their way across her face until pride settles on it. “Then that’s all I want for you.”

We chat for a few minutes about my upcoming trip to San Antonio where, thankfully, I’ll finally be back in warm weather.

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