Page 63 of The Sound of Us

“We’ll argue about it later.” Noah fixed his gaze on me. “It’s time you let someone into your studio. It will be a learning opportunity for both of you.”

“And if I refuse?”

“I’ll cancel your show.” Noah nodded at Derek, who’d been following the conversation with interest. “Why are you standing here gawking? Get that Kidcore on while I stop these two from melting down. Siobhan, find someone to take the second slot. If you can’t, then Chad can talk sports.”

“Yesss.” Chad pumped his fist. “I brought in a mirror after my last show so I could watch myself the next time I was on-air. It’s practice for when I’m on TV.”

“I haven’t prepped,” Skye pointed out after Siobhan and Chad had gone.

“Just don’t mention Imagine Dragons and you’ll be fine.” I couldn’t keep the sarcasm from my voice.

“What’s with you today?” Skye turned on me. “Imagine Dragons might not put their best foot forward with their singles but the deep cuts are where it gets real. You clearly haven’t listened to ‘Uptight,’ or ‘Hopeless Opus.’”

“You’re prepped,” Noah said to her. “You can thank Dante later.”

Skye marched ahead of me to the studio, her back stiff, hands clenched by her sides. I could almost hear her thoughts.What if I mess up? What if I’m not good enough? What if…

Her anxiety was enough to pull me out of my own emotional crisis. “He won’t fire you,” I said. “He won’t take your scholarship away. You’re safe, Skye. And I’m right here. Nothing is going to go wrong. Trust me.”

She looked over her shoulder but her eyes were as cold as ice. “I trusted you until you started acting like a dick.”

I felt her anger like a knife through my heart, but it’s what I needed, what I wanted, what had to happen to drive her away.

“We need a name for our show,” I said after we’d taken our seats. “We can’t just go on and start talking.”

She sucked in a sharp breath and her eyes widened. “I thought this was a one-off to help Noah out and when everyone is back, he won’t need us again.”

“Then you still don’t understand how Noah works. He has no scruples when it comes to the station. He will ask, beg, and demand to get what he wants. If you open the door a crack, he’ll push right in. He needs more programming to fill the dead air and now he’s found it.”

“I can’t believe I walked right into his trap.” She twisted herhands in her lap. “I’m going to fall apart from the stress. Say something encouraging.”

“No one knows music like you do.” I forced a smile. “Except, of course, me.”

“That didn’t do it.”

I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t push her away when she looked like she wanted the floor to swallow her up. I couldn’t stomach her pain even though five minutes ago that was exactly what I’d resolved to do.

“I’ve got you.” I checked over my shoulder to make sure the hallway was clear and then I pulled her in for a kiss.

My heart slowed. Heat rushed through my veins. She filled the emptiness with light and soothed my aching soul.

“Better now,” she whispered against my mouth. “Maybe you’re not such a dick after all.”

I forced myself to pull away and check the clock. “We have ninety seconds. What about that name?”

Skye twisted her lips to the side. “What about Sound Off? The Musical Divide? The Clash of the Chords? Or Rhythm and Discord?”

I looked at her with newfound appreciation. “You came up with all those ideas in ten seconds?”

“I like words.” She shrugged. “It’s who I am.”

“I like the Musical Divide.”

Skye laughed. “Of course you do.”

“What do you mean?” I put on her headphones before grabbing my own.

“You fail to appreciate the genius that is Imagine Dragons,” she said with a grin. “There will be no closing that divide.”

---