Page 123 of Places I've Never Been

“The soul,” she repeated, softly. Her gaze shifted back to him, and she had the dreamy look on her face that she always got when a song lyric popped into her head. “You’re the soul.”

“I think there’s paper on the desk.” He crossed to it and started to shuffle through the drawers. “Or I can go get your bag if you want.”

Mattie touched his arm, and he stilled.

“I think I can remember this one,” she said.

“You don’t want to write it down?”

She shook her head. “Do you still have a setup in the garage?”

A slow grin spread across his face. “Oh yeah. Got a whole studio in there now.”

“Show me.” She smiled, and his heart sang.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

EIGHT MONTHS LATER

Mattie took Adam’s hand and squeezed it as she stepped onto the red carpet at the Grammy Awards.

“Ready for this?” His crooked grin was just for her.

She smiled and nodded. “Definitely.”

Cameras flashed on both sides as she showed off the dress Della had picked for her. It was a simple A-line silhouette covered in three-dimensional flowers that flowed from the waist to the ground. She was Alice walking through Wonderland in this dress. She held out her arms and twirled so the dress billowed out around her and was rewarded withoohsandahhsfrom those watching.

“How does it feel to be up for two awards?” one of the reporters asked.

She beamed. “It’s a dream come true.”

She and Adam, as well as Delusions of Glory, were up for three awards tonight, including Song of the Year, Best Rock Performance, and Album of the Year. Their Syer Island retreat had resulted in three new songs that finished out theTruth Is ILove Youalbum.

They were all great songs, but it was the third, “Truth Is I Love You,” that really stood out. It had taken them two months to write the song they’d started in Adam’s garage. She thought it not only captured the entire beginning of their relationship, but it also showed how she felt about the entire band. It was edgier than her usual pop sound, but softer than Adam’s typical rock vibe. Kat had been right. The blend of their two sounds made magic.

It was one of the best songs she’d ever written.

When Delusions of Glory had opened their new tour two months ago, she’d joined them on stage to sing it with them. The rush of being on stage had been intense and exciting, and it made her think seriously about Della’s idea to get back together.

“Mattie,” one reporter shouted, “when will we hear wedding bells?”

“Are The Bellamy Sisters getting back together?”

“Who are you wearing?”

She smiled and posed and ignored their questions. Rumors had been flying for months about her sisters, but so far that’s all they were. Rumors. They weren’t ready. Not yet. But the idea had gone from a solid no to a hopeful maybe.

They bombarded Adam with questions when he stepped up to escort her into the Staples Center.

“Is Mattie joining Delusions of Glory?”

“Will you tour together?”

“How’s it feel to be here with your high school crush?”

Adam flipped a casual wave in their direction, and he and Mattie walked down the red carpet toward the doors. He whispered in her ear. “It feels fantastic to be here with my high school crush. It will feel even better when we get out of here and out of these clothes.”

She laughed and poked him in the ribs. “Don’t start that now. We have a long night ahead of us.”

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