Page 26 of Places I've Never Been

“It was supposed to be about life and love, not death and destruction.” Adam shook his head at his little brother. “Even if you had just broken up with what’s-her-name.”

Mattie gave them a look of understanding patience. “It’s hard when something you depended on is suddenly gone. It takes time to adjust, I think.”

Adam pushed forward before anybody else derailed the conversation. “So, Mattie, one of these three songs is going to be submitted for Song of the Year. When we’re working on something like that, we usually do a writing retreat.”

“We do?” LT asked.

Brandon looked at Flynn.

Flynn snickered and wiggled his sticks.

Adam shot them a dirty look. “You know, get away from everything so we can really focus on the music. Unplug. Go off the grid.”

“Live out every cliche.” Cooper rolled his eyes.

Mattie looked amused. “Writing retreat?”

Adam nodded with enthusiasm. “Yeah. We’re going to do a month at Syer Island to finishup the album.”

“A month?” Cooper choked on something.

LT helpfully pounded him on the back.

Mattie looked back and forth from Cooper to Adam. “Syer Island? Where’s that?”

“Isn’t that the place by Africa?” Brandon asked.

“The Seychelles,” Cooper supplied. “It’s really—”

“Beautiful,” Adam finished for him. “Totally off the beaten path. They have these amazing villas that open right to the beach. It’s a great place to get away from everything.”

He saw the second he really caught Mattie’s attention. Her phone buzzed as another text came in, but she didn’t look down. She had a dreamy, faraway expression in her beautiful hazel eyes, and a small smile lifted her lips. She was already there.

“I’d like you to come with us.” He leaned against the control panel next to her. “Our treat. Help us finish these last three songs. At the very least, think of it as a free vacation. We’ll be unplugged, just us, a beach, lots of good food, and quality time away from the daily crap. What do you say?”

“Us?” Brandon said. He edged closer to Flynn. “Does he mean all of us?”

“I don’t know,” Flynn replied.

“I doubt it,” Cooper said. “I’m sure he means just the two of them.”

Mattie looked doubtful.

Adam jumped in before they could convince hernotto go. “I meant everybody. I always mean everybody.”

LT looked a lot more interested in the conversation. “All five of us?”

Cooper grimaced. “Is this coming out of the general budget, or are we all pitching in?”

Adam kicked his foot. “It’s coming from me.”

LT’s eyes widened. Cooper gave an appraising look that shifted from Adam to Mattie and back.

Flynn hit Brandon’s arm. “Told ya.”

“Told him what?” Mattie asked.

“Nothing,” Brandon said too quickly to be innocent.

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