Page 42 of No More Love Songs

CHAPTER ELEVEN

SKYLAR

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Once we get going,the muse doesn’t leave us and with Kit’s help, the song that was playing in my head all day, sounds even better out loud by the time we’re done with it. We feed off each other so naturally, the creativity keeps flowing. Come sunrise, we’ve finished two other songs I’ve been messing around with for years but never knew how to complete, and we’re working on something completely new.

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Growing up you called her princess

But she was born to be a queen

Breathing fire, chasing dragons

The wildest heart I’ve ever seen

I’ve ever seen...

A little girl who fell in love with ponies

But in her soul that girl’s all mustang

Running wild, Roaming free

That spirit can’t be tamed

No, she’ll never be tamed...

So keep your chains, keep your cages

Nothing’s strong enough to keep her bound

In her emerald eyes a fire rages

And when she sings, there’s no sweeter sound.

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We stop after we finishthe chorus, both of us grinning at each other.

Kit taps the top of his guitar, something I’ve learned he does when he’s satisfied with a sound. “I dig it.”

“Same.” I more than dig it. It may be my new favorite thing I’ve ever written. In part because he’s the one I wrote it with. My cheeks feel hot suddenly and I jump up in a kneejerk reaction to it. “I need more coffee. You?”

He sets down his guitar to check his own cup. “Yep.” Then he’s up on his feet as well. “Might as well go together. I finished the pot last time I went. Be a good time to stretch out a bit while we brew more.”

I nod and slow my steps, allowing him to lead the way given it’s his kitchen we’re headed to. Jack is up and moving as well, following close behind as we make our way through the otherwise quiet lodge.

Neither of us says anything, allowing the peace of the early morning stillness to engulf us while we walk down the stairs and cross through the big welcoming hall.

Only when we’re in the kitchen, the swinging door falling shut behind us, do we start making noise again.

“I hope you don’t have to help anyone scale a rock wall today,” I tease, looking out the window above the sink where I can see the sun’s red glow burning bright on the horizon. “I’d hate for you to doze off while someone’s dangling from your rope a hundred feet above you.”

He comes to stand beside me, the sleeve of his flannel shirt brushing against the bare skin of my arm. “No lessons today,” he says. Then he turns his head away from the window and toward me. “I promised Ari I’d take her and Rat into town to peruse the bookstore. They’re obsessed with this anime series, and I guess a new manga came out this week. Wanna come?”

I bite my lip. “I don’t want to intrude on your time with Ari.”

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