Page 23 of Love's Free Will

She just winked before heading back to the kitchen.

Averi smirked. “She thinks I’m your girlfriend.”

I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. “She thinks anybody I’m sitting with is my girlfriend.”

We ended up taking our food to-go since the crowd was growing. Back at Grindhouse, I was revising a verse when my phone buzzed.

A notification fromTea And Honey, the nosiest gossip blog on the internet. I clicked the link and—Dead. Fuckin’. Ass. A picture of me and Averi at Ms. Kay’s. The caption?

“Are Royal Teegan and Averi St. Claire Dating? ”

I exhaled slowly, already knowing she’d seen it before I even looked up. Because there she was, across the studio, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised, rolling her eyes and shaking her head.

I smirked. “Guess we go together now.”

She flipped me off.

I laughed. This shit was getting fun.

7

AVERI

Iclosed my eyes and let the music guide me, my voice floating over the slow, aching melody of the track.

You walk in the room, I forget how to breathe…

You ain't gotta say it, I know what you need…

But you don’t see me, boy, you never do…

Wish I could be the one you're runnin’ to

Tell me, do you notice me?…

The song was haunting, raw, a confessional that poured out of me effortlessly. I had written“Notice Me”for a female artist’s perspective, but the more I sang it, the more I realized just how personal it felt.

Had I ever felt like this about someone? The thought unsettled me, so I pushed it away, focusing on the session. I had Malachi engineering the track, someone I trusted to bring my vision to life. The levels were right, the reverb sat exactly where I needed it, and I was just about to hit my final run when?—

The damn studio door swung open. “Ain’t no way in hell she supposed to be singin’ like that.”

I froze mid-note, my eyes snapping open, irritation climbing up my spine at the sound of Royal’s voice. I looked up to see him and Zay standing there, smirking like they owned the place.

Malachi sighed. “Bro, you know your session don’t start ‘til three.”

Royal ignored him and leaned against the console before pressing the button for the intercom into the booth, a lazy grin pulling at his lips. “You real comfortable takin’ up my studio time, huh?” he drawled.

I rolled my eyes. “Your studio time? You don’t own the room, Royal.”

He smirked. “Nah, but my name might as well be on the door, Shawty.” His lazy-ass arrogance was exhausting.

Malachi pressed a button on the console. “Yo man we almost done?—”

Royal cut him off, his voice mocking. “Please hurry up and get her screechy sounding ass out my booth.”

I flipped him off through the glass as Zay laughed. “Damn Ave, you just gon’ let him talk to you like that?”

I snatched my headphones off and stormed out of the booth, my heels clicking against the floor as I narrowed my eyes at Royal. Zay and Malachi were chuckling, and even King had walked in at some point, leaning against the doorframe like he was about to enjoy the show.

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