Page 36 of Forever and Ever

I’m confident about my singing and songwriting ability, but it doesn’t stop that faint whisper of doubt from creeping in.

“You better share it with us once it’s done.” Cassie nudges my arm.

“Of course.” I take a drink, grinning at her over the rim of my glass as it leaves my lips. “As soon as you stop bothering me about Noah.”

That earns me a big laugh and a slap on the shoulder.

“Tell you what.” She holds up her glass between us. “You make it through the next four months without fucking him or falling in love, and I’ll let it go.”

“Deal.” I clink my glass against hers confidently. “Not. Going. To. Happen.”

And I take a long, thirst-quenching drink, wishing it was tequila with the power to wash my thoughts away.

11

Merry

Thebandhasn’trecordedan album in the time I’ve worked for them, so I’ve never actually been inside the recording studio at Adrian’s house. Until today. And to say it feels spectacular would be the biggest understatement.

After spending almost a year around the band, it’s hard to get impressed by things anymore. I’ve seen it all, partied around the globe, met some of the most famous faces on the planet. I’ve probably become one of those people I used to hate who never appreciates the small things. But in this moment, I don’t care. Every feeling pales in comparison to walking into Adrian’s state-of-the-art studio knowing I’ll be the one recording in it.

Warmth wells in my chest.

Appreciation.

Awe.

Years I’ve dreamed of being in this exact position—imagined this moment. Since I was a child standing on the porch singing at the top of my lungs like it was my stage.

I’m finally here.

“Feel free to set your stuff down and get comfortable,” Adrian says as we settle into the control room.

He takes a seat at the mixing board and starts adjusting settings on a few of the computers. Adrian is a big guy who takes up space in just about every room but seated in front of the vast panel of buttons, even he’s dwarfed in comparison.

It’s a big production and I’m humbled by it.

I’m sure when Enemy Muse is in here recording, it’s a much bigger event. They probably have sound mixers, producers, and audio engineers piled into this room making sure everything is perfect. But today, it’s just Adrian and me, recording the demo I can only hope will be the catalyst of my career.

I settle on the couch and pull out my notebook, scribbling out a few lines and making final adjustments while Adrian cues up the beat. We’re working on my song Thought It Was, and after emailing back and forth for the past week discussing what type of beat to put behind the lyrics, we finally got it nailed down.

The door to the control room opens and Eloise slips in with a messy knot of hair on her head. I’ve spent a lot of time with the band, but I’ve never seen Eloise Kane look quite like this. Practically… human?

She’s wearing an oversized T-shirt with baggy pajama bottoms that hang loose on her thin frame. There’s not a dash of makeup on her freckled face, and it easily takes five years off her. In each hand is a steaming mug.

“Coffee?”

Adrian’s eyes slide in her direction, discreetly doing a once over before returning to what he’s doing.

“I’ll take some,” he says, and she hands him a mug.

Now I get why Cassie and the girls practically crucified me over staying with Noah. Because if the questions swirling in their heads are anything like what I’m thinking watching Adrian and Eloise pretend they don’t give a shit about each other, they’re justified in thinking it.

But that’s hypocritical. Adrian and Eloise could easily just be friends. Staying under one roof doesn’t mean you have to be sleeping with a man, so who am I to judge?

“Merry?” Eloise holds a mug out to me. “Yours is tea with some honey to help warm up your throat.”

“Thanks,” I say as she sits on the couch beside me and curls her legs up.

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