Page 86 of Hold Still

“You like it?”

“I really do. I never would have come up with such concepts, but they work. The way you see through my music and make it both personal and universal. You’re a freaking genius.” He pulls me in for a bear hug.

“Thank you.” I hold up my notes. “I need to make these changes, but so long as your songs stay as they are, it’s almost done.”

“You know what? The band was talking last night about hitting the recording studio to lay these first tracks down.”

“Really? When?”

He pulls me close. “Starting tomorrow. So, I’m not going to be able to spend my days with you.”

“That’s okay. I need to put the finishing touches on this.” I gesture toward my laptop. “The Project set up a meeting on the seventh, so it’ll be good for me to focus on polishing it up, without any distractions.” I poke him in his chest.

A rumble of laughter greets me. “I’m a distraction, am I?”

“You know you are.” I kiss his lips.

His arms come around me. “Then I better get in all my distracting while I can.”

THE NEXT FEWdays whiz by. Ozzy records during the day and performs at night. While he’s recording, I put finishing touches on the designs for my presentation to the Project. We sneak in sexy times when we can. Overall, life is good. So long as I keep any thoughts about Matt buried.

“You better hurry up, McKenna, or you’ll be late for school.”

And keep a lid on my worries about Mom. Her bad days are starting to rack up, although she still has more lucid days than not.

“Be right out.” I give my hair a shake and put on some funky bracelets before packing up my laptop and heading out of my bedroom.

“I made French toast,” she calls from the kitchen.

“Thanks, Mom.” I grab a plate and pour my coffee before sitting down at the kitchen table.

“Did you do all your homework?”

I force a smile. “I have a big deliverable, I mean, uhm, test, today. I’m prepared, so I think it’ll go well.”

“I’m sure it will.” Mom places another piece of French toast on my plate. “Here. Eat this for good luck.”

No wonder I use food as comfort. However, another slice does sound good, especially since they’re truly mouth-watering. “Thanks.”

Elaine comes in and I fill her in on Mom’s mental condition for the day. “She usually pulls out of it by midday, don’t worry. Now, you go and do your presentation. Good luck!”

I give her a quick hug, kiss Mom’s cheek and head out the door. Nervous energy overrides my worries for Mom, and I tap the steering wheel as I drive to the Project’s offices. I hope they find my designs as good as all of the musicians said they were. They’re certainly my best work ever. By far. Thanks to Ozzy.

Stuck in traffic, my fingers continue their tapping until a call comes over my Bluetooth. It’s the prosecutor from Matt’s parole hearing. Good. I can go into the Project meeting knowing he’ll be behind bars for years to come.

“Hello,” I answer the phone.

“Hi, McKenna.” He clears his throat. “I just got the decision from the parole board about Mateo Lopez.” Papers rifle in the background. “It seems his motion has been granted. He’s being released today.”

I slam on my brakes to avoid hitting the car in front of me. “What?” I garble.

He sighs. “I’m sorry. We put our best case forward, but apparently he’s been an exemplary inmate. With the overcrowding in the jails…”

He continues talking but I can’t make out any of his words. Matt’s being released. Today. Oh. My. God. This can’t be happening.

In the middle of his sentence, I blurt, “He can’t get near me, right?”

“I’ll put in a petition for a restraining order against him on you and your mother’s behalf. I’m sure it’ll be granted right away.”

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