Page 197 of Taken Princess

My guitar is tuned.

My headphones are on.

I’m ready to go.

I press theRECORDbutton and begin to play.

Am I writing songs about Cullen, Archer, and Seth?

Of course I fucking am.

This is my life.

They are my life.

I keep strumming.

I’m just about to start singing when I sense something behind me.

I turn my head and see Cullen standing in my room.

I stop playing and pull the headphones off my head.

“Cullen,” I say.

“Don’t mind me,” he says. “You’re recording. I want to watch. I want to be part of this.”

“I just wanted…”

Cullen grins at me.

I sigh.

I’m too captivated by him.

I trust him.

I don’t know why.

He sits down on the corner of my bed.

I know he’s not going to leave.

The recorder is still recording.

I put my headphones back on.

I sigh again.

I try to imagine how this all would sound being recorded.

I picture myself writing songs and albums and being a famous singer.

That dream isn’t more than a thought.

Growing up poor, living with Faye, I used music as a possible escape.

But now?

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