Page 11 of Wild

Hayes grins. “My choice as well.”

Cannon saunters into the room then, the stench from his cigarette clinging to his skin.

“You need a shower man,” I joke.

He gives me the finger.

Cannon is a man of few words.

He plops on the opposite end of the couch beside Fox.

“All right guys, let’s get to it.”

Hayes claps his hands and we get to work.

* * *

Hourslater we’re all tired, but really fucking pleased. Everything we did today was magic. It was more than any of us ever hoped to dream of.

Hayes takes us out for dinner—we worked right through lunch—before dropping us off at the hotel and making sure we’re checked in.

Handing us our keys he says, “If I find out you’re out clubbing again and getting into trouble I will shred your contract before you can utter a patheticI’m sorry. Don’t mess with me.” His tone screams he’s not kidding. “You’re here to record an album. Don’t fuck it up. The vehicles you requested will be here tomorrow. Think of them as a gift, but one toe out of line and they’re gone.”

We all nod.

“Yes, sir,” Fox mumbles, head bowed like a child that’s been scolded.

“Ass kisser,” I cough.

Hayes glares at me and I wince.

“Trust me, if you leave this hotel I will know.” He makes eye contact with each of us. “You did good today,” he praises. “I see great things in your future if you stay on the right path. Night.”

Before we can respond he’s heading for the revolving glass doors.

The four of us pile into the elevator and I press the button for the top floor. Even if we wanted to go out, we’re tired. There’s something about being in the studio, that while exhilarating, is entirely draining.

The elevator doors open and we don’t have to walk far to the suite door. I swipe my key to unlock it and it swings open. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one staring in shock.

I mean, I expected a decent place to crash but notthisand not in this small ass town.

“We’re definitely not in Kansas anymore,” Rush whistles lowly, then takes a running start and jumps on the blue velvet couch.

The place is decorated to the nines. It looks like something you’d find in a Las Vegas resort, not a tiny college town seventy-five miles west of Washington D.C. and in the middle of nowhere. I find myself beginning to sweat as I think about how much this room, the cars,everythingmust be costing Hayes. It shows how much faith he has in us and if we screw up … ifIscrew up the consequences will be dire.

Our bags sit in the foyer of the suite. I have no clue how they got here, but Hayes is bound to have an assistant.

The guys and I explore the rest of the suite and then fight over who gets which room. It’s ridiculous since they’re all basically the same size with their own ensuite bathroom.

I crash onto my bed and stretch my arms and legs out, laying claim.

I can’t help but think back to my ten-year-old self first learning I had a voice, music bleeding into my soul, and dreaming of the day when all this could be mine.

I wish I could go back in time and tell him,“You’ll do it. Never stop believing in the power of you.”

CHAPTER3

MIA

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