Page 30 of Broken Bridges

The air around me prickled. The guys looked at each other. Their facial expressions were neutral, but something new burned in the depths of their eyes. Tia clutched the blanket and stared at Flint.

What is happening? Fuck! Do they like the track? Hate it? Shit!

I raked my fingers through my hair. Jeezus. They were killing me.

At the end of the track, Flint shook his head, but the glint in his eyes blazed bright. “Damn, Lewis. I don’t want the fucking intro...I want the whole freaking song.”

The breath shot from my lungs. “What?”

He jutted his chin to Cole and Slip. “You think it will fit in with the rest of the tracks planned for the album?”

Holy shit! Flint wanted my music?

“Hold on.” Cole’s eyebrows pinched together and pointed at my laptop. “You want that on our album? But we didn’t write it.”

“No, we didn’t.” Flint shuffled forward a few inches. “But I know a good song when I hear it. You do too. You felt it. Heard it. I saw your reaction. I’m not saying it will make the final cut, but it’s got potential. It’s got to pass through a lot of hoops—our marketing team, Everhide, and Ashlem—not just us before it gets the final tick.”

They wanted my song? Holy shit! The back of my eyes stung. “Is this just drunk talk? Please don’t fuck with me.” I threw Flint a stern glare.

“Nope.” Flint ran his hand up and down his arm. “I got goose bumps, man. That doesn’t happen very often.”

My head spun. I placed my hand over my thundering heart to stop it leaping from my chest. “I’d be honored just to record it with you.”

Cole dipped his chin at me but waved a drumstick at Flint. “Are you sure you want this asshole singing your song?”

“Hell yes. I’m thrilled to be here, but you wanting to record one of my songs is beyond anything I ever imagined.”

Tia hooked her arm around my back and gave me a tight squeeze. “Isn’t that exciting? Keep going like this and every track on the album will be yours.”

“Hold on there, Tee.” Slip chuckled. “We love what we’ve written for the album. There’s no guarantee that the track will be part of the final selection. But it’s good.” He flicked a finger toward my laptop. “Have you got other songs we can listen to?”

“Yes. I have hundreds.” Which other songs should I play? My mind rattled with options. “But that’s one of my better ones.”

“Awesome.” Flint rubbed his thigh. “We’ll listen to some of them later...when we’re sober. I’m done for the night. I loved the track. It will be fun to record. You can teach it to us tomorrow. But right now, I’m gonna take my drunk ass and Sutton to bed.”

“You want some help carrying her upstairs?” I placed my laptop on the coffee table, ready to assist if needed.

“Nah, man. I got it.” Flint swayed as he stood. He scooped Sutton up in his arms and headed up the staircase. At the top there was a thud, a knock, and then...

“Ow!” Sutton wailed. “You hit my head. You trying to kill me?”

“Sorry, baby.” Flint’s low laugh was cut off by the slam of his bedroom door.

“Guess that’s a wrap.” Cole placed his snare on the coffee table. “You want help up the stairs, Tee?”

“Please.” She held out her hands toward him.

Cole threw her a mischievous grin. As he hauled her to her feet, he bent at the waist. He hoisted her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and headed for the staircase.

“Cole? What the hell? Put me down. I’ll walk.” She laughed and slapped his butt as he carried her up to her room.

“You good, Lew?” Slip stood and stretched his arms above his head. “I’m gonna crash too.”

“Yeah. I’ll pack up and have some water.” I needed bottles of it.

“Cool. Catch you sometime in the morning.” Slip ambled upstairs and disappeared down the hallway.

Just before I closed my laptop, I stared at the screen, lit with the song I’d just played. My chest swelled. They’d loved “Coming Home.” They wanted to record it.

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