Page 28 of Dev Girl

8

Alys

The tears that pricked my eyelids were the kind that landed after a fast-paced week of high stress, punctuated by that balloon of anticipation being popped.

We didn’t make it.

I dragged in a deep breath and forced myself to be calm. Despite the downs, there were a lot of ups, and we had fun.

Still… The competition was a tradition for us. To not even have a chance to play… Mom would’ve made it work.

Onyx’s phone rang. “It’s Markus.”

The DJ who hosted the contest? Onyx knew him because Markus was in his shop a lot for obscure albums.

“Hey.” Onyx answered.

“Is that you screaming outside my front door?” Markus’s question echoed through the tiny phone speaker.

Maddox rolled his eyes. “You think?”

“Are you in this year or not?” Markus asked.

What? My heart dared do a half-flip.

Onyx shook his head. “We’re late.”

“Everyone was and will be late. You’re not listening to my broadcast?” Markus sounded hurt. “We extended the deadline another four hours. Get your asses in here and hand me the tape.”

As if by magic, I heard the latch on the front door click. When I tried it this time, it pushed open.

Markus was waiting in the lobby with a young woman sitting at the reception desk. I handed her our entry and gave her our information, keeping half an ear on Onyx’s conversation.

“How’d you know it would be a tape?”

Markus chuckled. “Because I know you, man.” He moved behind the woman I was talking to and looked between the case and me. “Love the cover art.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. “It’s all on Maddox, really.”

“Nah. I had a perfect model,” Maddox said.

Was I blushing? I was pretty sure I was.

Onyx settled a hand at the small of my back. “Anyway, thanks for staying open.”

“We didn’t do it just for you, but I’m glad you made it.”

We wrapped up, and Maddox, Onyx, and I headed back to Haddarville. We spent most of the trip singing along to our not-abbreviated playlist, at the top of our lungs. It was the ultimate release after everything we’d gone through.

The accident on the freeway was cleaned up, but it was after two when we finally made it to Onyx’s.

We were too wired to sleep, or so we said. But the instant we settled on the couch, my energy evaporated. All three of us leaned into each other, and one yawn became a contagious chorus.

“Come sit on my lap, Bunny.” Onyx pulled me into him. “You might find a carrot in my pocket.”

Yup, this was the level of silliness we’d achieved.

“Why do you call her that?” Maddox asked. He looked at me. “Why does he call you Bunny?”

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