Page 40 of My Rockstar Ex's Broken Vows

Her lips part slightly, and for a moment, she looks like she did six years ago, only now with longer hair and more wisdom. I'mimmediately transported back to those nights when she stood in the crowd, watching me like I was the only one in the room.

Her eyes linger, unblinking, and the weight of it twists something in my chest. I grab the headphones off the stand, mutter something to the engineer about playback, and head out to greet her before I can overthink it.

"You made it," I say as I push through the door, my voice coming out lighter than I feel. Seeing her here—watching her take all this in—hits me in a way I didn’t expect.

She arches a brow, that dry, no-bullshit look on her face that used to make me laugh back in Charleston. "So this is where the big dogs come to make music, huh?" she asks, glancing around the room, her tone teasing. "Impressive, I'm not going to lie. You didn't oversell the hype."

I smirk, leaning against the edge of the console. "Hype? It doesn't need hype. It sells itself."

"Mm-hmm," she says, her lips twitching like she’s trying not to smile. "Okay. I’ll give it to you. But don’t let it go to your head."

"Too late," I say, stepping aside so she can get a better look.

I catch Sienna glancing toward Finley, and the way her eyes widen just a fraction makes me grin. "Want to hear what we’re working on?" I ask, keeping my tone casual even though I’m watching her closely.

She hesitates, her arms tightening around herself for just a second before she nods. "Sure."

Before she can retreat too far into her shell, I gesture toward Finley. "Come on. Let me introduce you first."

Sienna’s head snaps toward me, her eyes narrowing. "Introduce me? Toher?"

Finley looks up from her phone as we approach, tilting her head in that easy, curious way she has. "Callum," she says, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "Who’s this?"

"This is Sienna," I say, glancing back at her. "An old friend from Charleston. And ahugeFinley James fan."

"Really?" Finley’s green eyes spark with interest, and she stands, extending a hand. "Nice to meet you, Sienna."

Sienna hesitates for a second, clearly debating whether to bolt, before shaking Finley’s hand. "Nice to meet you, too. I’ve, um... I’ve been a fan of yours for years."

"Well, damn," Finley says, her smile widening. "Callum here must’ve done something right to get you to visit."

I laugh, leaning against the console. "It’s the music. Always the music."

Finley chuckles, sitting back down and nodding toward the booth. "Then let’s show her what we’ve got."

I gesture to the engineer, and the track we’ve been building all morning fills the room. Finley’s voice cuts through the layered guitars, raw and haunting, the kind of sound that gets under your skin and stays there. I steal a glance at Sienna, and the look on her face hits me square in the chest.

She’s into it. Completely. Her head tilts just slightly, her hazel eyes locked on the speakers, her lips parted like she’s letting the sound wash over her. It takes everything I have not to stare at her the whole time.

When the track fades, she turns to me, her expression unreadable. "That was... wow."

"Not bad, huh?" I say, leaning against the console, trying to play it cool.

"Not bad?" she echoes, her voice sharp with disbelief. "Callum, that was incredible."

The way she says my name—soft but certain—does something to me I don’t have time to unpack. I grin, feeling the pull of her excitement, the way it used to feel when she was the only one in the crowd who mattered.

The next hour passes in a blur. Sienna stays close, watching with quiet fascination as we lay down takes, adjust levels, and argue over details that feel monumental in the moment. I can feel her eyes on me, and every time I glance her way, she’s leaning in just a little more, like she’s forgetting she’s supposed to keep her guard up.

When the engineer calls for a break, Luke stretches and groans. "All right, let’s get food. Finley, you’ve got to try this place, the Impeccable Pig. We’ve been going every day between takes. Best chicken and waffles in the city."

Finley raises a brow, her stomach growling loud enough to make everyone laugh. "I've got to run over to Times Square, but I'll catch you next time."

Mike and Jace start gathering their stuff, and Luke looks at me. "You'll regret it. Will you be back this afternoon?"

"I'm starving, but I can't. I already regret it. I'll be back tomorrow morning, same time?"

Luke chimes in, "It's a plan. We will run through the edits tomorrow and make any changes you want."

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