Page 69 of Just Business

I start strumming the intro, tapping my foot to the beat. It’s not a slow ballad, but it’s not exactly a fast song either. In my mind’s eye, I picture a couple on a dance floor somewhere doing a little two-step to it.

I see you there, that look in your eye.

You’re holding back dreams, afraid to fly.

We’ll get there together, with a little bit of trust

Yeah, I think someday looks good on us.

I turn so I’m facing her, the nerves written all over her face. The first line comes out shaky, her voice wobbling, so I reach over and give her hand a soft squeeze. Her eyes flick over to mine and I hear it in her voice when the nerves fade and the song takes over.

You talk about the road like it’s the only way,

But I hear something more in the words you say.

We’ll do this together, no need to rush

Someday sure does look good on us.

I come in with her on the next part, our voices blending to create something so special I know I’ll be pulling it out to relive for years.

Someday I’ll be yours and you’ll be mine

A little white house at the end of the line.

With laughter and love and a life we’ll trust

Yeah, someday looks real good on us.

When we reach the end, Penn sits for a beat, but then goes to the booth to stop the recording. I follow behind her and she hands me a set of headphones and slips her own set onto her head. She presses play and we listen. It’s good. I mean, it's damn good. And by the look on her face, she knows it. A smile stretches across her lips and she looks up at me.

“Okay, so it’s kinda great.”

I shake my head, laughing. “Kinda great, my ass.”

“There were some parts where I was pitchy. Can we do it again?”

“As many times as you want, Penn.”

We head back to the stools and as soon as I start the opening chords, I know this time will be perfect. When we get to Penny’s part, she shoots me a small grin and starts singing, and I’m right. This will be a two take demo. We get to the final note and sing it together, our voices creating perfect harmony.

When the song ends, she stares straight ahead for so long that I’m about to offer to delete the entire thing. But then she turns to me, her eyes glassing over.

“Austin, have you ever heard the term dès vu?”

My brows pinch together, trying to recall if that’s something I've ever heard, but I come up empty.

“Can’t say I have.”

“I learned it in my French classes in college. It's the opposite of déjà vu. It means the awareness that this will one day be a memory. I was just thinking about us, sitting here singing together. When you’re gone all I’ll have is the memory.”

I’m silent as the moment extends out, stretching. But then I suck in a lungful of air and just say it. “What if I don’t go? I still don’t know what my label will expect of me, but when I’ve done whatever they ask, what if I drop them and come back here for good?”

Penny’s eyes flick between mine, searching. “I can’t ask you to do that. I know what it feels like to give up on a dream for someone else.”

“If I said that's not what this is—that's not what I’m doing, would you believe me?”

“I-I’m not sure,” she stammers out, glancing down.

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