Page 37 of Ink & Ambition

They nod and we head toward the door that leads toward the parking lot.

“See you, boys. Thanks for the workout. Better luck next time,” Danika blows a kiss in their direction and they hang their heads in playful shame.

“See you at three, sunshine,” Alex says. “I’ll pick you up.” I nod with a wave to all three of them.

Walking toward the car, Sydney throws her arm around my shoulders. “He calls you sunshine a lot,” she says, with a gentle teasing tone to her voice.

“He does,” I say. “It was annoying at first but now I’ve gotten used to it.”

“I think it’s adorable,” she says, releasing me from her hold and climbing into the driver’s seat. Dani had already calledshotgun when we left the building, so I climb into the backseat and buckle myself in.

Dani looks behind her seat at me. “Do we need to start singing again?” She looks at Sydney pulling out of the parking lot. “I think we need to start singing again.”

“No, please god, no singing,” I groan, getting ready to cover my ears with my hands if necessary.

“Fine, no singing. But for the record, I agree with Sydney. Very adorable.”

I stick my tongue out at Dani, who returns the gesture right back before she turns around in her seat to face forward. She turns the radio volume up to twenty and starts belting out the words toDance, Danceby Fall Out Boy.

Looking out the window, I see the three boys file out of the building, Devon’s hand on Alex’s shoulder, all three laughing about something. I’m glad that Alex and I are able to hang out as friends and there’s no tension or any expectations. But I also have to agree with Sydney. The nickname is starting to feel adorable. I’m just not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.

Chapter Seventeen

Margot

Ashowerhasneverfelt so good. After I peel the clothes off my disgustingly sweaty body, I assess the bruise damage. Thankfully, it wasn’t as bad as I’d thought it would be. I’d only been shot a few times, mostly in the chest and stomach where I had the most padding. I did have a bruise forming on my right shoulder but I’d just avoid tank tops for a few days.

I notice I’m not the only one with a few bruises as I sit across from Alex in the recording booth later that afternoon. “Someone got ya good there, huh?” I comment on the purplish bruise on his left forearm.

“Yeah, someone,” he replies with an eye roll and adjusts the headphones that Nathan gave him. “These aren’t the most comfortable things in the world, are they?”

“Blame the campus media budget,” Nathan says through the speaker connecting the recording studio and the soundbooth. “Okay, you guys ready to start?”

Alex had picked me up exactly at three and we went over the script on our way to campus. I know we are as prepared as we can be. Still, I can’t stop the nervous twitch in my leg. I bitemy lip to keep myself focused on the task at hand and not at the insane public speaking anxiety I’m feeling.New York Times. New York Times. New York—

Alex puts his hand on my shaking knee. I hadn’t realized I shut my eyes until I opened them to look at his earnest expression. “We got this, sunshine. Piece of cake.”

I nod vigorously. “Piece of cake,” I say in agreement. “Piece of cake, okay. Let’s do it.” Alex pinches my knee with a wink and looks toward Nathan in the sound booth.

“You heard the lady.”

Nathan’s voice appears over the speaker again. “Okay, give me just a minute to make sure everything is set up correctly and then I’ll start recording.”

I look down at my outfit, suddenly regretting the striped sweater and skirt combo. I look like a sailor. I start to pull at the sleeves to bring them down over my hands.

“Hey,” Alex says, pulling me back from the brink again. “You look beautiful, okay?” He says and it’s not just a line he’s saying to keep me grounded. I can tell he actually means it. “Everything is going to be great. Do you think I’d let you fall, sunshine?”

My eyes bolt to his as the memory of my dream floods my brain. Even my subconscious knows to trust him. Now all I have to do is let my consciousness trust him too. With a smile, I nod at him again. “Okay.”

Alex whoops loudly in excitement and I giggle, looking toward Nathan to tell him to start recording.

Nathan gives us a thumbs up and above us, a bright red RECORDING light blinks on. Alex claps his hands loudly.

“Helllllllllllo, everybody! Thank you for tuning in to our showAsk Alexwhere you send in your questions and I answer them as best I can. I’m your host, Alex Prescott and here beside me is my lovely cohost, Margot Davis. Give everyone a wave, Margot.”

For a moment, I’m stunned by his showmanship. Screw whatever he’s majoring in, he’s made for the big screen. But as he says my name, my attention snaps back into focus. I give the camera a small wave and smile meekly.

“Hello, folks,” I say, my voice small. I see Nathan out of the corner of my eye mouthing at me to speak up. “Welcome to the show,” I say louder.

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