Page 64 of Lost Lyrics

Happy tears burst from my eyes. I hugged Maddy tight. “I love you, Mads. Please do the audition. You shouldn’t even have to do one. I’ll put in a good word for you. You’d be the perfect fit forAngels.”

“Thank you.” She stepped back and rubbed my arm. “You don’t need to say anything, but yeah, that would be nice.”

“Done.” I jumped and clapped my hands. “I’m so excited. This is the best Christmas ever.”

Warmth shimmered in Maddy’s eyes. “And the new year is going to be even better.”

“It certainly is. You’re home. The guys will be together, working on new music. Tia and Lewis are having a baby. I’m getting married. There are so many amazing thingshappening, my head keeps spinning.”

“We’ve got it pretty fucking good, don’t we?”

“We do. We absolutely do.”

Maddy’s stunning smile was contagious, but then reality slammed into my chest. There was still so much to organize, plan, and book for the wedding. My to-do list was a mile long. “If I could stop stressing about the wedding, everything would be fine.”

“Why are you stressing?” Maddy winced, as if she didn’t believe me. “You have everything under control and a team of people to help. There is no need to worry.” She gave my hand a gentle shake. “Your wedding will be a beautiful day where we celebrate you and Flint. Have fun planning it. Be excited. You don’t need the best of everything or need to outdo every other big, fancy wedding ever held in Hollywood. Be prepared for things to go wrong, because they will. But it’s Quill’s job to have backup plans. I’m sure he’ll have several in place.” Reassurance set into her every word. “We know you love Flint and are committed to each other. At the end of the day, it’s just a big party.”

True.

“Everyone who loves you will be there. We’d come if you served sausages on paper plates, and soda in Solo cups, and you wanted to get married in T-shirts, surf shorts, and flip-flops.”

I sucked in a sharp breath and gaped, laying on the shock. “There will be no flip-flops at my wedding. Not ever.”

Maddy laughed. “I know. But Sutt, I’m here for you. We have five months to meticulously plan everything and make sure the day goes off without a hitch.”

“Thank you. I’m so glad you’re here. And I am excited. Our next task is to decide on flower arrangements for the ceremony. And we need to brainstorm ideas for our grand entrance. I want to make it fun and dance and wowthe guests.”

“Sutt, of course I will help you. But most people won’t remember what decorations were on the table, or the flowers you had, or the food they ate—only how much booze you put on at the reception, and if you’re lucky, maybe the dress you wore.”

Really?I sifted through my memories. I’d been to a couple of weddings, but yeah, the only ones I remembered were a cousin’s reception where everyone had gotten rotten drunk, and Maddy’s special days—her heartbreak and tears at her first wedding. And how big her smile had been and how happy she’d seemed with Slip at her second.

But I wanted my wedding to be burned into people’s brains. “I want it to be beyond fabulous.”

“It will be. For you...and Flint...That’s all that matters. But I assure you, I’ll remember it, too, because I’m your best friend, and I can’t wait.”

She was right. I didn’t need it to be over the top. Just special. The day was taking shape. I was counting down the days until I married the love of my life.

But before then, we had more awards ceremonies to attend, birthdays to celebrate, Valentine’s Day to enjoy, and a baby was due. I had a show to film. The guys had an album to write. Oh, and now, there was another wedding to look forward to. Lewis and Tia aimed to wed in September, a few months after their baby was due.

I had to stop stressing. Enjoy the ride. Be thankful I was there, surrounded by my friends I called family.

The year ahead would be exciting.

I couldn’t wait.

Bring it on.

Bring it on, now!

Chapter 17

FLINT

The day I’d been dreaming about for more than a year had arrived. I’d looked forward to this moment more than my pending wedding. I was back in my home studio with the guys, ready to write a new album. It had been just over fourteen months since we’d agreed to take a break. Now, we were here, together again. I couldn’t wait to get started. Music was a huge part of who I was. I wasn’t complete without my band.

We were set. Ready to work.

At the far end of my studio that overlooked the garden, we took seats on the two large sofas that faced each other. Lewis, beside me, Slip and Cole, opposite. I’d stowed my acoustic guitar next to me, leaning it against the edge of the armrest. Everyone pulled out their notebooks and laptops from backpacks or satchels and dumped them onto the coffee table in disarrayed piles. Lewis grabbed his electric bass. Cole drew out a set of drumsticks from his backpack. Slip sank onto his knees beside the coffee table and opened the guitar case he’d brought with him...one I’d never seen before.

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