Page 42 of So This Is Love

Blue brings his hand up to his face, rubbing his chin and I can see the gears turning in his head.

“Damn, you weren’t lying when you said it was different,” Blue says finally.

“I want to make something that feels like me,” I reply.

“And this does that for you?”

I nod.

Slowly a smile crosses over his face. “This is probably the best song I’ve ever heard from you. Let’s get to work.”

14

Laila

My phone ringing joltsme awake. I had been in bed editing content forLovely Day’s social media platforms when I must have fallen asleep. It’s dark in my room, the only light sources coming from my tv and my open laptop next to me in my bed.

I reach out to my nightstand and grab my phone to see Bryce FaceTiming me. I answer the phone still snuggled under my blankets.

“Hello?” I say, yawning.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. I didn’t think you’d be asleep already.”

Usually I wouldn’t be, I’m notorious for always being up at all times of night working. Today I had been tired all day and despite trying to push through it, my body clearly had other plans.

Something in Bryce’s voice is off, his usual nonchalant, teasing personality is absent and instead he’s quiet. I haven’t seen him in person since he came back from Baltimore because we both have been busy.

“What’s wrong?” I ask my brows knit with worry.

“Nothing,” he replies. “I shouldn’t have called, get some sleep.”

I don’t believe him. He’s in the car with the phone resting in his lap. Instead of seeing his face I see the headliner of his car and the front windshield, street lights passing by as he drives. But even without seeing his face I can just tell that something is really bothering him.

I sit up in my bed. “Bryce, tell me what’s wrong.”

He lets out a deep sigh. “Do you want to take a drive with me?”

“Yeah, okay.”

“Bet. I’ll be there in a few.”

Bryce ends the FaceTime and I sit in my bed confused about what's happening for a minute. My brain goes down a long list of possibilities for what’s going on with him and I have to force myself to stop speculating.

My phone chimes with a new text message.

sonny

I’m here

He got here much quicker than I expected him to, but I quickly get out of bed and gather myself together to meet him downstairs.

An orange Hellcat Charger is parked in the fire lane in front of my building, it’s hazard lights flashing. Bryce is leaning against the car dressed in all black sweats and a fitted White Sox hat pulled low onto his head to shade his face from being recognized by anyone who may walk by.

“Hey,” I say softly.

Bryce doesn’t say anything, he just takes my hand and gently pulls me forward into a hug. He wraps his arms around me andI’m completely immersed in the warmth of him and it feels like I melt against his body. We stay in the hug until Bryce pulls away.

“This you?” I ask, tilting my head towards the car.

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