Page 49 of So This Is Love

“It’s fine, I know you didn’t mean any harm,” I reply. “But my boss did want me to ask you something.”

“Go for it.”

My heart rate rises as I gather my words, nervous to speak them aloud for some reason.

My words come out rushed and jumbled together. “My boss, well she’s my friend too, she wanted me to ask you something. But I should’ve just told her no because it’s dumb to even ask and -”

“Laila,” Bryce says softly, interrupting my rambling.

“Yeah?”

“Tell me what you need from me, pretty girl.”

I let out another sigh. This time to try to quell the nerves and anxiety of asking the question.

Once I’ve fully gathered myself I speak again. “Cass wants to know if you’d be interested in working withLovely Day.”

“Yes.”

I don’t hear his response and instead keep rambling until I catch myself. “It wouldn’t have to be anything elaborate, or over the top and… wait, what did you say?”

A smile is back on his face, the amusement shining in his deep brown eyes. “I said yes.”

“Why?”

“Did you want me to say no?” Bryce asks

“Well no,” I reply. “But I thought that you would want more details, or even to see a contract, or pricing, or something before agreeing.”

“I want to do it because you asked me. And if posing for a picture and telling people about something I genuinely like will benefit you, I’m going to do it every time. Morgan can worry about the contract.”

“Oh,” I reply, simply, at a loss for words.

My chest warms at his words and we sit in silence for a moment as I process until Bryce speaks again.

“I was calling you because I know we said we would start the new season of the show, but I’m still in the studio and I’m probably going to be here for a while.”

“That’s okay, I’m about to head back to the office anyway. We still have a bunch of things to do since the preorder inventory is starting to arrive,” I say.

“Let me know when you get home safe tonight, okay?”

I nod. “Okay.”

16

Sonny

Laila lays across mycouch, cuddled under a blanket that has gained a permanent spot on the back of my couch since she’s always cold when we’re watching tv. Her feet are resting on top of my thighs. The comfortable routine that we’ve fallen into every time she comes over.

After a week in Baltimore, I was more than ready to be home. I was finally ready to formally make music again which led to the studio session with Blue, but this is what I was most looking forward to getting back to.

Back to my routine. Back to … Laila.

We spent time on FaceTime while I was away, but the thing I missed most was the days spent with her doing the simplest things like watching her favorite show.

“Oooo I love this episode,” Laila says after the theme song plays.

I learned very early on tonevertry to skip the theme song for this show. I did once one of the first times we watched the show together and you would have thought I kicked a puppy by the look of betrayal on Laila’s face. Now we listen to the song everysingle time and Laila hums or sings along. I’ve even found myself doing the same from time to time.

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