Page 8 of Rekindled

Four

New York, New York - Present Day

Iswayed my head to the melodic instrumental streaming from the overhead speakers. My partner cued up the raw track via the mixing board. Strums of the guitar paired with a bass accompanied by angelic vocals belting lyrics written by me followed suit. I closed my eyes and hung my head over the neck of the couch and allowed myself to get lost in the sound. A better feeling didn't exist… besides sex, of course. Listening to my words over a beat. Words written from my heart in solitude, capturing the essence of love. I'd become known for that - creating songs that perfectly described falling either in or out of love. I earned a living that way.

"I can't get over how dope this is," Lexi bragged. I leveled my head and focused my attention toward the mixing table where she sat, nodding her head in time with the beat playing.

"Tell me about it," I replied, dropping my head back again, allowing my lyrics and the singer's voice to cradle my soul in bliss.

I'd written hundreds of songs, received just as many song credits and four Grammys because of it. Writing about the one thing I adored but didn't have was a gift and a curse.

The track faded out when I straightened my back in my seat and smiled from ear-to-ear.

"Another chart topper," Lexi declared with a smile as big as mine.

"Another damn hit!" I leaned forward in my seat with my fist extended and she tapped her knuckles with mine before we fell back laughing.

Lexi has been my business partner for the past seven years. We met at an open mic during the summer of 2013, clicked, and have been a duo ever since. Women producers in the music industry were rare, which was why I was so eager to team up with her. Our studio time was always mellow. Turned down lights, a single candle burning, no drama, no fuss. Lexi's golden ear for sound and my knack for weaving words together to create songs that covered the heart just worked. We became known as a dynamic duo in the industry the moment we teamed up on our first song years ago. And we've been inseparable ever since.

"So." She swiveled in her chair to face me. The song started up again, but at a lower tone, playing softly in the background. "Where are you headed for Christmas?"

It was the morning of Christmas Eve, an hour before sunrise. We always kept the studio dark with shimmering pot lights overhead dimmed to a golden halo glow.

"I had a flight scheduled for Miami," I revealed, folding a few strands of my hair behind my ear. "Planned to make a hotel suite my temporary home, ordering room service, and spending at least two separate days down at the spa. But then my girl Journee called me, begging for me to head out to Colorado to spend a little time with her."

"Wait." Lexi cocked her right brow. "You chose Colorado over Florida?"

I chuckled.

"You're literally trading one cold climate for another."

"New York's cold differs from Colorado's though," I reasoned. "Here in NYC, the air is dry. But Colorado has this crisp winter air that I just love so much."

Or maybe the memories previously made in Colorado were what I loved the most. Memories involving a somebody I tried daily to rid my mind of whenever I slipped up and thought of him.

"Whatever you say, Maven." She snickered. "I think you should rebook that flight to Miami. Isn't Journee newly married, anyway?"

"Eight months strong." I smiled to myself.

"So you're about to play the third wheel to a newlywed couple on Christmas day?"

I shook my head. "Journee and her man won't make things awkward like that. They're like my siblings if you can imagine it. Plus, I haven't seen Journee in months since her wedding in April and I miss her. So, if being the third wheel is what I must be to see my best friend..." I lifted, then dropped one shoulder. "Then so be it. I'm more excited about cozying up in the cabin by the fire late at night with a good book, anyway."

"Hmph," Lexi huffed, spinning around to face the mixing board again to adjust a few knobs. "As for me, I'll be here until midnight mixing this track down. After mixing, I'll head upstate to sit at my parents' table Christmas morning to hear all about how my eggs are about to rot and they want a grandchild before then, which won’t be happening. I don’t know how many times I have to explain that to them."

I laughed while shaking my head. "Sounds fun."

She glanced at me over her shoulder. "Right?! But don't be jealous, girl."

"It'll be hard, but I'll try."

We both chuckled at that.

∞∞∞

An hour later, just as the sun rose over the iron structures of skyscrapers, I handed off my carry-on suitcase to my chauffeur, who stored my roll on in the trunk of hisTesla.

"Ready for your flight?" Jared inquired as we both settled into our seats in the black car.

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