Page 15 of Hard Rock Temptation
“So,” I continued. “One song each. Think we can all do that?”
“Sure, I’m game,” Zain said easily, as if I’d asked him to choose which movie to watch that night and not something as make-or-break as the track list for our sophomore album. “We’ve got one song I can think of that’s ready. I just need to stoptweakingthe solo.” Zain smirked at me with a sarcastic glint in his eyes.
“I don’t think I’ll have anything of my own ready quick enough,” Chris said. “But I can help anyone else if they need a second pair of eyes.” He didn’t sound upset about it, so I counted that as a win.
“I might take you up on that,” Anya told Chris. “I’ve always been better at melody, I could use your help coming up with a great chord progression.”
Good. The band had taken my suggestion well enough without protest. I was relieved until I saw the obstinate look on Kaylee’s face, her jaw set firmly. This might end up being a battle.
It was also an opportunity. An opportunity to fix things.
The only question was, would Kaylee accept the olive branch?
“Kay, why don’t we work on something together?” I said.
Her jaw went slack, mouth almost dropping, but she caught herself. There was an internal struggle in her eyes.
“We always did make the best stuff, after all,” I said. “All the big hits came from the two of us.”
“Hey!” Finn and Zain protested together.
“Manyof the big hits came from us,” I corrected.
“Only some!” Finn insisted.
My eyes met Kaylee’s, sharing a familiar glimmer of amusement before she looked away.
“I’d really like to talk about it,” I told her, knowing that she would understand I meant more than the songwriting.
“Hey guys, why don’t we take a lunch break?” Anya spoke out loud. “While these two talk out the details.”
“Great idea,” Chris said. He put his wide palms on Finn and Zain’s shoulders, physically maneuvering them toward the staircase to go upstairs. The two of them looked befuddled but went without protest.
“So, you want us to choose a song and work on it together?” she asked immediately.
“Yes,” I said. “We always worked best when it was just the two of us, and I know we’ll be able to throw together something fast. We should already be in the recording studio by now,” I added as an afterthought.
Kaylee gave me an incredulous look.
“Wellmaybeif you hadn’t beenavoiding me, we could have finished these songs and gotten the album doneages ago,” she stressed caustically.
I winced.
“I know,” I said, lowering my head. “It’s my fault. I messed everything up. But Kay, you have to know I never meant to hurt you.” I lifted my head and met her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m so,sosorry. I was just… I just…” I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated and unable to find the right words.
“What are you sorry for?” she asked, not in a mocking way, but genuinely asking.
“For avoiding you,” I said. “For not talking to you. For all the things you accused me of. I won’t do it again. I promise.”
Kaylee stared at me, looking me in the eyes, as if trying to gauge my sincerity. I stood still, willing to let her examine every inch of me, down to my core. Finally, she nodded once, a look of understanding on her face.
“All right then,” she said, her voice sounding resolute. “Let’s work on a song together.”
“Just like old times?” I offered her a smile.
She returned my smile with a grin of her own. “Just like old times.”
SEVEN
