Page 57 of Composed
“Seven years, three months, and four days.”
Carter makes a noise somewhere between a grunt and a scoff behind me.
I pin him with a glare.
I’m pretty sure he’s not reacting to Riley right now, but the connection she and Hendrix have built. The family they’ve clearly become in our absence.
And yeah, it fucking sucks that she walked away and created her own life without us.
Still, he can save the dramatics for when she’s not here trying to help us.
A flicker of guilt crosses his face. “Riley, is it? You said you’re a book editor?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Anything we’d know?” He asks.
Her lips twist. “Do you read romance?”
“Er, no, actually.” He rubs the back of his neck, his blank stare returning as Hendrix looks his way. “But that’s a cool job.”
“Thank you. I like it.”
I smile. I see why Hendrix was drawn to her.
Maybe it’s her bluntness, the way she doesn’t react to us as we’ve grown to expect from others, or maybe it’s just that she’s unapologetically herself in a world that has probably judged her harshly for it.
Hendrix has always been drawn to people who don’t fit the standard. And when she welcomes you into her world and drops those shields for you, she loves fiercely.
Clearly that’s something Riley needs.
And if the way Hendrix leans on her is anything to go by, she needs it too.
“So, Hendrix.” Carter sneers. I’ve never seen him so cold. He’s not exactly the sunniest guy in the world, but he’s never distant. Not like this. “You’re back.”
Hendrix tucks her hands into her sleeves. “Yep. Guess so.”
“For now,” he says. I swallow hard, a lump brewing in my throat at the ease in which he throws out the accusation. Though, I think it’s more that I know he’s not wrong. She’ll leave again soon. “What have you been doing all these years? Writing for other bands?”
She shakes her head, her expression blanking. “I’m a mixing engineer.”
Saint jerks up and shoots me look.
I nod, a muscle jumping in my cheek.
Saint's face narrows.
“You don’t write anymore?” Axel asks, a frown tugging his lips.
“Not recently.” Hendrix taps her foot against the floor. “But enough about me. Let’s talk about Reckless Abandon. What the plan is. What you’re wanting.”
I can see Saint wants to ask her more, Axel too. Even Carter looks thoughtful as he watches from his leaning post.
I understand their need for answers. All I want is to know how the music died for her.Whenit did. And if she struggles with the silence as much as I do.
Did her dreams really change, or did she change them to suit this new world she’s living in?
“Can’t even remember the last time we were allowed to be creative and consider our own wants,” Axel says.
