Page 135 of Composed
“What? Back to being besties who dodge the important conversations?”
I force a smile and bump his shoulder, ignoring the real part of his question. “Besties, is it?”
“Never not, Rix. Even when you ignored me for ten years.”
Air thickens in my throat. “I really am sorry.”
“I know. But you’re making up for it now, right?”
“Trying to.”
I feel his gaze burning into me as I stare into the distance.
He sucks in a deep drag, before handing the joint off to me.
“Just stick around this time. That’s all you gotta do,” he says quietly.
“It’s not that easy, Saint.” I pull in a slow drag, choking down the tangy smoke as a weight settles on my chest. “I have a life to get back to.”
He pushes off the ramp and jumps onto his board. “Then I hope that life is worth it.”
Chapter forty-three
Cole • Now
With Me – Sum 41
PapercrinklesinHendrix’shand as she scans the page.
I press my back into the couch and bounce my pencil off my knee, sipping my coffee while I wait her out.
A long moment passes with only the low hum of a piano passing through the speakers to fill the quiet.
Then she turns to me with a scowl. “This is God-awful.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose and sigh. “I don’t see you coming up with anything better.”
“I gave you a whole track, dude.” She harrumphs, folding her arms over her chest. “All you need to do is use your pretty little mind and come up with lyrics.”
My lips twitch. “You think I’m pretty?"
She lobs a Malteser at my head.
I catch it mid-air and pop it in my mouth.
“We were floating through the air?” she sings, off key and out of pitch. I wince. “What even is that? Are you auditioning to soundtrack the nextSnowmanfilm?”
“Give over. That line is great.”
“It’s shit and you know it.”
“You know what, Rixie.” I tap my knuckles on the floor. “I think you’re just jealous.”
“Of?”
“I mean, you’ve said it yourself.” I fold my arms across my chest and grin. “I am the superior lyricist in this partnership.”
Her gaze narrows. “Superior?”
