Page 93 of Muse (Fighting Fate)

“Play it with me?” I knew my voice sounded uncertain, and I was, but it felt right.

“Fuck yeah.” Matt grinned. He’d been itching to do this since he heard the first bar during the car ride back from Aspen. Aiden nodded and Dean put his guitar back on.

I pulled out the music sheets I’d stashed in my guitar case and passed them over. After a quick going over, we jumped back into place and got into it.

Knowing I didn’t have to share the lyrics just yet made it a little easier, so I just let go and felt the music. The guys kicked in at exactly the right moment and, considering we’d only played around with it once, they played it like they’d done it a million times before.

That was the thing that made us so good as a band. The way we worked together. We were so close, we were like brothers. It was as though we just knew what each other was thinking, and that seemed to cross over to our music.

Playing the song I’d written about the first month of my life with Mia was just the salve I needed. It soothed my soul and gave me the strength I needed to just keep going.

When I let the last chord ring out, I was met with three pairs of awe inspired eyes.

“Are the lyrics done?” Aiden asked, pulling no punches.

I nodded.

“Good.” Looking back to the control booth, he inclined his head to Rick. “You get that?”

I watched Rick nod, then his voice came through the speakers. “Sure did.”

Aiden met my gaze with an expression that told me there was no arguing allowed. “You can do the vocals when the rest are done.”

Drawing in a deep breath, I met his gaze head on and nodded. Yeah, I would. I was ready.

***

By five o’clock that afternoon, all our sound had been laid down. Getting the vocals down was a hard process. It was more tedious than the music, and we were all utterly exhausted, but it was done. I knew some parts would have to be re-recorded, but Dean and Matt could handle the majority of it without us.

Recording the lyrics for Avalanche was liberating to say the least. I did it in the booth on my own, keeping my eyes closed and focusing everything I had on the music playing in my ears.

It was the first time I’d sung lead in front of the guys, and it took a lot to open up and let my voice out to the extent needed to carry the song, but I knew how I needed it to sound and I pushed myself to achieve that.

When I was done, and I looked up beyond the glass to their watchful faces, I could tell they were surprised. Since we’d been doing the whole band thing, they’d only heard me sing back-up, or quiet acoustic songs when we’d been mucking around or trying out new material, but this song was personal, and I just didn’t want to share the words with anyone. I needed to be the one who sang it.

I’d just walked out of the sound booth when Mr. Thomas stepped in from the reception room. I immediately noticed the phone in his hand. His gaze found Aiden first, then swung to meet mine. “I have some good news.”

His words sent instant relief through my stumbling heart.

“All Mia’s tests from this afternoon have shown the swelling around her brain has gone. They’re about to take her off the meds and le

t her wake up when she’s ready.”

I closed my eyes and exhaled heavily. My body suddenly felt like it would crumble to a heap on the floor.

“The doctor said the chances of her waking up before morning were slim though, so he suggested waiting until then before going in.”

Yeah, there was no fucking way I was waiting until morning to see her. I needed to see her now. Heading back into the recording room, I started packing up my guitar.

I was going to sing her to me.

Chapter 46

Mia

I was drawn to the music like a moth to a flame. It was soft and comforting, and its sweet melody was like a breath of fresh air. Sometimes there was a voice that sang along with it. Sometimes it was just the music. I liked the voice. It made me feel warm and protected.

I listened to it intently, fighting the darkness so I could find it, but just when I thought I might get there, it disappeared.

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