Page 41 of Battered Moves

“I thought you just uploaded it on private or something,” he says. I pull the laptop onto my knees and minimize the video, looking down at the numbers.

“You guys already have like two hundred thousand views,” I whisper, then I look up at Ryder before we both turn to Liv, shocked.

“I opened some social media accounts for the band and fed them teasers of the video,” she announces with a smile. “One of them went viral a few hours ago, and I bet the numbers are increasing as we speak. You already have around thirty thousand YouTube subscribers, with a few thousand followers on other platforms.”

“Holy fucking shit,” Jaxon mutters again.

“Huh,” Ryder manages to utter before he sits himself back down on the couch.

“But that’s not the best part,” Liv adds, grinning mischievously.

“How is that not the best part?” Chase asks with a laugh.

“A record label just slid into your DMs half an hour ago,” she replies. “It seems it’s time to get your own songs ready, Ryder, because you guys are getting a contract.”

Chase and Jaxon both jump up from their seats, cheering, while I’m left in stunned silence. I look over at Ryder, expecting him to flip out, but instead, he’s just sitting there, staring up at Liv. Tears start to well up in his eyes, and before we know it, he’s sobbing uncontrollably. Liv’s face falls, and she moves to straddle his lap, cradling his head in her arms against her chest.

“Ryder,” she whispers, but he just pulls her closer, squeezing her tightly as he continues to cry.

It’s been years since I’ve seen him cry. My eyes start to water too as Chase and Jaxon stand by their side, watching the two of them. Liv continues to shush Ryder, telling him that he’s made it and that he’s going to be the next big thing.

“Just wait until we get started,” she whispers, pushing his hair away from his eyes. “This is only the beginning.”

CHAPTERSIXTEEN

Liv

Ryder thanked me several hundred more times before giving me a kiss and heading to his room to call Cara, Brian, and Tom to share the news. He’s only been gone for about ten minutes when my hunger becomes more prominent than my tiredness, causing my belly to growl. Jaxon notices and quickly gets up to head to the kitchen.

“We can’t have our girl going hungry, can we?” Chase teases, but River is still sitting beside me, quieter than usual.

“Are you okay?” I ask him, and he nods slowly.

“Yeah, I’m just in awe of you,” he says. “Ryder and the others have been working their asses off for years, only landing those little gigs and not getting the recognition they deserved, and then you come along and make it look so easy.” Chase agrees, nodding.

“I knew you were good, but damn,” he adds, impressed. River pulls me closer to him.

“You did this. You made this happen for him,” he says, his voice filled with admiration. I smile and shrug.

“I just did what I know how to do. Those guys are the talented ones,” I say. “I would never want to go back to being famous myself, but I know it’s Ryder’s dream, and I’m going to do everything I can to help him achieve it. If my experience in the industry can help with that, how could I not offer it to him?”River shakes his head.

“You’re amazing,” he says, grinning at me,I blush and look down at my feet.

“He’s right,” Jaxon says as he comes back into the room, a plate in hand. He gives it to me while sitting down next to me. It’s a delicious-looking avocado egg sandwich and my mouth waters.Yum.

“Thank you, Jaxon,” I say wholeheartedly before digging in, which makes Chase snicker.

“Sure, they are the ones with the talent, but they didn’t know how to sell themselves,” Jaxon says. “They never could’ve done that without you.”

He rubs my back as I devour the sandwich.

“Good?” he asks, smiling, and I nod with my mouth full. There is so much affection in his eyes. “I’m going to cook you dinner tonight. This is just to hold you over and keep you going through your dance session. You are going to dance, right?” He looks at my clothes.

“Yeah, but I’ll make it a short session. I’m too tired and would rather go lift some weights too,” I say.

When I’m done, he takes my plate from me, takes my face in his hand, and squeezes my cheeks together so I involuntarily make fish lips, which he then kisses, making me giggle.

“Good girl,” he says and brings the plate back into the kitchen.

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