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“I get it, man. I do,” I manage in a choked voice. “And yeah, I think we can convince her to stick around.”

Relief floods his eyes. He draws in a heavy inhale. “Thanks,” he breathes out. “Thank you.”

He drops his focus back to the guitar. His fingers return to absent strumming.

Whatever impulse told me to sit with him earlier is now urging me to give him time alone.

With a quick nod, I return to my room, feeling the opposite of how I left it a half hour ago.

Callie stirs when I climb back into the sheets beside her.

“Everything okay?” she mumbles in a sleepy tone.

“Yeah,” I say with a smile. “I’m pretty sure it is.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

We spend all of Thursday perfecting the song so our studio session can go as smoothly as possible. There will be enough mental and emotional hurdles to overcome without adding musical ones.

By the end of the day, we feel really good about the mechanics of the song. The rest? I don’t know.

As we pack up our gear and reload it into the trailer, my nerves grow with each passing minute. Luke’s silence tells me he’s anxious as well. Eli and Sweeny don’t seem to notice, but Callie does.

She asks multiple times that evening if we’re okay.

I do my best to reassure her, but I’m not sure how effective it is. She’s always going to be concerned, and rightfully so. I just don’t know how to explain that this trepidation is different. It’s no longer fear that something won’t happen. It’s fear over what will happen when it does.

We’ll definitely be going to that studio tomorrow. What’s waiting for us when we do, I have no idea.

I never tell Callie about my pre-sunrise interaction withLuke. Most of that moment was just for us, just as I’m sure they’ve had their own private encounters.

I’m already awake by the time my alarm goes off Friday morning. After a quick shower, we grab a coffee at the hotel café and meet Sweeny and Eli in the lobby. A hired car is waiting for us at the valet stand. Our equipment should already be at the studio.

“You ready?” I ask Callie, forcing brightness once we’re underway.

I can tell she’s excited, and I don’t want to take anything away from that.

“Me? Areyouready?” she returns.

Her easy smile draws one from me.

“Hard to believe this is happening,” I admit.

Eli and Sweeny acknowledge me, but Luke seems lost in thought as he gazes out the window. His startled response when Callie squeezes his hand confirms my theory.

I pull her close, and the tension in my body melts away at the feel of her warmth against me.

We ride the rest of the way like that, and by the time the driver double parks in front of the studio, excitement is breaking through the fear.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a studio with these guys. Conflicting memories of our last session tempers some of the anticipation.

We enter the building to find Julian already waiting for us. After a quick greeting, he turns to Luke with an air of reverence.

“Luke, good to see you, man,” he says with a warm smile.

His sincerity sends a wave of relief through me. Luke’s gaze flickers to Julian’s before he returns an apologetic nod.

“Good to be back.” His tone reflects his regret about the last time we were here.