Page 64 of Before We’re More Than Friends (When We Faced the Music #1)

“Hey, I have my reasons.” Hayden cleared his throat. “So where’s the song you two made out to while writing?”

I gasped. “We didn’t make out to it or while writing it.”

“It came after the songwriting,” Raina said.

I rolled my eyes. “I originally wrote it, but we changed it,” I said as Raina opened her notebook to where we’d left off. “For the instrumentals, we want to start off with the keyboard since the beginning is sad, and then upping the instruments as the song goes on.”

Caleb grinned. “I definitely like the sound of that.”

“Of course you would,” Hayden murmured as he studied Raina’s notebook.

I held my breath as his eyes skittered across the page, his lips pursing. After he flipped a page, he asked, “Can you give the rest of us a moment to look over it? ”

“Okay.” I got up from my seat, and Raina did the same.

“And don’t eavesdrop like how you did in the laundry room,” Oliver said.

“No promises,” I said with a smile before closing the door. I sighed and faced Raina. “I feel like I’m being judged on a talent show.”

“Me too,” she said as we sat on a bench in the waiting room.

Centuries seemed to pass before Oliver came into the waiting room. “Hey, we’re ready.” From the look on his face, I couldn’t tell whether it was good news or not.

“What do you think?” I asked, the eagerness obvious in my voice.

Oliver ignored my question as we followed him back into the break room. Hayden stood up with my notebook in his hands while Caleb, Sienna, and Arielle were sitting where they were before.

“Did you like it?” Raina asked, tugging the bracelets on her wrist.

Hayden bit his lip. “Not really.”

Every ounce of hope in me collapsed along with our faces.

“Oh,” I said, scratching the back of my neck. “Um, well, maybe Caleb has something?—”

“We freaking love it!” Hayden wrapped me and Raina into a hug, a grin breaking out on his face. “It’s perfect for Battle of the Bands.”

“I can’t believe you did that!” Raina shouted as he crushed us. “I was about to cry.”

“Me too.” I laughed. “You’d have to mop the room with the trail my tears would leave.”

“Please save that emotion for the performance.” Hayden beamed as we broke out of the hug. “The song is simple enough to learn in a week but still provides enough emotion. It’s just our style.”

“It’s settled,” Oliver said, smiling. “Like Airplanes is back in the game.”

We all let out cheers, sounding like we’d already won Battle of the Bands. But whether we won or not, I knew we weren’t going to regret giving our band another shot.

It wouldn’t be a disaster this time.

After finishing my first task, I went into Mom’s office to see how she was doing. When I saw her grin as she typed on her computer, the tightness in my chest subsided. “Hey, Mom.”

“Oh.” She looked up at me, adjusting her glasses. “Sorry, Dallas, I was just focused on some charts.” She smiled, the brown in her eyes gleaming for the first time in a while.

“Having a better day?” I asked as I sat across from her.

“Much better. Been able to focus and get more done.” She let out a happy sigh. “I’m enjoying myself here again.”

“I’m glad.” I smiled back, my spirits lifting. “I’m guessing Dad really delivered with whatever he did to cheer you up on the phone.”

“Yeah.” Mom’s cheeks turned pink as she glanced at her keyboard. “He did.”

I gagged. “Seriously? I don’t need to know, then.”

“Wait, what?” Mom’s lashes fluttered. “No, we didn’t—Oh, Dallas, why are you so?—”

Blood rushed to my own cheeks. “What else was I supposed to think with the way you blushed?”

She sighed. “I guess you get your blushing from me.”

“I can’t really blame my paleness anymore, can I?”

She giggled. “Gosh, you’re so much like me. But you’re also a lot like your dad.” Her gaze went to the family photos on her wall. She’d put all the ones with Dad in them back up. “ Especially with the way you smile. And your adorable dimples.”

I reached for her hand. “I’m the best of both of you.”

“You are.” Mom squeezed my hand.

After talking to her for a little longer, I started my first task of the day, which was playing with the kittens with Raina. Giddiness coursed through me as I made my way into the cat playroom, where Moonlight was already walking on Raina’s stomach.

I laughed. “I’m guessing she missed you.”

“I never thought a cat would want to be back here,” she said as she tried to sit up, her hair falling in her face. Moonlight let out a deep meow before rubbing her black back against Raina. “But I think she’s in love with me. She’s too freaking cute.”

“She is.” Sunshine meowed when I sat down, and I rubbed behind her ears. “I missed you too, girl. I can’t wait to play with you again.” I shook a cat toy that was shaped like a mouse, and she reached a paw for it. “All the other cats are going to be jealous.”

“Why are they back, though?” Raina asked, the joy in her eyes fading.

“Their owners couldn’t keep them.” I thought about how our move had changed so many plans in our family.

How comfortable had Moonlight and Sunshine gotten before being brought back?

Thinking they had a forever home before it was snatched from them?

My heart pinched. “They found a new place to move to, but the complex didn’t allow cats. ”

“Aw, that’s heartbreaking.” Raina frowned as she looked at Moonlight. “If I brought you home, I’d keep you forever.”

Moonlight meowed and sat in her lap, purring up a storm.

I smiled, my heart on the verge of bursting. They belonged together .

And that was when the idea hit me, almost hard enough to knock me over.

Raina looked at me with wide eyes. “What happened? Did she scratch you?”

“What?” Had I gasped or something? “Oh, no, I just . . .” I looked at Moonlight, who wouldn’t stop reaching her paw at Raina. “I just hope these cats find a good home soon.”

Raina nodded. “Me too.” Moonlight let out another deep meow. She rubbed under Moonlight’s neck. “Yes, Moonlight. You’ll find a good home soon.”

During the entire time we played with the cats, I couldn’t keep my mind off my idea. The anxious excitement built in my chest whenever Raina interacted with Moonlight. The cat was freaking obsessed with her, like how Sunshine was obsessed with me.

As soon as we finished, I practically bolted to Mrs. Landers at the front desk, hoping my plan wouldn’t be a bust.

“Hey, Mrs. Landers,” I asked once she finished her conversation with one of the receptionists. “I have to talk to you about something important.”

Her golden-brown eyes met mine. “Yes? What can I help you with?”

I couldn’t help the smile that stretched across my cheeks. “Would it be possible to get my parents to adopt a cat for another family? I know who the owners will be.”