Page 31 of Everything In Between

TWENTY-FIVE

jersey

“What is he doing here?” Cal asks dryly when Hayes walks into the recording booth behind me.

I glance at him over my shoulder before turning back to Cal. “I thought Hayes could hang out while we recorded today.”

Cal frowns. “No.”

“No?” I repeat, confused. “There are always a ton of people in the recording sessions.”

“Yeah, employees,” Cal says to me like I’m stupid, “who have signed NDAs and have been properly vetted by the label.”

“Hayes is my boyfriend,” I tell him. “He’s not going to leak anything.”

“No offense, Jersey,” Cal sneers. “But if you wanted to have your boyfriend sit in with you while you worked, you might have actually been able to keep your last one around a little longer.”

Hayes stiffens behind me and takes a step closer. I blink slowly and run my tongue over my teeth. All right, then.

“It’s fine, Jersey. I’ll wait until you’re finished,” Hayes says. His presence still looms behind me and already I’m missing it, knowing he’ll be on the other side of the studio.

“Good man.” Cal dips his chin.

I watch Hayes leave the studio and exhale, frustrated.

“Okay, let’s go, people!” Cal’s voice booms through the small space of the recording studio and rattles my brain, startling me back to business. “We’ve only got a few hours to get this perfect. We don’t have time to waste. Marco! Take Jersey’s stuff and put it off to the side.”

Cal’s phone rings and he swears under his breath, pulling it out of his pocket, but his face lightens up when he sees the caller ID.

He meets my eyes and holds up one finger, accepting the call and placing it to his ear.

“Meghan! I was hoping I’d hear back today!

Have you given any more thought to my offer? ”

“What do you think that’s about?” Bethany asks.

I shrug, unconcerned. “Who even knows with Cal.”

“You’re probably right. Are you ready for this?” Bethany mutters, looking at her watch.

“As much as I’m going to be.”

“Write anything good today?” Bethany asks.

I shake my head. “No, I’m still playing with a few melodies and chord progressions. But it’s going to have to wait.”

“Do you need anything?” Bethany asks. “Hot water or tea?”

“Maybe a tea with some honey in it.”

“Coming right up.”

The next few hours are spent recording and re-recording, layering and making sure I’m enunciating the lyrics properly. Cal watches and listens to every little detail meticulously, the disapproving expression never leaving his face.

“Again!” he shouts through the mic into the studio. “This time pretend you’re Meghan Connelly and hit those notes like she does. She’s got the best range. You’d do well to take a chapter out of her book.”

I grit my teeth and ignore the gnawing pain in my chest at the comparison. “My range is perfect for the songs I record.”

“Do as I say, Jersey. Again!”

When I finally leave the recording studio, I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck. Hayes is waiting dutifully for me outside of the recording room, and his face lights up when he sees me walking toward him.

“Hey,” I say, standing up on my tiptoes and planning to give Hayes a kiss on the cheek. Before my lips land on his skin, he turns his head, capturing my mouth with his.

When he breaks us apart, his eyes glitter. “Hey there.”

Already I feel better with him near me. “Sorry you had to wait out here. It probably wasn’t as exciting as you thought it would be.” I shake my head.

He shrugs. “That’s all right. Getting to watch you from out here was . . . enlightening.”

She tilts her head. “Why is that?”

“I could see the struggle going on inside of you. You love what you do. I can tell how much giving life to your music and words means to you.” He brushes his hand down my cheek and runs his thumb over my lower lip, eyes darkening as a slow smile appears on his face when I suck in a tight breath.

“But even I could tell that the words are wrong. I could see you struggling, trying to find the right delivery for those words that aren’t yours. ”

When he drops his hand, I bite into my lower lip. “How can you see me so clearly?”

“Because I’m looking and paying attention.” His expression is soft as his eyes study my face, proving his point.

I part my lips to say something else but someone else interrupts. “Well, isn’t this cozy?”

Hayes turns his head as I stiffen, glowering at the newcomer as he approaches. He’s like a parasite I can’t get rid of. “What are you doing here?”

The hair on the back of my neck stands up and Hayes snakes his hand around my waist, protectively drawing me closer to him.

“I was supposed to meet with Cal an hour ago, but your recording session went over. I got bored waiting so I thought I’d come up here and watch.” He slides his hands into his pockets and gives me a sardonic grin. “You know, like old times.”

“You never came to any of my recordings.” I narrow my eyes accusingly.

Corey rocks back on his heels and then shifts focus to Hayes. “Hayes Vogt, right? We still haven’t had a chance to formally meet each other. I’m Corey Shrader. I’m sure you’ve heard lots about me.”

“Nothing worth repeating.”

His lips twitch in an amused smirk. “Good game the other day.”

“Thanks,” he says brusquely. “If you don’t mind, we were kind of in the middle of something.”

Corey raises his hands. “My bad. Just figured I’d pop by and say hey. I’m supposed to be going out with Cal for a drink or two later. But I’ll leave you two to your something. I’ll see you later, Jersey.”

“Don’t count on it.”

He snorts a laugh and then turns away, leaving us alone again. I wrap my arms around Hayes, burying her face in his chest. “I hate that he’s been around so much. I feel like I’ve seen him more in the last few weeks than I did during our entire relationship.”

He runs his hand up and down my back, staring after Corey. “Why do you think he’s here?”

“I don’t know. But I don’t like it.”

“Me either. Are you all finished?” he asks, redirecting the topic. I love he’s not giving Corey any more energy than absolutely necessary.

“Yup. I just gotta grab my stuff and we can head out.”

Hayes bends down and presses his lips to mine, sending all thoughts of Corey or Cal straight out of my mind, too. “Perfect, ’cause I believe you have a hot date, Ms. Matthews.”