“Fuck, why does everyone ask that?” Asher groans.
“Because people are curious?” I shrug.
“You get hurt fighting?” Grayson asks.
“You wouldn’t know because I’ve heard you avoid fights. The world’s first pacifist hockey player, huh?”
Grayson scoffs, stepping over to Asher. “That’s not true, want to find out for yourself?”
I step in front of my friend while Asher chuckles, standing up as well. This puts me between the two of them, and now Ireallyfeel three inches tall. But being between them also has a rush going through me. Shooting all the way up my body, but settling between my thighs. I shouldn’t feel this way right now.
“Please.” Asher laughs. “I bet I could lay you out even with one good arm.”
“No one is fighting,” I finally say.
“It’s cute you want to protect him, babe, I can appreciate that,” Asher teases and I glare at him.
“Don’t talk to her like you know her. Where have you been the last five years?”
“Working my ass off. What have you been doing? Riding daddy’s coattails and playing for his team because you aren’t good enough to get drafted anywhere else?”
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Grayson snaps, looking at me. “Sunshine, why do you want this asshole around?”
“Enough,” I scold, worried this is already going so poorly, so I divert. “I wanted to show you my new song.”
“Yeah, Wheeler, play nice,” Asher teases and I want to throw something at him.
“WellHudson, you can leave.” Grayson pushes back and I just shake my head.
“Both of you can knock it off or leave. I’m going back into the studio. I hope you don’t kill each other while I’m behind that glass.” I nod toward the room where I record.
I want to try to play this song one more time. It’s going to be stripped down, but I’m not sure how much production I want to put behind it anyway. And I need someone in my life that isn’t my mom to hear it.
Grayson has heard my songs as I work on them before, and with this being so different I know I want his opinion. But I also want to know what Asher thinks. Probably because I know my typical sound isn’t his style. Also, the lyrics describe how I’ve been feeling so perfectly and I don’t know any other way to show that outside of music.
I pick up the guitar in the studio, sit on the stool situated in front of the microphone, close my eyes, and start to strum the melody. Letting the chords I memorized flow without thought, I feel every note deep into my bones, and then I take a soft breath before singing the first line.
I keep my eyes closed as I continue because I know if I see Grayson and Asher watching me from the other side of the glass it’ll distract me too much.
I may not know who I am, but you’ll always find me.
I’ve tested out different sounds, and this is one of the slower songs I’ve written lately, but everything about it just feelsright.
As the song comes to an end, I want to keep going because I don’t know what I’m about to see when I open my eyes. The lastchord rings out, and I let it fade on its own while I try to regulate my breathing.
When the music has stopped, I can’t hold out any longer and slowly open my eyes. Then even slower, I look up at the glass to see what’s waiting for me.
Grayson and Asher are standing as far away as possible, but both are staring at me with similar expressions of adoration. Though each of them also has another level of heat in their gaze. Asher’s causes a shiver down my spine while I remember what it was like to have him looking up from between my legs. His hazel eyes promise danger, but the best kind that I’ve never experienced before him.
Grayson’s causes my heart to skip because he’s always been a constant in my life. My best friend for as long as I can remember. This newfound element to our relationship has me confused, scared, and excited all at the same time. His green eyes promise comfort, gentle and familiar love. But I also know what it’s like when it’s been just the two of us, the way he talks to me. And the way he treats me.
“So,” I speak into the microphone to them. “What do you think?”
Grayson knows how some of the controls work because I’ve showed him. He finds the button to speak on the overhead so I can hear him.
“You’re absolutely perfect as always.”
Asher leans over to speak into the overhead as well. “I think you should come out here, and I canreallyshow you what I think.”