It wasn’t the group. They’d been good, better than I’d expected, in fact. No, it was the awareness of a single presence in the corner, quiet, watchful, soaking everything in.
I’d told myself letting Cameron come was harmless, but every time I caught his gaze, something inside me stuttered. It wasn’t distracting in the usual way; it grounded and destabilised me all at the same time, like singing in a key I’d never practised but somehow knew by heart.
I stared down at my notebook, though I wasn’t reading a word. Cameron’s smile was still there, ghosting behind my eyes. So was the heat that rose in my throat every time Cameron leaned forward to listen.
This was a mistake.
Cameron watching me sing felt way too intimate.
I was suddenly too warm.
“Everything okay?” Max murmured beside me, low enough for only me to hear.
I didn’t look up. “Fine.”
Max smirked. “Funny definition, but sure.”
I clenched my jaw and turned a page I didn’t need to turn. Across the room, Cameron laughed at something Julian said, and the sound sent a jolt straight down my spine.
Focus.
This means nothing.
But for the rest of rehearsal, my timing wavered by fractions of seconds—and Max noticed.
Julian noticed.
And worst of all, Cameron noticed. Every time I lost one breath of control, Cameron’s pen paused over the sketchbook, watching me.
Seeingme.
And I didn’t know what to do with that.
I need to get out of here.
I closed my notebook. “Good work. We’ll run it again Thursday.” He paused. “By the way… that rehearsal won’t be here. Those of you who had your audition in a studio in Soho? That’s going to be our new space. Max’ll send the rest of you the address in the WhatsApp group chat.”
That earned me beaming smiles and a chorus of whoops and cheers.
“Can we add Cameron to the group chat?” Sebastian asked. “I know he’s not part of Rough Harmony, but…well, he is, sort of.”
“Yeah, he’s one of the family,” Julian added.
I glanced at Max, my heart pounding.
Max shrugged. “Not a problem. I’ll do that as soon as I get his number.”
From his spot over by the wall, Cameron smiled. “Thanks, guys. That saves me chasing you all for phone numbers.”
I might not have been comfortable with the idea of bringing Cameron into our space, but it was obvious the group had adopted him.
Which implies he’ll be at more rehearsals.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
“And on that note…” I squared my shoulders. “Goodnight.”
Chairs scraped, voices rose, and laughter filled the space again.