Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“I love singing, don’t get me wrong. I’m just tired, I guess. I want to know how it feels to be free again, you know?”
“The tour will be over soon, and you’ll be back on your ranch in Denver, with your horses, and you’ll not have to worry about any of this for a while.”
“We both know that’s not true, I have an album due out. I’ll be spending every day recording until we go on tour again. It never stops for me.”
He exhales. “No. I guess it doesn’t. Anyway, enough doom and gloom. I’m here to talk to you about Amalie. I hear you requested her in the band.”
My brows knit together. “You know Amalie?”
His cheeks go a little red and my eyes pop wide open. “Oh, my gosh, Isaac. Do you two have a thing or something?”
“No!” he says, shaking his head. “She just ... I’ve seen her play, and well, just seen her ... she’s—”
“Breathtaking.”
He nods and looks to me. “I wouldn’t mind being able to spend a little more time with her, watch her play some more.”
“You must like her, considering you could have any girl you ever wanted at the drop of a hat.”
“But not you, my sweet Scar. Not you.”
He dramatically falls on top of me, pushing me back. I laugh hysterically and slap his chest. “You’re a douche, Isaac. Get off me!”
He chuckles and kisses my cheek. “I’ll leave you to keep perving on your little biker.”
He winks and gets off me, standing and looking out the window. Then, very dramatically, he waves like a mad man. I giggle and stand, shoving him out of the room.
Then, I get right on back to what I was doing.
Perving on that gorgeous biker.
-7-
SCARLETT
“Don’t be nervous,” I say to Amalie as we wait for Susan to come and watch. I only have a few hours before my show, so it has to be a quick performance, but I’m glad she’s even giving me the chance to show her how amazing Amalie is.
Amalie shifts in her seat and looks over to me. “I don’t think Susan likes me very much.”
Her voice is soft, and slightly off tone, but it only makes her more beautiful.
“She does like you,” I say, looking directly at her so she can read my lips.
She exhales and we both wait for Susan to arrive. She does, about ten minutes later. When she enters the room, her eyes go to Amalie, and she stares at her for a moment, then she looks to me. “I’m really very busy, Scarlett. Make it quick.”
I don’t like the way she’s talking to us, but she is here and I’m not going to start an argument now. I look to Amalie and nod. She looks like she’s about to pass out from worry, but she nods and we start playing. I start the song, one we both picked. It’s a single of mine called “Dreamin’ blues”. It’s a beautiful song, and one that has a great chorus for Amalie to play. I strum my guitar and watch as Amalie closes her eyes.
She told me she can hear, very slightly. She explained she struggles with words, but music tones she can make out a little more clearly. Just enough to know where her cues are. I’m sitting right near her, so she is able to join in on the song at the right time. I start singing and watch as Amalie runs her fingers over the piano keys, eyes closed, body relaxed.
When her part comes, she starts playing as I sing, and once again my breath is nearly knocked out of my body. The way she plays ... It’s incredible. So incredible I can hardly make sense of it. Her fingers move over the keys at a gentle, yet quick pace, keeping up with me. She’s memorized my songs, learned them, mastered them. She must have done that before I knew her to be this good.
If that’s not dedication, I don’t know what is.
I glance over at Susan, expecting a scowl, but instead I see awe on her face as she watches Amalie play. The music that fills the room and the passion behind it makes even the hardest person stop and listen. It captivates you. There is no way you can walk by and not hear it, not feel it, not breathe it. I notice people stopping outside in the hall, a few of them stepping into the room to watch Amalie play.
When the song is over, she lifts her head and opens her eyes, cheeks instantly going red when she sees how many people are here, watching her. I swing my gaze to Susan, and she looks to me. “A word?”
My heart sinks a little, but I look to Amalie and say, “I’ll be right back.”
She nods and I stand, following Susan out of the room. When we’re in a quiet location, she looks to me, her eyes holding mine. “She’s incredible, Scarlett. You’re right. You want her in your band?”