Page 67 (1/2)

My s like it’s lare and walked away, only to glance overaze

I shivered, veryon that promise

When I reached the studio, Eve looked behind my shoulder as I stepped inside "Where’s Mr O’Dea?"

"Oh, so He’ll be here in a minute" I suys?"

"Aye, all intros have been enially "You ready to lay down ‘In the Wind’?"

Of all the songs the guys got to hear, it would have to be that one I gulped, feeling nervous "Sure"

"What’s this one about?" Brandon asked He and Micah took seats at the deck and I walked toward the booth door

I blew out air between my lips and it sounded shaky even to my ears "It’s about my mom"

Silence fell over the booth and I pushed inside I had to forget that the guys were here I had to forget that everyone was here I’d already recorded this song, but ht place and neither Killian nor I were happy with it Hence I was back to rerecord it

A thought struck me and I pushed open the door to tell Oliver I didn’t have uitar case

How? I blinked up at hiot to ask you to bring it, so I had Autumn run over with it I hope you don’t mind"

"No" I shook my head as I took it from him "Thanks"

He placed a hand on the side of the booth, essentially blocking me froet we’re all here It’s just you and your guitar"

Hoping I could do that, I disappeared back into the booth and got set up I didn’t look out into the studio at all I settled on the stool, put the headphones on, an to sing about losingit drift into the wind and being lost at sea

I sang it with all the grief I’d felt the last two years

As I finished the lyrics--"But it’s always out of reach"--I looked up and locked eyes with Killian It wasn’t true anyain It would never be whole, but I think that’s what life was about You started out with a pure, whole soul and life took hits at it It charred it, bruised it, and sometimes even smashed it to dust But there ays to hold on to it and to even piece it back together in neays To add patches of light to a shadowy bruise, to stitch a crack with a little thread of joy

"Wow, that esoh the headphones and made me jump "I don’t think we need another run at that"

I jerked aze from Killian to Brandon and Micah Brandon’s eyes ith tears and Micah looked conflicted

After I packed uitar away, I ventured out of the booth only to drop the case against the wall as Brandon came at me He wrapped his ar, Sky Fucking stunning"

I sed hi over me "Music heals, yeah?"

Tears burned in "

Reluctantly, he let lanced at Killian "Give us the room"

Killian’s expression hardened, but he looked at h I was afraid of what Micah had to say, I nodded

I could tell this did not ive us privacy We shared a long look as he was the last to leave I gave hi nod