“Yes, ma’am.” He strode into my bedroom and kicked the door closed. “I’m here to serve.”
Chapter 31
Joz
Is this what growth looks like?
I’d beenin this business a long time, and I’d never, ever re-recorded an album in five days. Once I began singing, the emotion threaded into every word poured out of me. I often adjusted lyrics as I went along and tweaked the melody, but the songs I’d penned while in rehab were pretty damn perfect right off the bat.
I couldn’t wait for Aspen to hear what I’d created. I’d asked her to stay away while I got it down, but today, I’d agreed she could come along to the studio and listen to one of the songs I’d written for her, about her.
The door to the studio opened, and Aspen walked in, but she wasn’t alone. My baby sister took one look at me and burst into tears. I propped my guitar against the stool and strode into the control room. She flung herself at me, clinging on as though she hadn’t seen me in years.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“Hey.” I made some room between us and wiped my thumbs beneath her eyes. “I told you on the phone last week you had nothing to be sorry for. This is not on you.”
“But I took him to your apartment. I let him invade your privacy. I let you down.” She buried her face in my neck again.
“This is why I asked her to come,” Aspen said. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“Never.” I forced Erin to look at me again. “Listen to me. You didnotlet me down. You never could. You’re my baby sister, and I love you.”
She snorted. “I’m twenty-four.”
“You’ll always be a baby to me.”
“Ugh. Prat.”
I laughed. “There she is.”
She ran her hand underneath her nose and sniffed. “You really don’t blame me for the diary?”
“No. There’s only one person to blame, and that’s not you.”
“Aspen said she fired him.”
My gaze traveled to my woman. “She’s fierce.”
“Great match for you, then.” Erin wriggled free and motioned to me. “I’ve heard there’s a few new tunes for me to listen to.”
“Not yet. I’m only playing one today, and it’s not for you.”
“Rude.”
I chuckled. “Sorry, sis, but you’re not the number one woman in my life anymore.”
“Erm, ruder. Fucking twat.”
Laughing now, I slung an arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple. “I still love you to fucking bits.”
“Can I stay and listen though?” She glanced from me to Aspen.
“I don’t mind at all,” Aspen said. “But it’s up to Joz. Music is a personal thing. If he isn’t ready to share it, then I stand with him.”
What a fucking woman. “I guess you can stay.”
“Wow, don’t go overboard on the enthusiasm.”
