I look at Ryan and curl up my nose in apology as Tillie goes back to her MacBook.
“Sorry, Till,” I apologize again. She forces a small smile and focuses back on the work in front of her as I stand, along withRyan, Danger, and Lunar, and we head out of the room toward the studio.
“Sorry, Ry, I didn’t mean to piss her off.”
“Nah, it’s all good. Till’s just stressed. She’s trying to figure out ways to keep the momentum going. Till just wants the song not to plateau, and she’s putting way too much pressure on herself.”
“Maybe you should help relieve some of her tension, hey, fucker? You really need to take her to that shop on Wilks and Third. Danger, and I swear by it,” Lunar says, making me chuckle.
“Thanks, Lunar, but I can keep her satisfied without the bondage. Trust me, we’re fine in that department.”
My phone vibrates in my hand, and I bring it up to see another message from Jaci. I read it as we arrive at the studio and grin widely while typing my reply.
An image of Alex suddenly flashes in my mind, and I wonder how she’s doing with her internet dating saga, so I send off a quick text message to see how she’s faring.
Me:Hey, Alex. How’s the dating app chaos treating you? Any hits? Or are you still leaving people on read like a pro?
I grab my stool next to the amp hooked up to my bass while Ryan and Danger mess around doing whatever it is they do. My phone buzzes with a message from Alex.
Alex:Hey, Matty Moo! I’ve had a couple of pessimistic winks so far. A few cute guys, but I haven’t actually messaged anyone yet. Feels weird making the first move.
Me:C’est la vie, Alex. You should totally message first… guys love it when a girl takes the lead.
Alex:There’s this one guy I could message. He seems okay…
She sounds unsure, so I try to nudge her along.
Me:Go for it! I’ve been messaging Jaci all day, and it’s going great. You could have that too… just gotta take the leap.
Alex:Okay, I will. Side note… Nate’s working late tonight, so want to come over for takeout? We can compare notes on our LovePessimist matches and hang out.
A grin spreads across my face before I can stop it. The thought of spending the evening alone with her sends a few nervous flutters through my stomach. Not sure what that’s about, so I shove it aside.
Me:Yeah, sounds good. I’ll swing by after six-thirty.
Alex:Perfect. See you then!
Chapter Seven
MATT
Driving through the Art District to get to Alex’s apartment is eye-opening. This part of town is so cool, and I can see why Nate was so excited by her living here. The giant giraffe mural comes into view, and I pull up out the front of her apartment. I’m still in awe that she’s that uber-talented.
Grabbing the Chinese takeout from the front passenger seat, I hop out and then head inside the building and up the three flights of stairs to her door. It doesn’t take long for her to answer after I knock.
When she pulls the door open, my eyes bug out of my head. Alex’s standing there, not in her usual business attire, which I’m used to seeing her in, but in a pair of cute denim shorts and a plaid shirt buttoned up just above her perky breasts with cleavage peeking out. The sleeves of her shirt are rolled up her arms, giving her an edgy look. It’s grungy, but somehow it looks hot.
Alex eventually furrows her brows like I’m being weird. “You gonna stand there all night, or you gonna come in, you creeper?” she asks, shocking me back into reality.
I hand her the bag of Chinese and give her a smile. “I brought food.”
She chuckles, taking the bag, and turns to walk inside, placing it on a counter. “I can see that, Chinese too… did you miss the pizza emoji?”
“Shit, you wanted pizza?” I question, my eyes widening, even though they are still focused on the way her tits look in that top.
She narrows her gaze on me, folding her arms across her chest, which only forces those puppies out more. “Are you high or something, Matt? You’re being weird.”
I shake my head, step into her apartment, and close the door behind me. The space opens up like a movie scene—expansive, with high ceilings and an industrial vibe that screams converted warehouse. It’s nothing like I’d pictured, but somehow, it’s even better. My eyes roam over the bursts of color splashed across the walls, eclectic artwork leaning casually on every surface, and the scattered yet purposeful arrangement of furniture. The place feels alive, like an extension of her personality, and I can’t help but feel drawn to it immediately.
