Page 169 of The Song We Lost

Every story you’ll be told…

Every brave and beautiful thing you do…”

I didn’t recognize the song, but a warmth bloomed in my chest and made its way through me. Iris made a sleepy little sound against his chest and Luke smiled down at her like she hung the moon.

And just like that, another image slammed into me so hard it stole the air from my lungs.

Luke holdingourbaby.

I blinked away the tears, because that was a dream I had to let go and couldn’t get lost in.

Across the room Sadie sat curled into the corner of the couch with a blanket over her legs, looking at something on Luke’s phone. Her face softened in a way I hadn’t seen in weeks and when she noticed me standing there, her eyes widened slightly before she immediately locked the phone and tucked it beneath the blanket. But before I could ask, Sadie grinned at me. “Well look who slept in on her big day.”

I blinked, dragging myself into the room. “What?”

She pointed toward the clock. “It is almost ten.”

Luke chuckled and my head snapped to him. What I saw in his dark blue eyes took my breath away. I opened up my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Then Iris sneezed and the tension cracked instantly. Sadie burst out laughing while Luke looked concerned, “Is she ok?”

Iris responded by making another little grumbly noise against his chest. And god help me, I laughed. A real laugh. The sound felt foreign leaving my body. Everyone went still for half a second like they noticed it too.

Sadie recovered first. “So,” she said casually, like she wasn’t aware of the emotional landmine we were all standing on. “Are we excited for nominations today?”

I forgot… That’s today?

I groaned and walked toward the kitchen. “No.”

“That’s not the energy we’re bringing today,” She called after me.

I grabbed a mug from the cupboard. “I genuinely do not care.”

Didn’t they know that the more nominations I get, the more the label will push for me to return?

“That is a lie,” she replied.

“It’s really not.” I quipped.

Luke stayed quiet behind me and somehow that was worse than if he said something. Because I could feel him watchingme. My chest squeezed around the realization. So many things I wanted to say, but I didn’t want Sadie to feel guilty, I didn’t want her to tell me to go celebrate, perform, live my life.

My life was right here.

Sadie shifted carefully on the couch. “You released one of the biggest albums of the year.”

Luke murmured, “Yes she did.” in a soft singsong kind of voice, to a sleep drunk Iris.

I turned and had to look away from the sight of them in the morning light. The bastard had the audacity to look amused. I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t encourage her.”

“Too late,” Sadie said.

A knock sounded at the door before I could respond and a second later Noah walked in. “Morning, are we ready to celebrate, four… no five nominations today?.”

“Good morning to you too,” I muttered.

He walked straight for me and wrapped me in a hug, before freezing when he noticed Luke holding Iris. His entire expression softened. “Damn,” he said quietly. “That looks right.”

Luke looked down immediately, emotion flashing so quickly across his face I almost missed it.

Before anyone could say anything else the front door burst open again.