Page 22 of Lyric & the Heartbeats

So it was both a blessing and a curse that Emerson showed up right when she needed him most. And he could play bass? She almost resented him. Lyric studied him.

“I can audition if you’d like,” he said.

He seemed sincere, if a little embarrassed. Was he ashamed at the idea of auditioning? Did he think himself so talented?

Tired of arguing, Lyric let it go for the time being and waved her hand in the air. “Go grab an instrument. Show me what you can do.”

Emerson crossed the room, shoulders tense under the gazes of the others, and Lyric followed tentatively as he slung a strap over his neck.

“We’ve had a last minute addition,” Lyric announced. “Continue as you were.”

Curious gazes lingered, but for the most part, everyone went back to practicing as far as she knew.

Her attention was locked on Emerson, on the way his fingers danced over the strings and played with the same ease he’d shown on stage during his own set. Lyric knew if he was even half as talented on bass as he was with that acoustic guitar, she’d have her bassist.

He delivered and then some.

After his audition ended, he approached cautiously, long hair tucked behind each ear. She wanted to slide her fingers along his temples and let it free.

Clearing her throat as she approached, she gave him a single nod. “I’ll have Andi send the contract to your agent. Have legal counsel look over it if you’d like.”

A tic winked to life in his jaw, but he nodded. “Got it. Contact info is in the application,” he said, and pulled a packet of papers from his back pocket.

She flipped through the papers, finding the application completed and the interview consent form already signed.

Cocky little guy, isn’t he?

“Anything else?” he asked, and she glanced up at him. Like, way up. He was taller than she remembered.

Okay, maybe not so little.

Lyric shook her head.

“Not that I can think of right now.”

The remaining weight threatened to slide off her shoulders—and all of a sudden, she saw it.

He would fit perfectly in the empty space on the stage in her mind. She imagined him as he’d been that night on stage, with his wide brimmed hat. Now that she knew he didn’t like to be the center of attention, she saw the little hints of it in his performance. The short introduction, the sparse eye contact with the crowd. The hat used to hide his eyes from their gazes.

In her mind, as she stood center stage, she could feel him to her left. He’d thrum the bassline, and all together, they’d make a perfect band.

Lyric’s lips twitched before she broke out into a full smile. “Well, alright then. I’ve made my decision.”

No one clapped or cheered like she’d imagined, but she felt lighter all the same. She officially had a touring band.

A throat clearing sounded behind her, and her excitement was dampened.

Right.

She had to tell them her decision now. And let some of them down. Part of her knew she could ask Andi to dismiss the others, but Lyric was a grown up. She was a chart topping musician, and she could pick her own damned band.

Leaving their group behind, she walked to the center of the room and got the attention of the applicants who’d been invited for the second round.

She called out a list of names that she’d memorized, and they each stepped forward…including both bassists.

“Thank you all so much for coming. I appreciate your interest in joining me on tour, and while each of you are uniquely talented, I’ve made a decision, and unfortunately, I cannot extend the invitation to you.”

Letting her words sink in for a moment, she tried not to wince at the disappointment on their faces. Some were dotted with annoyance, and she refused to take it personally.