Page 117 of The Music of Us
He dismissed this. “I’ll write you a better one,” he decided, ever the music nerd I’d known and loved since I was eleven. “One with a better bridge, and one you’ll know is yours right from the start.”
“Well,” I said, as he dipped in to kiss me again, sweet andsoft. We parted far too soon because we both couldn’t stopsmiling. “I suppose that’s fine.”
“I’m going to spend the rest of my life writing love songs about you, Lucy Melrose,” he swore. “Don’t try to change my mind.”
I smiled, reached for his hand, and held on tight. “Wasn’t going to.”
Epilogue
One Year Later
Danica: For those of you who just tuned in to theWhat’s POPpinlivestream of the Shooting Star Awards, I’m Danica Card, and we just saw an amazing live performance by the Usual Suspects! Word has it that Jake Moody will be releasing a new solo single, which he wrote for his mysterious girlfriend of one year. She must be quite amazing, since she’s also rumored to be the true muse behind the hit “Lovely, Aren’t Ya.” With a new manager, everyone in US is doing better than ever. Could this be—wait. [Blurry camera footage shows four teens in suits sneaking behind her. The first one turns to shoot a wicked grin at the camera before vanishing off-screen, followed by the others. Danica turns, too late to see them.] Was that Jake who just passed me? Is that rogue sneaking out again? [Indiscernible reply from off-screen] What, all of US snuck out? Seriously? Where are they off to? What could possibly be so important that they’re missing the rest of the award show?
—What’s POPpinlivestream transcript
Donotchange the channel again.”
Testing me, Rumple’s paw hovered above the TV remote. I turned back to the screen, watching as the award show closed. A montage played showing highlights of the night, including one of Jake and his bandmates performing onstage, before the reel faded away.
“Okay, now you can.”
Rumple slammed his foot down on the remote, making several buttons light up yellow, and an old black-and-white movie appeared on-screen.
Laughing, I leaned back under the café’s jungle canopy. “It’s good to be home for the summer.”
“It’s good tohaveyou back,” Mom replied, smiling up at me from her tablet, where she was looking over this month’s jam-packed reservation schedule. I’d never seen it so full during summer before. The livestream from last year was still keeping us booked and busy, and getting cats into homes faster than ever. “You deserve a break, you’ve been working so hard. I can’t believe your professor’s already mentioned writing a letter of recommendation for vet school in the future.”
I beamed with pride before teasing, “AndIcan’t believe you decided to keep Bunny as a resident cat along with Rumple.”
“Well, Bunny and I were twins for a while there with the whole leg thing. We bonded,” Mom reasoned, as Bunny heard her name and hopped over to say hello. “Plus, I figured since my daughter risked her life to save her, it’s only fitting I keep her.”
I laughed again before sending off a quick text to my boyfriend. The award show started about three and a half hours ago, and US had been the first live performance. The cameras neverflashed to them for the rest of the night, and according to gossip, Jake had talked the band into sneaking out.Again.
Rumors swirled about why: Jake had slipped away to steal a limo, and the band was currently screaming out the sunroof and terrorizing half of LA. The boys were going to TP their ex-manager’s penthouse. Jake had flipped off a rockstar and then snuck off to a rave.
Dating the bad boy was actually pretty fun when you knew what he was really like.
Me:Let me guess. You snuck out for tacos this time?
Jake:
Jake:Talk to you soon
I grinned down at my screen, imagining them all pulling up to a fast-food drive-through in their fancy suits.
As I began writing Jake another text, a thudding sound came from the back door.
“It’s late,” I commented, glancing up at the pale moonglow outside. “Were you expecting anyone?”
Mom shook her head.
Ready to investigate, I approached the back door, but not before grabbing the ugly pink tiger off the shelf, just in case. I held the statue aloft in my right hand, and with my left, I turned the doorknob, throwing open the door to reveal—
“Jake!” I exclaimed in excitement.
“Lucy,” he grinned back, his eyes lighting up the moment they landed on mine, before his gaze drifted to the statue in my hands. “Are you going to put the disturbingly pink tiger down?”
“I don’t know,” I flirted. “Areyougoing to kiss me?”
