8. Chapter Five
Chapter Five
Lila
“ Y ou got lucky,” Juno said. She handed me her phone. “The cameras were there for some guy named Knox Price. Not you.”
I looked at the article. “That was the couple in front of me.” I let out a breath of air. “Thank God.”
“Your disguise is good. Your hair’s in the photo’s background, but you’re so hunched over that I couldn’t even tell who you were.”
“I’ve been doing this for years,” I said. “It’s like second nature.”
“Good. But we still need to be careful.”
“I know, but I needed to leave this hotel room. It’s so stifling being Lila.”
“And it doesn’t help that someone is following you everywhere.”
“Yeah. Not that I don’t like you, it’s just nice to be alone sometimes.”
“I’m not a complete stick-in-the-mud. I know how hard this life is for anyone, especially someone as kindhearted as you. Every day, I wonder how you weren’t eaten alive by the music industry. You’re so nice .”
She wasn’t wrong. Being nice was the one thing I was good at, though sometimes, it felt like the one thing that caused the most pain.
“I try.”
“Your manager, however, is very much the opposite.”
“Mia?”
“Yeah. She called me today to check in.”
“She called you ?”
“She wants answers from everywhere. I’ve gotten used to it, but she’s the most intense woman I’ve ever met.”
“It’s mainly because I’m behind schedule. That reminds me, I should go to the studio and record now that we know my secret isn’t blown out of the water. I have some new lyrics.”
“You could relax for a bit,” she suggested.
“Now, what would Mia say about that?” I shook my head. “It’s fine. I know what I’m here for.”
I walked to the bathroom and put on my full Lila getup. Even with my years of practice, it was a long process. I had to prep my skin for makeup, put on lashes and a wig cap, and layer the wig over everything else.
“You know,” Juno started, “I’ve heard some of the stuff you’re working on. It’s got to be about Blaze, right?”
“Yep.”
“Blaze would look terrible with long hair.”
I smiled. “With how fried it is, I doubt he could even get it long.”
“Only certain people can pull it off.”
“Barry can,” I said.
“Yeah. He’s not my type, but he is a fine specimen. What do you think he benches?”
“I have no idea,” I said. “Why? Do you think you can out-bench him?”
“I’d like to try.”
Days later, I was still writing. Everything was inspiring, whether it was something beautiful for a love song or another thing I hated about Blaze.
He’d done an interview, talking me up as he usually did. But something about how he described it made me feel like he was subtly complimenting himself .
When I heard it, I immediately had the perfect melody for this anti-Blaze song, and I needed to get to a guitar to play it.
Technically, I had a guitar here, but what I really wanted was to play it on Barry’s.
Lila: Are you awake?
Barry: Yes.
Lila: Can I come over?
Barry: Any time. We can meet at my apartment.
I told Juno to drop me off and stay on call. She agreed and said she would wait outside and stay very close.
Barry met me by the door leading up to his place. His apartment was smaller, with a love seat and a few books stacked on the side tables. His guitar sat next to one of them, in perfect placement for him to reach out to start playing while relaxing on the furniture.
Everything here was ideal for a single person. There was only one stool at the overhanging bar, one chair at a small dining room table, and one set of keys on the hook by the door.
“Lila,” he said. “Welcome.”
Barry wasn’t wearing a flannel this time and my eyes trailed to his arms. Them being on full display made my stomach do a flip. When was the last time I’d ever felt this way over a man?
“Thanks for letting me come over. I love your place.”
“It isn’t much,” he said with a shrug.
“Does it have a rooftop area too? Most of the places here seem to have something.”
“I keep that for personal use. I’d show you, but I have a feeling it wouldn’t be safe for you to go up there.”
“You’re right about that.” I couldn’t imagine what would happen if I got caught. “So, all of this is for you? You have good taste.” I eyed the artwork with music notes and the LED lights behind a record player. “What records do you have?”
“Mostly yours,” he said. “Plus some Fleetwood Mac and Taylor Swift.”
I looked at his collection, and true to his word, many of my albums were there. My cheeks burned at how much of a fan he truly seemed to be.
“So,” I said, determined not to overthink this, “I have some ideas for my anti-Blaze song. Can I borrow your guitar?”
“She’s all yours.” He handed it to me.
I played a melody that was lower than I’d usually go. “I was thinking about this, but with a harsher electric guitar.”
He paused to consider it. “Not bad. It’s very different from your usual sound.”
“This is what I resonate with right now. I almost wish I could release it.”
“Maybe one day.”
I wished I could say yes, but I busied myself by writing down a few more notes. When I looked up, Barry was watching me.
“What?”
“It’s nice to see you in your element.”
“Scribbling words in an old notebook? Is that a compliment or an insult?”
“A compliment. I wouldn’t dare insult you.”
“Thanks,” I said. “But I must say, this isn’t me at my best.”
“I like it anyway.”
My cheeks heated again and I found my focus pulled from songwriting to him. “How did you find my music anyway?”
“My sister liked you.”
“You have a sister?”
“Yes. And a brother.”
“What are they like?”
“They’re completely different. My brother is a high-up businessman and my sister is working her way up the ladder in the banking world.”
“Your dad works in the big building, right?”
“He does. I’m surprised you remembered.”
“It’s a good revenge story.”
“Not as good as this song you’re writing.”
I doubted it. My life had grown boring once everyone knew everything about it—at least Lila’s side of it anyway. But Barry’s life, a man who came from a harsh family and made something all on his own, sounded much more like a story I wanted to tell.
He didn’t seem interested in opening up about that side of him, though. And I didn’t have extra time to push him in the ways I wanted to. I needed to get this album done.
Desperately.
“You know, I’ve been writing other things. Softer things, I mean. Want to hear something else?”
He smiled. “I’d love nothing more.”
Barry
Never in my life did I ever imagine I would be hearing Lila Wilde sing a new song for me and me alone. This had to be a dream, one I would wake up from and wish was real.
The words were soft and melodic. But I could hear how she would speed it up and make it another hit. I could see her twirling around the stage, singing it to . . . anyone but Blaze.
Maybe me.
At least in my dreams.
One day, it was going to be changed. All mentions of me would be scrubbed and I would be replaced by the man she stood beside.
She stopped strumming and her hazel eyes looked up at me. She didn’t look like a pop star when she did. With her hunched shoulders and shaky smile, she looked scared.
“It’s amazing,” I told her.
“Really? You’re not just saying that because you think you have to?”
“I truly think it is. I really liked the line where you ask me not to break your heart.”
“Well, I had to have something about Blaze in there.”
I laughed, but the reminder of him made me ask for one thing. “Can you record the original version and send it to me?”
She smiled. “I can make that happen.”
Her phone rang and I saw the name Mia on the screen.
“You need to go, don’t you?”
“Yes. My agent is calling. I should probably be at the studio too. I have a few ideas I could record. And this song, of course.”
She handed me the guitar and walked toward the door. My heart lurched, and I knew she couldn’t leave without me saying one other thing.
“Lila,” I started, and she paused.
“Yes?”
“I know you’re with Blaze. And I will always respect that. But if you’re ever not with him and want anything different, I’ll be waiting.”
Her breath caught in her throat. “I don’t know if I could ever leave—at least not until my fame dies down.”
“I’d wait that long.”
“Really?”
“If you’re on the end of it? Then every single day would be worth it.”
Her eyes grew misty and she slowly nodded. I hoped she would stay. If she did, I’d do the impossible and stay away from work, but her smile fell and she walked out the door.