25. Twenty-Five
Twenty-Five
Lila
The energy in Wild’s recording studio pulses like a living thing. It hums in the air like a song waiting to be played, and I can feel it thrumming through my veins the moment I step inside.
I sit on a leather couch behind the glass partition, watching five men who move together in sync, connected by invisible threads of music and years of friendship. Luke stands at the keyboard, his back to me, the slope of his shoulders relaxed in a way I don’t see often. He looks effortlessly cool and sinfully handsome in ripped jeans and a faded t-shirt.
Cass stands at the mic, eyes closed, as he works through a complicated harmony while singing the lyrics. Vince is tuning his guitar, fingers moving like they’ve memorized every note in the universe. Sam sits nearby with his bass propped on his lap, plucking strings and listening intently to the vibrations. And Nate, the heart of their rhythm, spins a drumstick between his fingers, tapping a soft beat on the edge of his snare.
The band hasn’t even started playing yet, and I’m already mesmerized.
Luke waves, turning and flashing me a crooked smile that sends warmth spiraling through me. His expression soft but full of that magnetic confidence that always makes my pulse skip.
“Luke looks happy you’re here,” Kendrick says, her tone light but knowing.
I glance toward the band, where Luke is now fiddling with a few settings on his keyboard. “He’s just being neighborly,” I say, brushing off the comment, but I can feel my face get hot.
Kendrick smirks. “Sure he is.”
Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room shifts. The banter dies down, replaced by a focused intensity as the guys take their places. Emily, looking every inch the band’s manager, stands near the sound booth, her clipboard in hand as she coordinates with the audio engineers. Her calm authority is impressive, and it’s clear she’s the one keeping the team on track .
“Ready?” Emily calls out, her voice cutting through the buzz.
“Let’s do it,” Cass says, his deep voice carrying effortlessly across the room.
The next second, music fills the studio, and I’m completely transported.
“They’re something else, aren’t they?” Kendrick settles beside me on the couch, her eyes fixed on Cass as his voice blends perfectly with the music.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” I admit. “The way they just... know what each other is going to do.”
“Years of playing together will do that.” She grins as Cass stops mid-verse to gesture at Vince, wordlessly communicating some change in the arrangement. Vince nods, adjusts his fingers on the fretboard, and they start again seamlessly. “It’s second nature to them now. They don’t even need to talk—they just know.”
I nod, unable to tear my eyes away. It’s fascinating to watch how they move and connect; each note a thread in an intricate web of sound.
When the song ends, Emily steps forward, giving them a few notes on the tempo and transitions. She’s calm but direct, and her feedback is concise and constructive. It’s clear they trust her judgment completely.
I shift uncomfortably. “Are you sure it’s okay that I’m here? I don’t want to intrude on their process.”
“Are you kidding?” Kendrick laughs. “Vince brings a different girl every week. However, none of them last long enough for us to even learn their names. He’s a bit of a womanizer.”
I raise an eyebrow, glancing toward Vince. “Really?”
From her position near the mixing board, Emily rolls her eyes. “Vince’s last girl thought Sam was the lead singer.”
“That’s because she never actually listened to any of our music,” Sam calls through the intercom, making everyone laugh.
Kendrick laughs, low and easy. “Trust me, no one will blink at you being here, Lila.”
That sets me at ease. “Alright. I’ll just sit back and watch.”
“Luke’s never invited Crystal,” Emily says in a low voice, with a meaningful look in my direction.
Before I can respond, Luke catches my eye through the glass and winks. The simple gesture sends warmth spreading through my chest. He looks so natural here so in his element. His t-shirt clings to his shoulders as he moves with the music, and his face—God, his face when he plays—is like nothing else in the world exists.
“They’re working on the bridge for the new single,” Emily explains, her gaze lingering on Sam. “It’s been giving them fits all week.”
As if on cue, Luke holds up a hand, stopping the music. “Let’s try something different. Sam, can you drop that bass line an octave? And Cass—“
“Yeah, I hear it.” Sam’s already adjusting. “Vince, follow my lead on the harmony.”
They launch into the section again, and this time it clicks. The music swells, building to a crescendo that makes my skin tingle. Cass’s voice soars over the instruments, raw and powerful.
“They’ve nailed it,” Kendrick mutters. “That’s it. That’s the one.”
Emily is already marking something on her clipboard. “Got it. Let’s run it again from the top.”
“She’s good at this,” I say to Kendrick, nodding toward Emily.
Kendrick smiles. “She has to be. Between managing the band and being a new mom, she’s pretty much a superhero. ”
“How is Presley?” I ask, thinking of Emily’s sweet baby girl.
“She’s doing great,” Kendrick says, her smile softening. “Cassidy loves babysitting her. She’s been over the moon about it, honestly. I think it makes her feel like a grown-up.”
“That’s sweet,” I say, picturing Kendrick’s daughter doting on her little cousin.
“She’s a natural with her,” Emily adds, having heard us. “Unlike her father, who still looks terrified every time he holds her.”
“Hey, babies can be scary!” Sam protests through the intercom.
Luke chuckles into his microphone. “You faced down twenty thousand screaming fans at Madison Square Garden, but you’re afraid of a baby?”
“Those fans don’t throw up on me.”
The easy banter continues as they start another take. I watch, fascinated by how they work—professional one moment, teasing the next, but always in sync. There’s so much affection in this room, so many different kinds of relationships woven together by music and time.
Cass signals something to Luke, who nods and adjusts his headphones. The opening notes of a different song start up—something slower, more intimate. When he begins playing, his eyes find mine through the glass.
“Oh boy,” Kendrick murmurs. “I know that look.”
“What look?”
“The ‘I’m playing this for you’ look. Trust me, Cass and I have both given it to the other enough times to know.”
Heat creeps up my neck, but I can’t look away from Luke. The melody wraps around me like a caress—the sound soft, loving, and filled with unspoken promises.
My heart threatens to burst right out of my chest.
The band’s taking a break, and we join them when Nate’s phone starts buzzing. He glances at the screen, and his eyes go wide. The whoop he lets out makes everyone jump.
“Holy shit! Holy actual shit!”
“What?” Cass lowers his water bottle. “You okay there, man?”
Nate’s practically vibrating. “Remember that tech startup I told you guys to invest in? The one with the new breakthrough technology?”
“The one you wouldn’t shut up about until we all bought in?” Vince grins. “Yeah, what about it? ”
“They just got acquired. By one of the big boys.” Nate’s grin threatens to split his face. “We’re talking ten times our initial investment. Ten. Freaking. Times. Each!”
The room erupts. Vince drops his guitar pick. Cass spits out his water. All eyes are staring at Nate in growing amazement.
“You’re serious?” Luke steps closer to Nate, peering at his phone. “That’s not a typo?”
“Dead serious. Check your accounts—the shares and money are already there.”
There’s a scramble as everyone pulls out their phones. The next moment is filled with shocked exclamations and creative cursing.
“Holy mother of—“
“Is this real?”
“Nate, you beautiful genius!”
The high-fives and hugs start flying. Vince actually picks Nate up and spins him around while Sam and Emily do their version of a victory dance. Cass’s got Kendrick in his arms, both of them laughing.
I hang back, watching their joy, until Luke turns, and his eyes find mine. The smile on his face is blinding. Before I can react, he’s crossing the room in three long strides.
“This is it!” He sweeps me into his arms, lifting me clear off the ground. “This covers the balloon payment. We can save the company!”
His jubilant kiss takes me by surprise—firm and sweet and tasting of pure joy. When he pulls back, his eyes are dancing. “We did it, beautiful. We actually did it.”
The room has gone quiet. I’m suddenly aware that everyone’s watching us, and heat floods my cheeks. But Luke just grins, completely unabashed, still holding me close.
“Well, well,” Vince drawls. “Guess that answers the question about you two.”
“About damn time,” Sam mutters.
Cass is watching us with a knowing smirk while Kendrick elbows him, trying to hide her smile. Emily’s not even trying to hide hers.
“Oh, shut up,” Luke tells them all, but he’s laughing. His arms still around me, solid and warm and safe. “I need to call my dad. This is a game changer. ”
The excitement builds again as everyone starts making plans. Talk of celebrations and parties fills the air, but I’m stuck on the way Luke is looking at me, like I’m somehow part of this miracle.
“You did this,” I tell him softly. “You made this possible.”
He shakes his head. “Nate did this. We just trusted him enough to invest.”
“Very smart.”
“Smart enough to know what truly matters.” His thumb brushes my cheek. “Let’s have a private celebration. We should probably talk about... this.” He gestures between us.
“This?” I raise an eyebrow, trying to ignore how my heart is racing.
“Yeah, this thing where I can’t seem to stop kissing you in front of all my friends.”
As if to prove his point, he dips his head and captures my lips again, softer this time but no less devastating. Someone—probably Vince—lets out a wolf whistle.
“Get a room!” Sam calls out.
Luke breaks the kiss but keeps me close. “Ignore them. They’re just jealous.”
“Damn right we are,” Vince agrees. “When do we hear the story of how you two ended up together?”
“When you learn some manners,” Luke shoots back.
I hide my face against his chest, overwhelmed by the teasing, the joy, and the sheer rightness of being in his arms. His hand strokes down my back, and I can feel him chuckling.
“Come on,” he murmurs in my ear. “Let’s get out of here before they start asking for details.”
As he leads me toward the door, Emily calls out, “Don’t forget we have practice again tomorrow!”
“I’ll be there,” Luke answers, his hand warm on my lower back, but he doesn’t slow down.
As I take a quick glance around at the people who mean so much to him—his band, his family—I can’t help but feel like I’m part of something bigger, something extraordinary.
We step into the hallway, leaving behind the sounds of celebration. Luke pulls me to a stop, pressing me gently into his arms.
“Thank you,” he says softly .
“For what?”
“For your support, your trust in me, and being my lucky charm—for being here and sharing this with me, for everything.” His eyes search mine. “Just... thank you.”
This kiss is different—slower, deeper, and full of promise. When we break apart, I’m dizzy with it.
“So,” he grins, “about that private celebration...”
I laugh and let him lead me away, my heart lighter than it’s been in weeks. Something tells me this is just the beginning.