Page 17 of The Sound Between Us

“Definitely a reality check.”

She nods, and her eyes—so dark they’re almost black—shine under the fluorescent lights.

“Well. Glad I could help ruin your day.”

I open my mouth again, but stop myself.

And leave.

The car door slams. Familiar. Safe.

“Harrison!” someone calls and it’s too shrill, too loud.

I glance back to find one of the girls from earlier who shrieked in the shop.

Fuck.

I sink low in the seat.

“Where to, boss?” Lee asks, already merging into traffic.

I should head to the Savoy. Or the hotel. Or the studio. Or hell.

Instead, her voice plays on loop in my head: You stuck to the formula.

“Go around the corner,” I say suddenly. “Slow enough to draw the crowd.”

Lee’s brow furrows in the rearview. “Harrison⁠—?”

“Humour me.”

He doesn’t argue.

We crawl forward, the girls following behind us. When he rounds the corner, I slip out and double back, hoodie up.

She’s locking the shop. Still shaking her head.

I step out of the shadows. “Hey.”

She jumps. “Fuck! You can’t creep up on people like that!”

I laugh. “Didn’t realise I was creeping.”

“Guess you’re not used to it.”

She eyes me again. “What do you want? I thought you got chauffeured off to luxury land.”

I shove my hands in my pockets. “Would you believe me if I said I was at a loose end?”

“No.”

“Even when I do this?” I bat my lashes.

“Definitely not.”

Her smile flickers.

“Really,” I say. “Your brain might be faulty.”

She goes still. Her face blanks.

“I’m not the one who makes terrible music.”

She turns, walking past the spot where we first collided.

I pull my cap down and follow.

I shouldn’t.

I know that.

But I do anyway.