Page 65 of Fractured Heart

“Tate and Charles?” Silas interrupts, sounding skeptical. “Are you sure?”

I nod.

“Charles always harmonizes with JJ,” Silas explains, speaking slowly and condescendingly.

“He does?” I frown. That doesn’t sound right, but I’m suddenly not feeling so sure anymore.

Charles and JJ both nod. Silas smiles triumphantly.

“Oh…” I hesitate.

“Why don’t I swap with Tate?” JJ grins. “I’ll sing his lines and he can sing mine. Problem solved.”

“Well…” I hesitate, but Silas answers for me.

“Good thinking, JJ. Alright, everyone. Places.” He claps his hands and the guys instantly stand tall and get into position. “Everyone memorize the first verse?”

The guys nod and Silas motions them into action. Charles crosses the stage. They sing “once upon a time” with renewed gusto. Silas actually stays in tune. It sounds good.

Then, JJ sings Tate’s line. His voice is beautiful but completely out of place. It doesn’t work when Charles tries to harmonize with him, and they both grimace but keep singing.

JJ and Charles take the lead on the next line. When Silas and Tate try to harmonize with them, the entire song goes haywire.

Silas waves a hand, and everyone stops. “That didn’t sound right to me. Did that sound right to you?”

They hesitate, but their silence says it all. They glance at me hopefully, but I don’t know what to do. This isn’t my song anymore.

“Let’s try that again.” Silas takes over. “From the top, everyone. But this time, Tate, you hold that note instead of JJ. And Charles, instead of crossing the stage, stay where you are. JJ, you cross to stage center.”

They run through the song, over and over, until it barely resembles the version I started with. If it weren’t for the lyrics, you wouldn’t even know I wrote it.

Their rendition isn’t as terrible as Apples—I doubt anything can compete with that—but the entire song sounds chaotic. I’d pictured a magical fairy tale but instead, we’ve got a complete mess.

Finally, Silas calls a time out. “We have to free up the room for the next group. I booked us in again at seven, so we’ll resume from where we left off. I know we’re not there yet, but I’ll get us ready for that audition.”

The guys smile and nod. My chest tightens.

“Roonie, stay back a moment. I’d like to go over a few pointers before our next rehearsal.”

My heart suddenly feels like it might explode right out of my chest.

“We’ll wait right outside.” Tate smiles at me and my shoulders sag with relief.

“No need. I’ll walk her back to your apartment,” Silas says and the pain in my chest is back.

Something about his tone sends a chill down my spine. He’s not scowling though, and he doesn’t seem annoyed with me. Could he actually want to work together? Is he willing to put aside our differences for this audition?

“Be nice,” Charles growls, but he steps out the door.

JJ heads after him but stops when he passes me. He wraps a strand of my hair around his finger, winks, and gives it a gentle tug. His tone is flirtatious, but his eyes serious. “You got this, Roonie.”

Tate takes his place and hugs me in parting. “We’ll pick up something to eat. What would you like?”

“Doesn’t matter,” I whisper.

Tate nods, but JJ shakes his head. “No, you pick Roonie.”

“Anything you like,” Charles adds from the doorway.