get started. The studio engineer spoke to them for a few minutes, explaining what he wanted to hear, then gave them the cue to start.
The red recording light went on, and Kaylee's throat went dry. She almost missed her cue to start, but got on it at the last second. Her fingers moved stiffly at first, but the more she strummed, the more she relaxed. The song stopped and started a few times, fixing missed notes and off beats. Each time they started, it got easier and easier for Kaylee.
Ashton was definitely impressed with his girlfriend's hidden talents. As he sang the song, he gazed over to where Kaylee sat. She looked like she was lost in her own little world, and her body no longer held the anxiety that it did when they first started. He noticed that she was even adding backup vocals where they were needed.
After a few hours, they finally recorded the song all the way through, and Cody told them to take a break. Kaylee looked relieved, especially after Ashton took the guitar from her.
"That was great!" he told her, helping her up from the chair. "How's the shoulder?"
"It feels sore right now. I don't think I'll be able to use it for a while. I just hope I didn't push it too hard." She put her hand to her shoulder and rubbed it softly.
"I'll rub it for you tonight. How does that sound?" Ashton asked her, winking.
Kaylee didn't have time to react before Colton grabbed her around the waist from behind and twirled her in the air. Her shoulder smarted with pain, but the happiness in his voice made her ignore it. "That was awesome! I had no idea you knew how to play!"
Kaylee giggled. "I really don't know how to play, I just mess around a little. Noah's been working with me though."
"You always manage to surprise us," Jayden told her, giving her a soft kiss on her cheek.
"Hey!" Ashton protested, and pulled Kaylee back to him. "She's mine, lips off!"
"Okay guys, I hate to break up your fun, but I just thought you might like to hear this," Cody said over the intercom. The track they had just recorded filled the air.
Kaylee covered her face with her hands, nervous to hear what it sounded like when she played. Colton grabbed her hands and danced with her around the sound booth. He twirled and dipped her, moving to the beat of the song, in exaggerated steps, careful of her sore shoulder. Then it happened...she heard her voice coming through the speakers. It surprised her so much that she stumbled, and sent both her and Colton crashing to the floor, him on top of her. They both landed with an audible groan.
She pushed Colton off her body with all the strength she could muster. Before she could get up, the song ended. She looked at Cody and shook her head. "You can't use that!"
"What? Why not? That was awesome!" Ashton told her.
"But I don't like my singing!"
"That's one of the best parts," Cody told her. "You started out as a background singer, and when we heard how good your vocals were, we engineered them to be louder. They mix perfectly with Ashton's gravelly voice. This song's got hit written all over it. Not to mention how marketable it's going to be, Ashton and his girlfriend singing together. How about we call it a day now? Oh, and see what you can do about getting Noah in here so that I don't have to get the lawyers involved for breach of contract."
With that, he turned and left the studio.
"I guess that settles that," Colton said, and grinned at her.
Kaylee helped the guys pack up their stuff before leaving. They let her carry the light stuff, which only required one hand, but she wasn't complaining. She was pretty drained, and was still distracted from hearing her vocals on the song. "I'm going to wring Noah's neck the next time I see him," she growled. This was all his fault...his fault and the little whore that had him wrapped around her pinky.
After leaving the recording studio, Jayden and Colton followed Kaylee and Ashton to their house, hoping to find Noah and talk some sense into him. When they got there, they found he was out again, much to their dismay.
Jayden and Ashton started cooking dinner for them, while Kaylee and Colton watched TV in the living room. Kaylee would have liked to help them, but she was