Christmas Connection

Jackson laughed.

Bailey gazed at him with focus. “Do you remember when we first met?”

He tightened his grip on her hand. “Bridge Point Middle School.”

She blinked. “When did you figure it out?”

“It was something in your eyes. The more I thought about it, I remembered running after this girl in middle school. You were supposed to sing at our talent show. I found you crying later, and I hated what those kids did to you,” he said.

Bailey paused when they stepped onto the porch. “You helped. I stopped singing that day. Thank you for believing in me then... and now.”

Jackson kissed her again. They would go inside soon enough.

Epilogue

One week later...

“Are we good guys?” Bailey stood in the recording room, a small booth for vocals and a mic on a boom stand. The lighting was dim.

After discussing the various record deals, the band signed with Moore Records. The label even negotiated with creative control, agreeing to maintain the integrity of their music and style. Infinity Signs had a record deal! Bailey held back her squeal. She couldn’t believe it.

Alex proved to be not only a great drummer but also a great manager scout. Liam Sims hit the ground running when they hired him the day after Christmas. Already he booked the group a New Year's Eve gig. The scheduled performance surprised Bailey, but the YouTube video ratings increased by the hour, including the one of her first live performance.

Bailey smiled and adjusted her headphones. Jackson teased her for not calling them cans. Weren’t they still headphones? She would learn more musical terms as she went. Bailey peered through the glass window. Alex twirled his drumsticks in his hand, while Tommy gulped his bottled water.

Then she spotted Jackson on the leather couch. He worked so hard on their songs. While he and Tommy tagged team on writing them, Jackson had a gift for writing lyrics. He held a piece of sheet music in his hand, bobbing his head. She loved their new song, “Something about You.” The lyrics played over in her head.

Something about you

The way the stars shine in your eyes

How the bells ring when you smile

I’m falling hard for you

“That's good, Bailey,” Tommy said through the speaker.

She gave him a thumbs up and removed her headphones—cans. Bailey would have to get used to that one. She felt rejuvenated by the adrenaline. Stepping into the seating area, she sat next to Jackson. He draped an arm around her shoulders. She inhaled, detecting that their Chinese takeout had died down in the air.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

“Like this is a dream. I can't help but think I‘ll wake up and this will all disappear.” She looked around and listened to Tommy play back her voice with their track.

Jackson inched closer. “Babe, it's not a dream.”

Bailey leaned in as he stroked her arm. She kissed him.

“You two can't wait until we leave,” Alex said.

Bailey giggled against Jackson's lips and drew back. Then her cell rang inside her pocket.

“Right now?” Jackson lifted an eyebrow.

Noelle's face showed on the screen. Strange. She had a date tonight with Lucas. “I'll be back. It's Noelle.”

Jackson winked at her and she blew him another kiss. Entering the hallway, she answered her best friend. Was everything okay?

“I thought you were out with Lucas tonight,” she said.