Free Love Evolution by Michelle Mankin Page A

poems and sketches. “ You draw too? ”
    “ Just a little, ” she shrugged apologetically, emerald eyes connecting with his. “ Justin always told me this song was too sappy to use. ”
    “ Let me be the judge of that, Avery. Maybe it was just too emotional of a thing for him to deal with. ”
    “ Maybe you ’ re right, ” she conceded, laying her notebook on the glass coffee table and pulling her guitar onto her lap. “ He also said the chord progression is too simple and sounds too much like Aerosmith ’ s ‘ Dream On ’…” She trailed off as she started playing the sweet melody, singing the words with her voice lowered to a whisper …
    Ages since I saw your face
    My tears fill the empty space
    Details that I can ’ t recall
    Afraid I ’ m gonna lose them all
     
    Mom, while memories fade, your songs reveal
    Our love remains, my heart will heal
     
    A box of music I keep close
    For when I need your presence most
    Mystery it holds for me
    What ’ s inside brings clarity
     
    Mom, while memories fade, your songs reveal
    Our love remains, my heart will heal
     
    Though I sing each out of my despair
    Deep inside I know you ’ re there
    Words unlock each memory
    Your warmth, your smile returns to me
     
    Silence filled the apartment when she finished.  Avery shifted around self-consciously on the sectional, anxious to find out what Marcus thought.
    Marcus exhaled slowly and said in an awed voice, “ Whoa. ” He ’ d felt the longing and sadness Avery had projected as if it were his own. Marcus was beginning to think Justin must have been an idiot. “ Avery, songs like these are the reason I do what I do. ”
    She nodded, knowing exactly what he meant.
    “ And you have to be the one to sing it on the album. ”
    “ Oh, no, no, no. ” She shook her head reluctantly, always uncomfortable being the center of attention on stage.  Justin had never pushed her to do anything more than backup vocals.
    “ Listen, ” he said, putting his hands firmly on her shoulders for emphasis, “ I can ’ t even sing in that key. Besides that, you have a great voice, Ace. ”
    She grinned, pleased by the compliment, and the fact that their relationship had progressed to the nickname stage.
    “ I am more than happy, being the prima donna I am, ” he continued, dimple peeking out, “ to sing lead most of the time, but this is your song, for your mom, ok? ” He sat back, waiting patiently for her to agree.
    She closed her eyes for a moment, hesitant. But she wanted to do this to honor her mother ’ s memory, and Marcus seemed to believe she was capable of doing it. Opening her eyes, Avery nodded in agreement.
    “ The song ’ s great as it is, but …” He stood up and motioned for her to follow. “ Bring your stuff. I want to show you something. ”
    Avery followed him down the hall to the studio, finding herself captivated by the view of his back side. Her gaze slid down appreciatively from his broad shoulders to his long legs. Her cheeks warmed. The man sure looked great in his jeans. The denim was a perfect showcase for his narrow hips, long legs, and enticing rear end.
    Lost in her reverie, she almost ran into him when he unexpectedly stopped in the studio doorway. Fortunately, she avoided a collision by stutter-stepping to the side. Avery ducked her head to hide her flaming cheeks from view, and brushed quickly past him to enter the studio. Crossing to the back wall, she gently set down her guitar on one of the stands. When she turned back around, Marcus had already taken a seat at the piano. She shook her head, wondering if there was any instrument he didn ’ t know how to play.
    Motioning her over, he told her, “ I think it might sound better if we switch over to the piano for the chorus. ”
    As he demonstrated, she couldn ’ t help but be impressed by how flawlessly he duplicated the music she had just played. Leaning against the ebony Grand, she nodded. “ Yeah, the piano definitely lends a more