"It's strange being home," Lucky said to Jordan as she unpacked. "So much has changed but everything here is the exactly the same."

Lucky's room hadn't been redecorated in years. She still had the white canopy bed and pale pink walls from her childhood. Her room never bothered her since she rarely spent much time in it.

"Yeah, it is. Feels like we were gone so long."

"That's because so much happened. I can't believe all that time we were gone and you didn't tell me you moved out."

"I didn't want you to worry," Jordan said. "You had the tour anyway. Plus you know me, I don't like talking about stuff like that."

"We've been best friends our whole lives, you're more important than a tour. Have you heard from your mom?"

"I got a text from her last week. It said things weren't bad for me and she misses me. Said I can always come back," Jordan said as she rolled her eyes. "On the other hand, my cousin said my mother is bragging about how she threw me out and won't ever take me back."

"Would you ever go back?"

"Hell no. I'd rather live on the streets," Jordan said.

"You know you can stay here until you move out to California."

"Thanks, but it'll only be a couple of days. Need to get my stuff out of storage and ship it. Believe it or not, I'm looking forward to moving away. This city looks different now. Grayer. Worn down. There's nothing here for me anymore."

"I'm surprised Dylan didn't come out."

“He was going to, but he got a studio offer that needed him right away. I know it's stupid, but I miss him."

"It's not stupid. I miss him too," Lucky said quietly as she thought about Jude.

"You haven't heard from him?"

"No. And why would I? I made it clear we were over. I just don't know how I convinced myself to do that. How stupid am I? He was literally a dream come true, my first love, and I sent him packing."

"You could call him."

Lucky shook her head then looked down at the ring he gave her. "Probably better I don't," Lucky said. "There's no way it would last anyway. He's probably already fallen for someone else."

"What are you going to do next?"

"I don't know. Maybe look for a place. I'm not sure where though. Maybe I'll go out to LA too so I'm nearby for recording. I know I have to get out of here. It's just..." She looked around her bedroom. "This is the bedroom of a child. That's not me anymore. I need to be on my own."

"Lucky! Pick up the phone!" her mother yelled from the bottom of the staircase.

"Wait. Did they take your cell away again?"

"Yup. Apparently I don't need it if I'm home."

"And you didn't say anything?" Jordan said, her eyes wide.

"What's there to say? There's no point arguing with them."

"You need to stand up for yourself, Lucky. They need to see you're an adult."

Lucky shrugged. She didn't want to admit it to Jordan, but she happily gave her cell phone over to her mother. She knew if she had it, she'd constantly check if Jude called, or she would break down and call him. Either way she'd feel like an idiot, so this way was better. She picked up the phone in the hallway.

"Hello?"

"Lucky, it's Richard Black. I've scheduled you on Friday to start recording your next album."

"Friday? But that's in a couple of days. I just got home."

"Be glad you're getting a couple of days. Normally you wouldn't even get that. We need to get something out there while they still remember you," he said.

"Okay, okay. At least I liked working with Chuck. It'll be good to see him again."

"No, no Chuck this time. I did even better. Black Dog has entered an exclusive deal with Eel Pie Studios."

"Are you kidding me? You really only care about the money, don't you? I've never even heard of Eel Pie. He better be good. I did a lot of work on these songs on the road. They're really personal."

"He's already heard them. Thinks you've got a lot of talent and is looking forward to working with you. He even pointed out some problems with your first record, and he knows how to fix them. I'm telling you, he's the best. You'll love him."

"Alright, alright. He better be the best. Not that I have a choice," Lucky said.

"Your flight leaves Friday morning. I'll have a car meet you."

Lucky hung up the phone and went downstairs. She hoped to get some downtime so she could get over Jude. Having to head right back into the studio to sing those songs wasn't going to help.

She found her parents in the living room, her father in a brown zip-up sweater he wore when he was cold, which was always, and her mother in a white sweatshirt from a vacation Lucky was sure happened before she was born. She almost turned around and went back upstairs. She couldn't though. She knew she needed to talk to them.

She stood on the landing just before the last step and watched her parents for a moment. Her father wore his reading glasses as he thumbed through the newspaper, and her mother knitted another blanket. Today could have been any day for them. Nothing ever changed. Seeing them like this, Lucky knew even more what she needed to do.

"Mom, Dad?"

"Oh hello, dear. Was that the label guy?" her mom asked.

"Yes, he wants me to go out to LA Friday. He's taken care of the flight arrangements and everything."

"So soon? You just got home. We thought you'd be home for a while."

"I need to record my next album while people remember who I am," she said, echoing Richard's words.

"Alright. Well, do you know when you'll be back? We're trying very hard not to interfere, but you are our daughter."

"Mom, please. Don't make this any harder than it already is. I'm a woman now. I'm not a baby anymore," Lucky said as she took a deep breath. "While I'm out there, I'm going to look for a place to live--"

"But you already have a place to live. Here, your home," her mother said.

"I know, but I need the two of you to understand. I'm twenty-one. Think of everything the two of you had already done by the time you were my age. I haven't done any of that. I need to live my own life now, and I think that life is in LA. I'll be near the recording studio and Jordan's going to move out there, too."

Her mother sighed and looked sad. She watched as her father reached over and gently rubbed her mother's shoulder.

"We know," her father said with a sad smile. "We knew this time would come. I guess we weren't ready for it. We know we've been very protective, but it’s just that we love you so much. We're both so proud of you, Olivia. Angels were smiling upon you when you were born, and they'll take care of you while you're away. Just remember that we're here, and we'll always be here, if you ever need anything."

Lucky swallowed hard to keep her tears back and hugged her parents tightly. She smiled as she realized that just a couple of months ago, she wouldn't have been able to talk to them like she just did without feeling a lot of guilt. For the first time, Lucky realized how much she had changed while she was away, and she knew it was for the better.

* * *

Dressed in grey yoga capri pants and a midnight blue t-shirt, Lucky stepped off the plane happy to be dressed so comfortably. If there was one thing she learned from being on the tour bus, it was that comfort in travel was necessary.

Pulling her wheeled travel bag behind her, she swerved in and out of the crowds until she passed the gate check and noticed several men in dark suits holding signs. Spotting one with Olivia Saldano written on it, she went over to him.

"Hi, I'm Olivia Saldano," Lucky said, surprised to see her real name.

A small group of people standing nearby waiting for their luggage turned around and approached her.

"Oh! I know you! I absolutely love you. Can you sign something for me?" a young woman in the group said.

"Umm thanks, yeah, sure. What do you want me to sign?" Lucky said awkwardly.

She still wasn't used to the attention and didn't know how to act. She knew Jude would know but quickly pushed him out of her head. She had to stop thinking about him.

A small crowd grew and Lucky found herself hugging strangers and signing napkins, clothing, and magazines, whatever people had on them. Suddenly the driver stepped forward and lifted his hand.

"Miss Saldano must be going. Please keep an eye out for her next album," the driver said in a formal British accent.

Taking her bag, he cleared the way to his Town Car. He opened the door for her then placed her bag in the trunk. When he entered the driver's seat, he turned back to her.

"I'm sorry I didn't have the chance to introduce myself sooner. I'm Nigel. I'll take you directly to Eel Pie where I'm told they're waiting for you."

"Thank you, Nigel," she said.

"Of course, Miss."

She looked out the window at the palm trees and blue sky, so different from back east. Jordan was right, it was very grey at home. Home just wasn't the same. The time on tour was enough to help them both see the world differently than before.

It felt strange to her to be doing this again so quickly. Not that long ago she brought Jordan with her, mostly because she didn't want to be alone. Now she was comfortable with it and with herself. Lucky felt a new confidence within her that she didn't have just a few short months before.

Noticing a sign that read Malibu, she paid closer attention to the surroundings and realized they were in a residential neighborhood.

"Nigel? I thought we were going to Eel Pie?"

"We are."

"But these look like houses."

"Eel Pie is a state-of-the-art recording studio on the producer's property. He's arranged for you to stay in one of the guest rooms as well."

"He has? Richard didn't tell me anything about this. I don't know how comfortable I feel about staying in a stranger's home."

Nigel didn't respond. Staring out the window, Lucky noticed the houses getting larger. Between the homes, she saw the blue water of the Pacific and the sparkle of the waves peeking at her.

State-of-the-art studio in Malibu. She wondered if Richard paired her with some big producer, but Eel Pie wasn't familiar to her. She wracked her brain but had no luck.

"I'm sorry, Nigel, what did you say the producer's name was?"

"I didn't. Eel Pie is a nod to the small island on the Thames where many successes got their start. I'm sure you've heard of The Who, Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart."

"Wow, is it someone who worked with one of them?"

"I am a driver, Miss. I don't make it my responsibility to know details like that about my employer."

"Oh, sorry. Never mind."

Hearing Nigel talk about those classic bands brought her mind back to Jude again. Her cheeks burned as she thought about their time on tour, and she turned away as she fought a smile, not wanting the driver to notice. Looking down at her hand, she began playing with Jude's ring.

The homes disappeared as they followed a curving road up a small hill. The car came to a stop at a tall gate and Nigel lowered his window to press a small red button attached to a speaker.

"Yes?"

"This is Nigel Jones. I have Olivia Saldano for Mr--"

"Enter."

The gates slowly opened. Lucky could see the Spanish-inspired home at the end of the driveway. Its sand-colored exterior rose from the dark green grass and the sun reflected off the black and tan tile roof. The house was one level with huge windows, and she could see straight through to the Pacific Ocean from the front of the house.

Nigel stopped the car at the arched doorway, opened her door, then grabbed her bag. As she stepped out of the car, she could hear music coming from the side of the house and looked to see if she could find it. It wasn't music she recognized and she wondered if there were other artists there, too.

"This way, Miss," Nigel said as he led her along the walkway towards the music. Curving along the house, they came to a smaller building, not much larger than a two-car garage. Above the front door was a red light. Nigel pressed a button then placed her bag next to her. "They'll be right with you."

Listening to the rhythmic sound of the ocean beating the shore, she got lost in thought and didn't notice a young man open the door. His dark blond hair was shaved close to his scalp and he wore a white tank top under a grey hoodie with jeans. Briefly thinking he looked like a girl, she knew he looked familiar but couldn't place him.

"Lucky Saldano?" he asked with an Irish accent. "I'm a big fan. I heard you were recording today but didn't know if I'd run into you. We should do something sometime. I really love those new songs you performed on tour."

"Thanks. Umm…Jake, right?" She suddenly realized he was the latest teen pop star. "That sounds like fun."

"I've been trying to get people to take me seriously, you know. I know what they think of me. This album I'm working on here is going to blow everyone away. I'd love for you to give it a listen once it’s done."

"Sure, sounds great, thanks."

She followed him in and he brought her to a room with a large couch and several chairs. In the corner was a kitchenette.

"Sorry, I was running late today. I don't mean to cut in on your time," Jake said. "If you're not dating anyone, maybe we could go out sometime while we're both in town."

"Oh well, thanks, but I'm not sure..."

"Call me."

He handed her his card and walked out of the room. Shaking her head, she tried not to laugh and thought of how funny Jordan would think it was. She pulled out her phone and began texting her.

"Did that little shit try putting the moves on you?"

Her breath caught in her throat as she heard his unmistakable voice. Her heart did its usual flips when Jude was around. She was afraid to look up. She couldn't move. She didn't want to be disappointed in case she finally lost her mind and was making him up.

The sound of his boots thudding on the floor mimicked the pounding heart in her chest. His hand covered hers and slipped Jake's business card out of her hand.

"Hey, he gave that to me," she said.

"Were you going to call him?"

She finally looked at him. Jude had that playful half smile that always wrecked her. His smoldering green eyes locked onto hers and she gasped softly, forgetting to breathe for a moment.

"No, I just thought it was funny. I was going to show Jordan."

"Good. I couldn't take it if you chose him over me," Jude said with a laugh as he handed the card back. "Nice ring, by the way."

She grinned stupidly and felt her cheeks burn again. Quickly texting Jordan "he's here," she slipped her phone back into her bag and could hear it dinging with Jordan's reply.

"Why are you here? Do you know the producer?" she asked.

"I am the producer."

"Huh? But Richard said--"

"That he entered into an exclusive deal? After I got out of that contract Donna negotiated, Richard and I got to talking. He knew what I really wanted to do was produce and write songs. That's why I was in that contract for so long. He refused to let me create music if she was going to benefit. Once he found a loophole, the contract was done, and well, here we are at my home studio."

"Wow. So he tricked me. He knew I'd never come here if I knew it was you."

"And why is that? After everything we shared. Why did you end it?"

"I…I don't know. I think I was afraid," she said.

"Of what?"

He wrapped his arms around her, letting his hands rest on her hips, and looked into her eyes. Lucky thought about the songs they wrote about each other on the bus. She remembered their time together, not just LA or New York, but all the other cities, too. Then she thought about her time without him and her chest ached.

"Of losing you," she said.

"So you broke up with me so you wouldn't lose me? That makes no sense."

"Jude, look at you. You're Jude Morrison. I'm just some girl who got lucky. I was in the right place at the right time. You've been everywhere, done everything, you don't want some idiot the label thought was too fat to be the only girl in the band."

"Yes, Olivia, I have been everywhere, done everything, everything you know about me is true. What's also true is that I love you. I fell in love with you when I heard your first song on the back of the bus heading to DC."

"But--"

"No, let me talk this time," he said. "I think all those years I was on the road, all those women I thought I was in love with, everything was just leading me to you. Every step I took brought me closer to you. I've gone through life looking for that one person who was going to complete my soul. I found that in you."

Lucky gulped as she tried to hold back tears of joy. Every word he said rang true to her heart. As her mind spun, he pulled her closer to him. He looked down into her eyes and kissed her lips, letting his lips linger. Wrapping her arms around him tightly, she pressed herself against his strong body.

"I've missed you so much," she said. "I hated myself for what I did in New York. I just thought it was easier if I ended things before you did."

"It’s in the past. You're here now. Stay with me. I can't promise I'll let you leave though." He grinned again, still holding her tight.

"I'll never leave. I love you, Jude. I always have."

As they held each other, Lucky listened to his heart thumping as wildly as hers. She wondered how she could have been so blind to it before. He was the man of her dreams, and lately it seemed all of Lucky's dreams came true.