LOVE GALORE: CHAPTER FOUR
Los Angeles, California.

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The sun was barely up when Salem walked into the studio the next morning, her hair tied back in a messy bun and her hoodie pulled tight around her. She had slept fitfully, haunted by thoughts she couldn't quite shake. 

The studio was still and dim, the kind of quiet that only existed before the chaos of a recording session. She flipped on the lights and set her bag down, pulling out her notebook and placing it on the piano. She wasn't supposed to be here until later, but the restless energy gnawing at her wouldn't let her stay home. 

Sitting at the piano, she rested her fingers on the keys and let a few soft chords fill the air. They were tentative at first, but soon the melody of an untitled song emerged, wrapping around her like a familiar embrace. She closed her eyes and hummed along, letting her voice drift into the pre-chorus she had written.

The words rolled off her tongue effortlessly, but the weight they carried felt heavier now. 

Her phone buzzed on the bench beside her, jolting her out of her thoughts. It was Mina. 

"Hey," Salem answered, her voice still thick with the haze of morning. 

"Morning. Are you at the studio already?" Mina sounded surprised but not shocked—Salem had a habit of throwing herself into work whenever she needed to escape. 

"Yeah. Couldn't sleep," Salem admitted. 

"Well, good, because I need to run something by you. Tyler's team reached out again this morning." 

The mention of his name sent a jolt through Salem. She sat up straighter, gripping the phone tightly. "What do they want now?" 

"They're still pushing for the Call Me If You Get Lost tour collaboration. They're offering prime billing for you as a co-headliner, and they've upped the financial incentive." Mina paused, her tone cautious. "They're serious, Salem. And honestly? It's a huge opportunity." 

Salem's stomach twisted. She stood, pacing the studio floor. "I thought I made it clear I wasn't interested." 

"You did," Mina said patiently. "But this isn't just about Tyler. This is about solidifying your place in the industry. You're on fire right now, and a tour like this could take you to the next level." 

Salem stopped pacing, staring at her reflection in the window. The woman who looked back at her seemed calm, composed—but inside, she was a mess. 

"Can I think about it?" she finally said, her voice quieter now. 

"Of course. But don't take too long. This kind of offer won't stay on the table forever." 

—

After hanging up, Salem sat back down at the piano, her thoughts swirling. She pressed her fingers to the keys again, but the music wouldn't come. Instead, her mind was flooded with memories she had tried to bury—nights spent in the studio with Tyler, the way they used to finish each other's ideas, the songs that had felt like secrets only they shared. 

She stood abruptly, grabbing her notebook and stuffing it into her bag. She needed to get out of here, needed to clear her head. 

—

By noon, Salem found herself at a small diner tucked away on a quiet street. She slid into a booth and ordered a coffee, staring out the window as the city moved around her. 

Her phone buzzed again, and she sighed, expecting another message from Mina. But it wasn't. 

Chloe: Lunch? I feel like something's up.

Salem stared at the message, debating whether to answer. But Chloe knew her too well—ignoring her wasn't an option. 

At Redbird on 6th. Come if you want.

Chloe showed up twenty minutes later, her oversized sunglasses perched on her nose and a denim jacket slung over her shoulder. She slid into the booth across from Salem and gave her a once-over. 

"You look like you haven't slept in a week," Chloe said, pulling off her sunglasses. 

"Thanks for the compliment," Salem muttered, taking a sip of her coffee. 

"What's going on?" Chloe pressed, leaning forward. 

Salem hesitated, then sighed. "Mina called. Tyler's team wants me to co-headline his tour." 

Chloe's eyes widened. "Wait, the Tyler? Like... Tyler Tyler? Big ass ears Tyler?"

"Yeah." 

"Holy shit." Chloe leaned back, crossing her arms. "And you're not jumping on this because...?" 

"Because it's him, Chloe. I can't..." Salem trailed off, struggling to find the words. "It's been years, but the thought of being around him again, of working with him? It's too much." 

Chloe studied her for a moment, her expression softening. "I get it. I do. But you've got to ask yourself—are you saying no because it's bad for you, or because you're scared?" 

Salem didn't respond. 

Chloe leaned forward again. "Look, I know you guys ended on a sour note. And I know how hard you've worked to get to where you are. But don't let the past hold you back from something that could be amazing. You deserve everything that's coming your way, Salem." 

For a long time, Salem didn't say anything. She stared down at her coffee, Chloe's words echoing in her head. 

Finally, she nodded. "I'll think about it." 

"That's all I'm asking," Chloe said, giving her a small smile. 

—

That night, back in the quiet of her home, Salem sat at her piano again. She opened her notebook, her pen hovering over the page. Slowly, she wrote: 

"If I face the past, will it destroy me? Or will it set me free?"

She played a few soft chords, her voice breaking through the stillness. The melody was tentative, fragile, but it was something. 

And for the first time in a long time, she felt like she was moving forward.