Page 81 of The Voice We Find

I’m hoping you went to bed hours ago like a sane person, but I wanted you to be the first to know that the mastered copy ofMistletoe Matrimonyhas officially been sent off to Chip.

Sophie:

Congratulations!!!

To you, too. Let’s hope it pays off in every way possible.

Sophie:

It will! I’ve been praying it does something incredible for us both. I mean, think how excited Chip was after he heard the sample of you reading as Blake!

Don’t remind me. If he calls me August the Narrator one more time...

Sophie:

??Well, he’s right to think it’s going to do well. You did a fantastic job!

Learned from the best.

Sophie:

??So ... do I finally get to hear the score you composed?

Depends.

Sophie:

On what?

If you wanna play hookie with me in the morning. Figure we could both use a day off.

Sophie:

Do I get to know where this celebratory hookie morning is taking place? A girl needs to know how to dress for such an occasion.

Wear your swimsuit under something warm. I should have everything else you’ll need.

Sophie:

My swimsuit? It’s October!

You’ll be fine, I promise. Can you be ready by 5? We need to get an early start. I’ll pick you up.

Sophie:

As in 4.5 hours from now?

Affirmative. Sweet dreams.

Sophie:

They will be.??

I pick Sophie up in my dad’s Bronco right on time, and she’s both ready and waiting as soon as I pull up to the winery. It’s the second time I’ve been here that I haven’t made it past the driveway. For scorekeeping purposes, I’m now zero for two on that VIP tour Sophie promised.

“I adore the retro interior of this Bronco—it’s super cool. I can see why you and Gabby love it so much.” She sweeps a hand across the dashboard. “I bet you have a lot of great memories in here.”

“I do.” My headlights slash through the early morning darkness. “I was a freshman in high school when he made a trade for it. He built a deck for a guy at his church. He always wanted a vehicle with a rack to make the surfboards easier to transport.”

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