Page 35 of Counterpoint and Harmony

“Of course! I wouldn’t bring you along and then make you sit in the hotel on your own. That would be crappy.”

With a happy laugh, Lauren hugs me again, this one quick, then she turns and actually looks around. “This is awesome. Look, Damian! We’re living the high life now!”

I look past her to where Damian stands, looking uncertain, his cello case still on his back. He smiles at Lauren before his eyes find mine, and his smile seems to grow warmer, less indulgent than the one he gave to our friend. “We sure are,” he says in answer to Lauren. “Hi, Charlie. Good to see you.”

Stepping around Lauren, I press up on my tiptoes to give him a kiss on the cheek. He surprises me by hooking an arm around my waist and pulling me in for a hug. I end up circling my arms under his shoulders, since his case prevents me from hugging him the way I like. But I’ll take it. Eyes closed, I breathe him in, happy to be in his arms again.

Jane clears her throat, and Damian releases me. “I can show you where to store your instruments.”

Damian and Lauren both follow her to stow their cases in a closet in the back of the plane, then come back and settle into their seats. Lauren sits next to me on the couch, Natalie occupies the chair across from her, and Damian is in the other chair across from me. I introduce them to Natalie, and we all fall into an easy conversation about the concerto competition and the winner’s concert in Boise in May.

“When do they announce the winner?” Natalie asks.

“I’m pretty sure at the end of the day on Friday,” Damian answers. He looks at Natalie, but his eyes move back to me as soon as he finishes speaking. That’s the way it’s been since he boarded. He looks at whoever he’s speaking to when he answers, but his eyes always come back to me. That fact warms me from the inside, and I give him a smile. He smiles back. And it’s not until Lauren clears her throat that I realize silence has fallen around us as we’ve had our private moment.

Lauren’s gaze is amused as it bounces between Damian and me, and I look down, smoothing the hem of my shirt on my leg.

“So, Natalie,” Lauren says loudly, “how long have you worked with Charlie?”

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