Page 51 of Crazy About Love (All About Love)

“Hey!” I hear from one of the above windows. I turn up and see Liz sticking her head out, her long blond hair dangling in front of her face. “Call him later, please! We’re waiting on you!”

I wave up at her. Then a hairy arm snags her around the middle and her high-pitched giggle bounces off all the cars in the lot, pelting me with waves of first-time dating happiness. Something I feel every moment I’m with Eli. Minus this one.

So even though I’m mad, I don’t want to lose him either.

“I’ll think about it.”

“ ’Kay. Talk to you tomorrow. Love you.”

I can’t say it back. Not tonight. “Bye.”

He swipes the end button first, and I stare at the screen till it goes black. Then I stare a little more.

When I finally get past theWhat just happened?mental state, I push up off the ground and climb the stairs to the fifth floor, where Liz and Landon are so not missing my company. They aren’t kissing, but they are resting against the wall in the hallway, arms touching, fingers intertwined. She takes off his baseball cap and puts it on her head, and he whispers something funny in her ear. I notice him squeezing her hand more than once, and I feel sadness and loss mix with jealousy, creating the unbelievably hard-to-take longing sensation I am now forced to deal with. I can’t find it in me to smile, to laugh, to be the outgoing friend that everyone expects me to be because that’s always who I am. Can I be the party pooper for one night? I’d really like to be that person.

Landon swings the hat around on Liz’s head, leans in, and gives her a kiss to her lips. I clear my throat after twenty seconds. They both look at me with dazed smiles on their faces.

“Done with the phone sex finally?” Liz teases, and I find the fake happiness I keep in store for occasions like this. Haven’t had to use it in a while.

“He’s got great stamina for a guy in his sexual prime,” I joke. Liz laughs while Landon shakes his head, then he turns the doorknob to his apartment. I don’t have to wonder why they were waiting out in the hallway for long, because a lovely—if slightly off-key—voice fills up the hall the second the door opens.

“She Was There” fromThe Scarlet Pimpernel.It’s the one I’ve been practicing for the school’s next production. They gave me the sheet music with my acceptance letter, and nothing eases my mind more than sitting behind a piano. It’s exactly what I need now.

Landon knocks softly on the wall, and the door unexpectedly hits me in the hip on its way shut. The owner of the gorgeous voice stops midnote and turns to look at all of us in the doorway. It’s been so long since I’ve seen a guy genuinely blush that I can’t help but grin and adore it a little. Even though I’m feeling so empty right now.

“Wow,” Liz says, her small mouth agape. “Keep singing.”

The guy lets out a tiny laugh and looks at Landon. “Sorry, didn’t expect company.” He sets his sheet music down and readies himself for actual conversation. Liz plops down on the fragile-looking coffee table that I’m surprised doesn’t buckle underneath her enthusiastic ass.

“But you soundedso good.”

The guy looks at each of us in turn, and when he gets to me, he totally stops there. I must not be hiding the effects of the not-breakup talk as well as I thought if a stranger can see it. I hold his eyes, determined to not let it ruin any first impression I might make on him. Instinct tells me Liz wanted me to come here tonight so I can get to know Landon’s friends because he’s going to be around for a while. Third wheel always sucks.

“I…um…,” he says, finally dropping his gaze back to Liz. When he does, I notice a keyboard in the corner of the room.

Perfect. So, so perfect.

“I don’t quite know the notes yet, so it’s just…a work in progress.”

I plop my butt on the stool behind the keyboard and settle my hands on the keys.

“The Scarlet Pimpernel,right?” I ask, and then start playing the song. He shakes his head, but not to tell me no, more like to clear it of whatever thoughts he had up there. ProbablyWho is this crazy girl?

His voice is seriously gorgeous, and for three minutes and seven seconds, the song, his voice, and the notes are the only things that go through my head.

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