Page 23 of Play Our Song

“With me,” Tilly said for her. But she was smiling now. “So you’ve got nothing to worry about. Well, at least you haven’t if you’ll actually practice right now.”

“Are you sure about that?” Sophie asked.

Tilly rolled her eyes. “I was in the police choir. This is simple stuff. It’s a four-line verse of Away in a Manger, it’s child’s play. There’s like, three notes, it’s easy. Listen.” She played three notes on the piano on her phone screen. “Sing those.”

“Sing what?” Sophie said.

Tilly sighed. “Alright, sing this.” She played one note.

Sophie’s mouth was dry. She opened her mouth and a strange croaking sound came out. She cringed.

“Alright, swallow, take a deep breath and try again,” Tilly said.

She did as she was told. This time, the note was somewhat identifiable.

“And the next one,” said Tilly.

She sang that.

“Then this one.”

She sang that too.

“Right, all you need to do is sing those three notes. Let’s try the first line, like this.” Tilly demonstrated and Sophie closed her eyes and sang right back at her.

“Good,” said Tilly when Sophie opened her eyes again. “But…”

“But what?” The faint relief that she’d felt came crashing down and now her knees were starting to shake.

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Tilly said quickly. “It’s just that you need to sing from your diaphragm. Try again.”

Sophie closed her eyes. Diaphragm? What the hell was that? She was fairly sure that Tilly wasn’t talking about birth control options, but what did she know? She didn’t want to look stupid, so she sang, just like she had before.

“No, no, no,” Tilly said.

And before Sophie knew what was happening, Tilly had put her phone down and was walking closer, nearer and nearer, until Sophie could smell clean soap and cinnamon. Sophie took a deep breath in and then Tilly was behind her and she could feel the hairs at the back of her neck start to stand up.

“Alright, breathe out,” Tilly said from behind her. “Then breathe in again.”

It was definitely warm now. Uncomfortably warm. Sophie could feel her hands starting to sweat and when Tilly’s words sent little puffs of air onto the back of her neck, she started to feel more than weak at the knees. She gulped and then breathed.

“Good,” said Tilly. Then her hands were on Sophie, one on her back, one on her chest. “Now breathe again, feel the tension when I press.”

She did as she was told. Frankly, at this point, Tilly could have told her to surrender her first-born child, and she’d have done it.

“Good, good,” Tilly said.

She was even closer now, the words tickling at the skin of Sophie’s neck until Sophie was breathing out and in again even though Tilly hadn’t told her to. Until Sophie was breathing harder, even.

“That’s enough,” Tilly said.

Sophie felt the heat between her legs, felt herself start to lean back into Tilly’s grasp, until Tilly stepped away and it felt like being unmoored.

“Sing from there,” Tilly said. “From that place in your chest. I know it sounds ridiculous, but just do it.”

Sharp blue eyes were looking at her and Sophie was so en-tranced that she didn’t even bother closing her eyes this time. She opened her mouth and sang. A smile spread across Tilly’s face.

“Better,” Tilly said. “Very nice, actually. Here, take a look at the words.”

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