Page 31 of Last Chorus

For the first time today, her control over her expression falters. Vacuous neutrality vanishes. Bemusement shifts to wariness, which turns into a scowl of defiance. Her chin juts up, eyes flashing as I stop right in front of her.

There she is.

A sense of rightness warms my chest. I’m still the only one she can’t hide from. The only one who can read her music.

She knows it. I know it.

The whole fucking world knows it.

Giving in to impulse, I gently cup her head and place a soft kiss on her brow. She tenses. And when I drop my mouth to her ear, she stops breathing.

“410 Coves Lane, Madrone Island,” I murmur. “Anytime, for any reason. No expectations or stringsattached. I will always be here for you, as a friend, no matter what.”

Releasing her, I allow myself a final glimpse of her face: searching eyes, flushed cheeks, lips parted in shock.

Then, against every instinct, I walk away.

PART THREE

chorus

chorus: the section of a song that encapsulates the lyrical message.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

evangeline

Turned out the lights

Lost all my lessons

Sunk into shadows

And now here I am

In the darkness

In the empty

Again

In the weeks since that excruciating lunch, things have been different between Clay and me.

Clayhas been different.

I was on edge for days afterward as Iwaited for him to share all the flaws in my performance. For him to accuse me of smiling too often, talking too much or not enough, or not hiding my disgruntlement at eating a dry salad while the men had juicy steaks.

My biggest fear, though, was that he’d demand I tell him what Wilder said to me right before he left. I crafted a dozen potential responses. A dozen ways to deflect. But he’s only brought up lunch once, and that was an offhand comment about the success of our ploy.

Instead, from the moment we got in the car to drive home, he’s been kind. More than kind—he’s been warm and charming and engaged, just like he was when we first started dating. There have been no critiques of my body, clothes, or sleep habits. No coldness, indifference, or disdain.

When I come down with a horrible cold right before The Golden Globes, he shrugs it off and stays home, plying me with medicine, tissues, and soup. When I have a particularly painful period and spend all day in pajamas in front of the television, he doesn’t insinuate that I’m lazy. He brings me my favorite chocolate and a heating pad.

There have been other changes, too. He’s started coming home from work in time to have dinner with me. He hasn’t dragged me to parties or events. Hedoesn’t bring up Glow or my standing appointment with a Sony music executive.

I’m not proud of it, but I test the boundaries of our new peace a few times. But nothing ruffles him. Not when I tell him I’m tired of toast and want more breakfast options. Not when I go shopping and come home with a bunch of black clothes.

Even though part of me stays wary and waiting for the other shoe to drop, as weeks pass, I begin to relax. My sleep improves, which does wonders for my energy, stability, and clarity. Slowly, I step back into my life.

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