Page 132 of Crescendo

“—I’m sure you and Hannah would be able to make it perfect together.”

“Ah. No. I need Eliza, too.”

I scrunched my face up, amused and confused. “Okay?”

“She and Hannah are together now—thanks, I hear, in no small part to you.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Liar.” She laughed again. “But, the piece was about Eliza, and it will be a million times better when it’s the two of them, when they’re bouncing off each other.”

“Oh.” I nodded, finally getting it. “So, you needed Adam to help sell Eliza on it because you still think she hates you.”

“No. I know she loves me. It’s just more… professional and, well, yes, it’s easier this way.”

I bit my lip, thinking about how she must have been gesticulating. She sounded alive, if a little exhausted, which was to be expected given that she was still up at this time. I got that, though, sleep didn’t come easy. Working through to exhaustion was easier. God knew I’d done that more than enough times over the last four years—over the last few days.

I finally sank down onto the piano bench—the one we’d been together on. “They’re getting their big break with rock,” I whispered.

“They are if they say yes.”

“Hannah’s going to be so happy,” I said, finding myself tearing up. That happened a lot around Lydia, and there was something bittersweet in seeing her give our friends this gift. I was so happy for them both—and so happy for Lydia—but my heart cracked, wondering whether we’d ever get that. Our names together, in music, in life.

“I’m kind of counting on that,” Lydia said. “The piece is ridiculously sad, but being happy with Eliza is going to make it ten times better… Turns out, some people find their best inspiration with the ones they love.”

I couldn’t breathe. I was suffocating on the feeling of loving her, wanting her.

There was a charged, desperate silence between us until she murmured, “I just had to tell you. I wanted you to hear it from me, I wanted to talk to you about it, and…”

And what?

Andeverything, maybe.

“I’m really glad you called,” I said, my voice thick with emotion again.

“I didn’t,” she laughed, sounding teary too. “You called me.”

“Oh, my god, Lydia.”

“That’s my name. Don’t go forgetting it.”

“I won’t.” Not now, not ever. “And I can’t wait to hear what you, Hannah, and Eliza come up with. I know it’s going to be incredible.”

“I couldn’t have done any of it without you.” She paused and cleared her throat. “But I should let you go or you won’t have time for lunch, and there’s a big announcement coming this afternoon.”

“I’ll send Eliza your congratulations, shall I?” I swiped at my eyes, forcing a teasing, upbeat tone into my voice.

“Ella,” she half growled. “You’re going to win and then you’ll have to call me and eat your words.”

“I don’t know about that. I hear Eliza’s working with world-class composer Lydia Howard Fox. Seems like she’s kind of a big deal.”

“You did that first. And Lydia Howard Fox wouldn’t have a score to enquire about without you, so it sounds like you're the name to beat.”

“You haven’t even heard Eliza’s piece.”

“I’ve heard yours.”

My insides burned. She’d liked the piece. Did she know it was for her? Did she know the new one I’d sent was too? Something free, a feeling she’d given back to me after so long, even if I hadn’t fully figured it out yet.

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