Page 142 of The Oscar Escape
She wanted that, too.
And she’d make it happen.
She’d prove to Oscar that they were a team—that she was done running herself ragged chasing empty dreams. She wanted a life with him. A love-match happily ever after with her husband.
But she wasn’t about to call the guy. She needed to go big. She’d do it her way as only an eat-worms girl could do it.
She had a date with destiny. And nothing would stop her from letting Oscar Abrams Elliott know that he was, and would always be, hers.
Her husband.
Aria opened her eyes, and although it was dark, her future was crystal clear. “Look out, world,” she whispered. “Little Miss Eat Worms is on a love-match mission.”
Chapter27
ARIA
Aria studied the outline of her parents’ gravestones as her true path—a path that would make her parents proud—solidified. “I need to get to Red Rocks Amphitheater. This concert is happening.”
“I see,” her uncle replied with a knowing bend to the words.
Invigorated by her decision, a weightless sensation took over. “My crew and the musicians depend on me. My fans paid hard-earned money to purchase tickets. We’re livestreaming across the globe. I made a commitment, and I need to deliver. But they also deserve to see the real Aria. I’ve got a best-for-last performance to give. A show that will define my passion. I know the answer to your question, Uncle Landy. It’s Oscar. I want to be with Oscar. Our nanny love match friends will be there, right? I had Dom reserve tickets for them.”
“All the tickets were claimed but one.”
She had a good idea of who didn’t snap up their spot. “Oscar didn’t want his.”
Landon cleared his throat.
Was the man nervous? Was he hiding something?
“It’s my understanding that Oscar told Mitch he didn’t require a seat.”
She’d told him it was over.
But it wasn’t.
It couldn’t be.
Determination thrummed through her veins. “That’s okay. Once he sees what I’m about to do, he’ll understand we’re a match. A love match. How much time do I have before I go on?”
Landon checked his watch. “You’ve got twenty-four minutes.”
She nearly fell off the bench. Where had the day gone? Oh, that’s right, she’d spent the vast majority of it road-raging through the city. She sprang to her feet. “We’re at least a half hour from the amphitheater. And that’s if traffic is light.”
“I have a feeling we’ll make it,” Landon replied as the pair gathered her things and hurried toward his car.
He opened her door, placed the violin in the back, then slid into the driver’s seat.
She’d expected the man to hop to it. Instead, he started the engine and rolled down the windows as if it were a humdrum, ordinary day. To make matters worse, he started texting.
She tapped her fingers on her notebook as her knee bounced with emboldened energy. “This is no time to be on your phone, Uncle Landy. I don’t have a second to lose. I’m in total get-the-guy slash make-a-decision-that-will-transform-my-life mode.”
“I know. I heard your speech,” the man murmured, texting away like they had all the time in the world.
How could he be so calm? After their heart-to-heart, shouldn’t he grip the steering wheel and hit the gas?
She gestured to herself. “Again, I’m on the cusp of huge personal and professional growth, and that requires I take the stage on time. What are you doing?”
