Page 50 of When We Fall: Part Two
“Who is it?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking.
“Oh. Uh, it’s this guy. Riley. I met him in New York at Fox’s award ceremony. He’s really great. He’s a musician too. He just sent me a new song and asked me what I think about it.”
“Let’s hear it,” I said immediately.
She smiled and pressed play on the message. A heavier song blared through the device before a man’s raspy voice came on. I tapped my fingers on the wheel as I listened to him crooning about never fitting in and wanting some girl he secretly loved to notice him.
The song ended with a heavy sigh, and then his voice asked Rosalie to be brutally honest.
Her thumbs flew over her phone as she messaged him back.
“It was good,” I said after she sent the message. “I really liked that. Does he have a band? Like, is he on the radio because he sounds like he should be?”
“He has some guys he plays with, but lately he’s been doing all the instruments. He’s really talented.”
I nodded. “He sounds it. Maybe you guys could do a song together.”
She smiled. “Yeah, maybe. He asked me. I said we could. Schedules and things have just been off.”
“Well, I can’t wait to hear whatever you guys come up with.” I reached over and rested my hand high on her thigh. “What time does the practice room close?”
“Ten,” she replied. “So we have a few hours.”
I breathed out. Good. We’d likely need it if I were going to try to live up to Anson or this Riley guy. I was small potatoes, but even small potatoes could grow when planted. Or some shit like that.
Three hours in,and I really thought we had something. I turned on my phone to record this last part because we’d been recording things the whole night.
“I like this line,” Rosalie mused, staring down at the words I’d scribbled months ago on paper. “You should’ve walked, but you stayed. Guess you like me better when I’m frayed.”
I wrinkled my nose and raked my fingers through my hair. “You like it?”
She nodded and looked at me, her green eyes bright. “It’s really good. You write from your heart, Ethan.”
I smiled awkwardly at that.
“But just so you know, I love you in all the ways, frayed or not.”
My smile widened, and I felt my cheeks heat. Fuck, what she could do to me.
“I want you to have this song,” I said.
“Really? It’s good. You should sing it.”
I shrugged. “Who would I sing it to? I’m not good at that stuff. Besides, it’s not my dream, it’s yours. This is my gift to you. Someday when you’re famous, I want you to sing it onstage and think of me.”
She gave me a sad smile, her eyes glistening.
“Will you?” I ventured softly.
Her bottom lip wobbled. “Yes. Maybe someday.”
The pain of losing her to her dreams ebbed through me. I was trying my damndest to work through those emotions. I knew I depended on her and the guys way too damn much, but deep down, I wanted them all to have their dreams. I just sucked because maybe I didn’t have my own.
She went back to writing, adding things and removing things for another hour while I tried to pound out the tune on the piano. I had to hand it to her. Rosalie was fierce. She didn’t hold back on me, instructing me on changing keys and shaking her head when she didn’t like something.
She probably put Anson through his paces, but I knew Anson. He did it all without batting an eyelash.
By the time it was nearly ten, she crushed her lips to mine. I immediately stopped playing and kissed her back.
