Page 80 of Composed
“And?” His face blanks as he searches mine. “I’ve played your Hummingbird no less than a hundred times in my life. You really think I’m gonna be offended if you pick up my 1954?”
I shrug, rolling the drawstring of my hoodie between my fingertips.
He stands and makes his way over the line of guitars on the far wall. He glances over them, one-by-one, before he picks up an ebony Les Paul.
My mouth drops open, as he waves it in the air.
“Is that…”
“Eric Clapton 1958 Les Paul Custom?” He wiggles his brows. “Absolutely it is.”
“How did—where did—” A whine escapes me.
“Being rich and famous really has its perks.”
“This was my dream guitar growing up.”
His eyes glint under the moonlight. “I remember.”
He plugs it into an amp and tests the strings before holding it out to me.
I push up on shaking knees.
Excitement, nostalgia, joy—all of it buzzes through my veins.
Goosebumps flicker to life when Cole’s fingers brush mine as I ease the guitar from him.
My gaze shoots up.
He's already staring down at me, his expression unreadable.
His breath skates across my face.
I lick my lips.
The air thickens between us.
I could just push up onto my tiptoes and claim him, the way he claimed me all those years ago. How easy would it be? How right.
Cole clears his throat.
He steps back, and the world blurs back into focus.
I rock on my heels as I catch my breath.
His eyes dip to the guitar in my hands.
“You’re really gonna let me play this?” I ask, testing the weight of it. “This guitar has to be worth tens of thousands of pounds.”
“I can afford it a few times over.” He huffs a laugh. “Go crazy. Play to yourheart's content.”
“That’s a dangerous offer.” I strap the guitar over my shoulder, a smile splitting my lips. “I may never tire of playing this thing, and you’ll be stuck in here with me forever.”
His stare burns into me.
I follow the line of his throat when he swallows, heat stirring in my veins.
Then he turns back to the piano without a word, leaving me alone in the centre of the room with a long-lost dream sitting in my hands.
