He chuckles. “You weregreat.”
I drop off his back, and he turns to face me. “Youwere great,” I echo because I can’t find otherwords.
Now, staring at him, the emotion slams into me. “What you did for me today,” I start, “what yourisked…”
“You’re worth it,” hemurmurs.
I’m thinking about that kiss Saturday night. From the way his eyes darken, so ishe.
“What are you doing now?” heasks.
I groan. “I have a sociology assignment to finish for tomorrow, then Elle and I got free tickets to the symphonytonight.”
“Keep your phoneon.”
I sigh out a breath of excitement. “Yeah.”
He shoots me a look that’s pure wanting, and my entire body tingles as he strokes a thumb down my cheek before turning to lead the way out of theauditorium.
It’s so good, and not nearlyenough.
* * *
“That better be a booty call,”Elle whispers over thesymphony.
I flip my phone to hide the light in the darkened theater. “I’m waiting for the showcase results,” I whisperback.
I don’t want to be that asshole interrupting a public event, but I’m waiting for the biggest news of mylife.
All of the emotional turmoil I’ve felt this semester I put into five minutes with Tyler. Four choruses. Three verses. Onebridge.
The symphony orchestra is amazing,The Planetsa work of art, but I’m fidgeting, picking at the hem of my blackdress.
When it’s done, we applaud, then I hit refreshagain.
“It’s here!” I say hoarsely as the email subject line imprints on mybrain.
The patrons in the next several seats lookover.
I scan for my name or his. A breath whooshes out when Ifinish.
“Well?” Elledemands.
Emotion wells up in my chest, and I shake my head. “We didn’t getin.”
She sighs. “I’msorry.”
“No, I mean, we didn’t only get in. We’re closing the show. Me andTyler.”
I hold up the phone so she can see both ournames.
Her face splits into a grin. “Damn.”
I scan our row and the one behind, recognizing a couple dozen Vanier students. Since we’re at intermission, I race out of the row and sprint to thesubway.
I debate texting Tyler, but this requires a face-to-faceconversation.
My fingers drum the pole until the doors open at his stop. I bound up the stairs, and the city lights blend with the throbbing in mygut.