I pull back my own voice and let him take the song, and it’s like it was made for him.Like this version has been underneath the song the whole time.Kudos, Jan!His tone is deep and gravelly, giving the song a sort of country Romeo and Juliet ballad feel.
“Why’d you stop singing?”he asks as he finishes, half of his mouth hitched upward.He’s beautiful like this.In his element.In the glow of the studio light, made brighter by the darkness outside, his eyes look less like ice and more like the sky in summertime.Not a cloud in sight.
“Just thought I’d let you take it away, and you killed it.Good job.”
“Thanks to you.That was a really good idea to swap the words around and whatnot.”He says the compliment to the ceiling, running the nails of his fingers along the crease of his jawline.
“No problem.Anytime,” I say through a yawn before coming to stand.“I’d better go in.Back to rehearsals tomorrow.”
“Have a good night,” he says with a nod.
“Yeah, you too.”
***
The next day, I wakeup to an email of our weekly time slots at the studio.Lucky for me, all of mine are around 1 p.m.Unlucky for Levi, his are first thing in the morning all week.Maybe Jan really doesn’t like him?Or maybe she just likes messing with him...though I can’t imagine getting any joy from dealing with him first thing in the morning.
Gabriella exits our en suite bathroom after a good two-hour holdup.I’ll be sending her the bill for my bladder infection medicine.“Finally!What were you doing in there?”I ask, kicking my legs out from under my covers and heading to the bathroom.
It was after nine when I got back to the room last night and I ended up just brushing my teeth and sleeping in my jumper.I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror as I pass, and it confirms my alibi.My messy bun from yesterday is now a messy explosion with brown hair bursting theatrically from one side of my head.Sheesh.
“I was just doing my morning routine.You should really get one.Prevention, prevention, prevention.”
“I’m not sure there is enough time in the day for us both to have one!”I yell back to her from the bathroom.
“The real question is,” Gabriella purrs as she comes to sit on the edge of the tub directly in front of me, “what happened last night?”She smiles her stickiest smile.I kick the door closed.
“Privacy, Gabriella.Ever heard of it?”
“No.So what happened with you and our favorite country boy last night?Can’t say he’s your type, he’s more mine.But anyways...tell me everything and don’t leave out one detail.”
I contemplate staying in the bathroom, but I really need to get going if I’m going to be on time to the studio.When I open the door, she’s still there, a surprise to no one.
“Nothing happened,” I say, looking directly at her before heading towards the shower.The comment about him being more her type than mine festers.“I helped him with pacing and pitch.Once he got it, I left.”I pull back the heavy pink-and-gold bath curtain, more suited for a window than a shower, and step into the hot stream.It’s quiet, so for a minute there’s hope that she might have left, accepting my answer and moving on to torture someone else.
“Don’t be I.You two spend all your free time together.At least one of you has to have caught feelings.”
I submerge my face into the water, holding my breath for as long as I can.
“Look, Tate,” she continues, in a voice similar to a parent’s when two people love each other talk.“All I’m saying is if you’re not interested, you should tell him so he can stop defending your honor and whatnot.”
Water sputters out of my mouth.“Defending my honor?By telling you not to make insensitive innuendos when I’m on the phone with my dad?Who says hi, by the way.”I reach for the shampoo.It’s Gabriella’s, but I forgot mine.I squeeze a dollop in my hand.Jasmine, linen, and a hint of mint intertwine with the steam as I lather it through my hair.It’s rich and classy.A smell that says I have a big trust fund waiting for me when I get home.As soon as the thought enters, guilt follows.Despite this unnecessary interrogation, she’s been good to me.
“You’re right, I’m sorry.That was...poor timing.”
I clear my throat.“What you mean is that you really shouldn’t have said it at all,” I correct.
“Fine.It was messed up and I’m sorry.”
I smile at the baby step we just took while I wash the suds from my hair, enjoying how silky the strands now are.
“Are you using my shampoo?”The curtain flies back and I scramble to cover.
“Gabriella!Close it!Please, you’re letting the hot air out!”I whine.
Her face scrunches, but she obliges.
“Yes, I used your shampoo, crazy.I forgot mine but will pick some up later.What are friends for, right?”I turn off the nozzle and wrap myself in a towel before stepping out.Gabriella is sitting back on the edge of the clawfoot tub.Her fitted silk jammies with matching white feathers lining the edges is something straight out of a movie.So polished.So over-the-top.But then again, that’s Gabriella.I walk into our shared closet to get dressed.
