Daring a glance toward Brad, I find him with narrowed eyes and his head tilted. From what I can hear and remember, Levi’s walking to my side of the stage, getting ready to take my hand. As I ignore the dip in my stomach that’s been happening any time I think of our hands touching and how natural and intimate it felt, the song finally comes to an end, and Brad hands me back the phone.
Tucking it away into my backpack, I act as nonchalant as possible.
“Ready to work now?” I question, pointing to our notepads.
He turns my way. “All right, I gotta ask.”
Sighing, I nod, allowing him one question.
“Are you and Levi a thing?”
A nervous laugh, followed by a snort, slips out, and I cover my mouth, mortified at my reaction. “No.”
Brad bites his lip, clearly attempting not to laugh. Something like satisfaction gleams in his eyes at my response.
I ignore whatever the heck that look was and point to the notepad again. “Seriously, let’s work.”
And so we do. For the next hour, he reviews the lyrics I’ve written, making some minor adjustments with my approval, and then we begin working on the melody. I close my eyes and attempt to sing the lyrics we’ve written.
It’s a song about love, betrayal, and healing. All things I can relate to that have been hard to be open about and even harder to write about. How should one poetically summarize years of experience into a three-minute composition?
My thoughts halt when I hit the part where the bridge of the song is supposed to be, and we’re both stuck.
I open my eyes and find Brad staring at me with an odd kind of intensity.
Shifting, I wave my hand in front of his face. “Brad, please stop staring,” I plead.
“I’m sorry, I can’t help it.” He clears his throat. “The music needs some work, but shit, your voice matches it perfectly.” Brad scoffs to himself and shakes his head.
Knowing he might be flirting, I smile, but I take the compliment anyway. “Did I sound too nervous? I can’t sound nervous in the auditions or callbacks.” I pause, frowning. “If I get a callback.”
“You didn’t, and if your acting is as good as your voice, you’re in.” He taps my chin, and that same flirtatious grin pops up. The one I’m sure he’s given to a million other girls.
Rolling my eyes, I point to his guitar, and we jam out for a little longer. At the end, Brad gives me a tighter and longer hug than usual. It’s not weird, just surprising.
On the way home, I think about how his demeanor changed after watching the video of me and Levi. Brad having any kind of crush on me would be an issue. Not only am I not interested in doing anything with anyone now, but we also work together. However, Brad is flirtatious with most women from what I’ve seen… I’ll set boundaries if he takes it any further.
Time to think about more important things, like how my audition is only about two weeks away, and I’m stuck on which song to perform.
I slow my steps down, reaching the front door of my apartment building. Fiddling with my keys, I count the exact number of days left until the audition. At least I have my monologue memorized?—
Shit.My chest tightens a little and my heart rate spikes when I realize I somehow spaced on how much time there’s left until my audition. Twelve days.
Okay, tonight I’ll get some rest. Tomorrow’s a brand-new day, and everything will be fine.Now all I have to do is continue repeating that to myself and maybe, eventually, I’ll believe it.
Chapter Thirteen
LEVI
It’s finally Friday, and the two kids who had lessons today caught a cold, meaning I get to go home and rest. All I can think about while taking my usual shortcut through the music building is the long nap I’m going to take before going out to eat with the guys.
The carpeting in the building quiets my steps. The hallways are empty at this time of day—the quiet before the storm, when rehearsals start for all the shows on campus.
As I reach the first floor, I hear piano keys from somewhere behind me. I spoke too soon. There’s always that one person who decides to practice till their fingers and throats are bleeding.
I continue to make my way to the exit of the building, and the piano keys start to drift as a voice begins, a very familiar one. The first lyrics of “She Used to Be Mine” by Sara Bareilles are sung, stopping me dead in my tracks. They’re perfectly on key. Her voice sounds smooth, and the piano playing, although simple, is also perfect.
I didn’t know she could play piano.
