“Whatever. Just try it.”
I raise a brow at her, but she’s undeterred. She lies on the ground, her arms and legs slightly extended like a starfish, and Iget a moment to admire her before I realize she’s staring up at me.
“Lie down,” she commands, and I obey.
I slide my leather jacket off and toss it onto her couch. Then I lie on my back, my hands folded over my stomach, and close my eyes. “Okay. I’m ready.”
She must press the play button on her phone because the music begins. High notes, almost heavenly, feel like they’re surrounding us. The music is slow and serene, solemn and reverential.
But I feel awkward. What am I doing, lying on the floor of Lily’s room and listening to classical music? I peek one eye open, turning my head to look at her.
“Close your eyes,” she says, her eyes never opening.
“How did you…”
“Just close them.” She turns her head to me, opens her eyes, and gives me a grin. “Come on. Play along. For me.”
“All right.” Just for Lily.
I close my eyes and turn my head back to its initial position. The music continues around me, slow and steady, and I try to relax with it.
“Stop moving,” Lily says.
“Huh?”
“Your leg. Stop moving your leg.”
“I didn’t even know I was moving it.”
“Yeah, well, stop. Just…be still.”
I let out a little laugh and force my body to relax. “Excuse me. I didn’t know I’d be coming over for a music lesson.”
“Here we are. Deal with it.”
I shake my head with a big grin. Feisty. But it’s all in good fun, and I know she’s having a good time, even if I’m annoying her.
All right. Stop moving. I tense my muscles, then let themrelax and try to listen to the music. It swells and deepens, and for a moment I feel it in my chest. Weird.
As the music fades into something slower and more melancholy, a few solo instruments taking the lead, I feel the urge to move again. I unfold my hands from my chest and stretch them down by my sides, hoping to ease the wiggles. But my fingers brush hers, and we both jolt our hands apart.
“Sorry,” I mutter, and she makes a hum that meansit’s okay.
It’s hard staying still. It’s always been hard for me. That’s what got me into trouble as a kid, but what served me well in my career as a stuntman. The restlessness is what sent me to hang out with Peter. Now I’m here in Brookhaven, still looking for something to do, some way to use my energy. But Lily wants me to just lie on the floor next to her.
I wonder what Lily thinks about while she’s listening to this music. Is she thinking about her past? Her future? Her regrets?
“It builds again,” Lily says next to me, drawing me from my thoughts. “It’s a journey. Stop thinking so much.”
I open my eyes and turn to face her. “How did you know I was thinking?”
She opens her eyes this time and turns her head to me. Her eyes study mine for a minute before she speaks. “I don’t know. I could just tell.”
I feel the air crackling around us, both from our eyes on each other and the music around us. Lily quickly tips her face back to the ceiling and closes her eyes. “This is where it gets really good. Just listen.”
I should close my eyes, but I have a brief moment to watch her without her knowing. She seems to have a sixth sense about what I’m doing, so I make it quick, looking at her lashes fanned out on her cheeks, the gentle curve of her nose, her full lips, and her light breathing. Her hair is tied back in a braid that’s tossed over her shoulder.
She looks in many ways like the little girl Peter and I would tease, but she’s grown so much. Not only has she grown and matured in her physical appearance, but I can sense the scars and pain hidden under the surface. Yes, she teases me and we banter playfully, but she’s guarding something valuable.
