I add a new chord to my composition.
Hands settle on my shoulders, and then a tear falls onto the F sharp. Not mine. I crane my neck to look up at Mom.
“I’m sorry, baby. I shouldn’t have taken out my irritation on you.”
“It’s okay.”
The tremor building in my fingertips converts into a slow melody that possesses me. I’m so absorbed in my creation that I don’t notice the moment my mother lets go, I don’t notice the sky dimming, I don’t notice the blisters forming on my fingertips until they’ve bubbled up.
When the world comes crashing back around me, I’m out of breath and light-headed. Is this what happened to Mona? She got lost in her music, and once she climbed out of the melodic vortex, there was nothing and no one waiting there for her?
I snap the lid closed on the keys, almost nicking my sore fingers.
“Mom!” I call out, chest tight.
“I’m in the kitchen, baby.”
She’s still here.
She’s still here.
50
Finding Love in Tennessee
While I stack books in my locker on Monday morning, a warm breath lands on the nape of my neck.
“Hey.”
I turn around, heart throbbing a little everywhere in my body. Ten’s standing so close that I can smell spearmint on his breath and the intoxicating scent of his hair wax.
“Sorry we never got to hang out yesterday,” he says. “It was chaos at home. Dad was fuming, and Nev locked herself in her bedroom.” He pushes a lock of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my little arrow earring. “He made me color-code books in the library.”
“You’re kidding.”
He shakes his head, then curls his fingers around the nape of my neck and leans over. When his mouth grazes mine, I jolt away, then touch my lips with my fingertips, darting frenzied glances at all the eyes trained on us.
I put some distance between Ten and me. Not much. Like an extra inch, but enough to catch my breath.
“You look like you’re about to pass out,” Ten says.
“I think I might,” I croak.
He rubs the back of his neck. “Are you—Did you want to—”
“You surprised me, that’s all.” I quickly press up onto my toes and place a kiss on the corner of his mouth.
Someone coughs. “Get a room.”
Brad.
Laney, who’s walking beside him, smacks his chest and mouths,I’m sorry. But she’s fighting off a smile, so I don’t think she’s that sorry. Or maybe she’s just happy that Ten and I finally got together. I think it’s the latter.
When I told the girls on our WhatsApp chat after I got home from my surprise dinner date, they flooded it with GIFs of people jumping up and down.
“Hey, Ten, you sure she’s not with you because of who you’re related to?” Mel says. “Angiereallylikes Mona Stone.”
Ten’s face clenches, while my stomach bottoms out.
