“Congratulations on getting the commercial.”
A commercial meant a video earned real sponsorship money and he’d have a deposit at the end of the month. MyHeartChannel’s algorithm figured out what commercial to show viewers—he had no control over that. The ad that popped up on his viewing had been for men’s body spray. “Thanks. I’ve got another street show planned for tomorrow.” Satisfaction fit like warm winter socks.
There was a heavy pause. The longer it lasted, the faster the socks unraveled.
“Okay, what?”
“I’m reading comments.”
Breck turned in his seat to belly up to the keyboard and started scrolling.
What a great assistant!
Can’t wait to see the two of you perform your next trick.
Great chemistry!
“They’re all about Harmony.”
There were others, some asking him to reveal how he did the trick, others commenting on the fun holiday touches. Some were nasty, but there would always be trolls. The majority commented on Harmony and the way her face lit up with wonder.
She couldn’t fake that—he’d delighted her. The thought made his stomach do a somersault. He’d picked her out of the crowd because, of all the people milling about, she was the one who’d seemed to need a smile the most. The closer she’d gotten to the table, the faster his heart had beaten. He’d never been good with beautiful women, and she was one of the most stunning women he’d ever seen.
“I hate to tell you this, bro, but you need her back on your channel.”
The stomach somersault stopped. “That’s a no-go. She was freaked out that I even asked for her number for the release form. I think she’d set up a restraining order if I actually called her.”
“She’s crazy, huh?”
It was Breck’s turn to pause, thinking back to the dejected look on her face as she’d studied the concrete. “It was more like she’s wounded.” Harmony’s round blue eyes appeared in his mind: wide, untrusting, and unsure. They vanished as the image of her running down the block came forward. “I totally scared her off.”
“Dude, chicks don’t dig magic the way you think they do.”
He laughed. “I figured that out in middle school.”
“Oh my gosh, Sarah Bently.” Jeb laughed.
“I’m glad my humiliation is still hilarious,” he said with a hearty dose of sarcasm. “Sarahhad no idea what she was missing out on.”
“Uh, I’m pretty sure she had visions of your mother’s basement, a top hat, and Saturday nights watching you fumble through card tricks. I heard she married some guy who’s a rock star at Apple. What I wouldn’t give to be a rock star at Apple.”
“Your day will come,” Breck assured his friend.
“Yours will come sooner if you get that girl back. What was her name?”
“Harmony.” Saying her name out loud sent a thrill up Breck’s spine. He hadn’t actually said it to her when they were talking, because he’d not asked for it before doing the trick. He should have, and he was still kicking himself for losing his head over a pretty face. When he’d seen her standing in the back of the crowd with her head down, he’d had no idea how stunning she was with her pearly skin tinged pink by the cold. His first thought when she’d looked up had beenqueen. And not the queen of hearts, but a true queen, lost and out of place in this world of chaos and harshness.
“Call her. See if she’ll be your assistant. The card tricks were great, but you need to up your game.”
“Up my game?” The thought was as tantalizing as it was scary, second only to the idea of calling Harmony. “True stage magic includes an assistant, props, smoke and mirrors. How am I going to get all that on a street corner?”
“Move to the park.”
Move to the park… Now there was a thought. A big thought. Only the most talented and beloved performers made it at the park. There was a guy who played the sax; he’d been there for thirty years, and people loved him. He’d take requests, play love songs for couples walking by, and had even been involved in several proposals. The park was big time. “Easy for you to say!”
“I’d help you if I was there.”
“Location is my second biggest problem. Bro, Harmony is Sarah Bently all over again. She’s so far out of my league.”
