Page 95 of Serenade Me

Chapter Thirty-two

Marius

The concert ends as normal. I returned to the stage after a few songs, and just lost myself in the music.

One encore and we’re done, rushing off the stage.

“Where is she?” Jez asks as soon as we’re backstage.

“Mike said Hailey took her back to the hotel.”

He looks at me, then at the back entrance door and back at me. “Well, are you fucking coming or not?”

Chapter Thirty-three

Anca

The dreams are dark. They are too real and make me wake up in a sweat.

I check the clock.

It’s close to midnight. They’ll all be back soon.

I don’t know if I can’t wait to see them to apologize, or if I should just take this time to pack and leave, be out of their lives for good.

I can hear chatter from the street through the open window.

And then there’s a knock on my door.

I should’ve known he’d come for me.

He who?

You know who.

I slide out of bed and pad over barefoot to the door.

He knocks once more before I open it.

“Anca, there you are,” he says, smiling and holding out a dahlia to me. “I’ve missed you.”

And that’s the last thing I remember.