The Prelude (A Musical Interlude Novel) - By Kasonndra Leigh Page 0,39
then her blank eyes take on a look of longing again. “I can’t teach anyone about something like that. And I don’t do the kissing on the lips thing, either.”
“What? Why not?” I ask, moving to sit a little closer to her. I don’t want to freak her out again, but she intrigues me.
“It’s personal. I just—that kind of thing isn’t for me.”
I want so badly to move the stray hairs blowing in the wind away from her face. Ever since we met, I’ve wondered what her hair would look like if she let it hang loose from the bumpy bun thing she loves so well.
But Erin Angelo is like a baby bird, the kind that has fallen out of the nest before it had the chance to be nurtured and was able to spread its wings. Now the little bird sits all alone, waiting for someone to say “you can fly.”
“Don’t ever be afraid to try something new, Erin.”
“I’m not scared,” she says firmly. But then she scoffs a small laugh and says, “Maybe I’m a little scared at times.”
I reach out and touch her face. This time she doesn’t pull back. What can it hurt? I tuck the loose hairs behind her ears. Erin closes her eyes as I graze the side of her cheek. And then, she opens them and gives me a sad smile. God how I wish I could take away the pain in those dark eyes of hers. But I don’t want to frighten her by coming on too strongly. I can be patient, for now.
I lace my fingers with hers and wait for her to say something to put me in my place. She doesn’t. Instead, she shakes her head and playfully rolls her eyes. I grin like a kid. Now, that I’ve stolen the fruit, I’m running away with it too.
Chapter Ten
Erin
I better grab the mail before I forget about it. My thoughts keep drifting back to one handsomely Maestro and the way he kept on touching me at the park earlier today. No matter how hard I try I just can't seem to get a handle on anything else.
I open my front door and scream, a blood-chilling one like the shrieks from a horror movie. In return, Adriana belts one out too. I didn’t expect anyone to be standing outside the door, and especially not Alek’s sister. I catch my breath and check for my pulse. I do still have one, but barely.
I take a good look at what she’s holding. Overnight bags, three super huge ones. There are also two suitcases sitting on either side of her little body and she’s eyeing me as though I’m about to scream again.
“Adriana. What’s going on?” I ask, scanning her bags and still trying to catch my breath.
She shuffles on her feet and tilts her head to the side. I’ve learned these two gestures means that she’s nervous.
“My roommate moved out. I’m all alone in that big, scary apartment now. And—and, well…Would it be all right if I crash with you for a while? I mean, you live all alone too, you know,” she finally manages to say.
“Okay. Come inside, now,” I order and move to pick up the two suitcases she’s not able to carry because of all the handbags swinging from her body. We keep going until we get to the living room. I sit her bags down and turn to face her. “Explanation, please.”
“It’s creepy living all by myself. I thought you could use the company,” she explains, her eyes pleading. I feel like there’s more to her story. She takes a seat across from me.
“Before I tell you that it’s fine to move in here for a while, I want to make sure Alek didn’t put you up to this.” I throw it right out there. I’ve seen the way both Alek and Adriana are always glancing around when we’re out in public. I have the feeling that this latest request has a bit more to do with my hunch than Adriana’s loneliness.
“Why would he do something like that? He’s the last person I want to know about this. Take that back, Mother is the last person who needs to know.”
“Why?” I ask, shrugging.
“How can you ask that question? You’ve seen the way she has to control everything.”
“You’ve got a point. That’s for sure.”
“Please, Erin. I’ll only stay for a couple of weeks.”
She has conveniently avoided my statement about Alek, but I’m a softie when it comes to his