burn. Rationally, I understood that one tiny sip of fancy champagne wasn’t going to set me down a path of self-destruction again. But it was best if I steered clear. I set the glass back down and smiled.
“You don’t seem as happy as you should,” he said with a concerned frown. “You’re probably just in shock from everything. You just found out today you were going to play, right?”
“I’m happy. It’s been a lot really fast, and I think I just need to eat.”
He glanced around the box suite lined in red velvet curtains with gold tassels. “Looks like they cleared the food already. Let me go track some down. You drink that champagne.” He pulled me close and kissed my cheek with a little growl. “I’m so happy to see you again.”
I nodded and smiled.
As soon as he left, I sat back into the seat and pressed my palm to my forehead. The skin there was clammy and cool to the touch despite how I burned up. I needed to eat. I needed to breathe. For the past ten years, I had followed the same strict schedule and now all this change was all too much, too soon. I bent forward, holding my knees and taking big gulps of air as best I could as the doctors had suggested.
Something snagged my attention on the floor near the opposite seat. A folded piece of paper.
My shaky hand reached out and snagged it.
It read: Don’t let nerves make you sloppy. You’re better than that.
I smiled and gripped the note to my chest, still in that same familiar handwriting. Never had a critique felt so good. Roddy was still leaving me notes. He may have upgraded his lifestyle, but he was still my best friend from camp.
I re-read the note again and tucked it into my pocket. Roddy wanted me to be happy and successful. I picked up the champagne and stared at it for a long minute. I could relax and have a nice time. I took a big sip. The past was the past. I would be okay.
The note was still gripped in my hand when Roddy returned a few minutes later wearing the charming, easy smile of the kid that I knew. Maybe it was the high of night or the buzz of the champagne, but I felt like it had to be fate that we’d met back up like this. I’d always wished I could end up with the one who had given me all those treasured notes. Obviously, I was just getting to know Roddy again and I didn’t want to rush anything, but still, what if he had been the missing piece all these years?
“The bad news: I couldn’t find food. Good news: I pilfered a bottle of Dom Pérignon from the VIP bar.” He held up the contraband as he walked into the box and closed the door behind him. “Finish that glass and we can get this party started.”
I handed him my empty glass. My stomach burned but the effects of the champagne muted my hunger a little. Maybe I’d regret this later, but a piece of my past had been returned to me and I wouldn’t overthink it.
I smiled at him wondering if I looked as foggy as I felt.
“You seem more relaxed,” he said.
He popped the cork from the bottle. It fizzed over and I clapped.
“I’m just happy to see you again. Look what I found,” I whispered and leaned in with a grin.
His gaze moved to my hand and the note I held up. He patted his pocket. “You found that.”
I nodded and waited to speak until the room stopped moving.
“You’re not mad?” he asked hesitantly.
“No. I love your notes.” I wanted to tell him how much they had meant to me, how it helped to think that he was out there somewhere rooting for me. I bit back the words; I knew the champagne was loosening my tongue and I didn’t want to come on too strong. “I missed them. I missed you.”
He grabbed my hand with the note and squeezed. “I missed you too.” He tried to take the note back, but I pulled away.
“Nope. I want to keep it. I still have all the other ones.”
“You do?” His smile faltered for a moment before sliding back in place. Maybe my intensity had freaked him out after all. I slid the note into my pants pocket, letting it go for now.
“Tell me about your life these last few years.”