Say the Word(11)

“Oh!” I exclaimed, slapping my forehead with an open palm. I could feel my cheeks heating as an embarrassed blush overtook my face. “I’m sorry, I’m an idiot. Can you please drop me off at Jackson Medical Center?”

He looked over at me curiously but didn’t question my odd choice of destination. With a nod, he merged onto Main Street – which, in the one-horse town that was Jackson, housed every restaurant and shop on a single strip – and we wound through the streets toward the local hospital.

“What song is this?” I whispered, not wanting to break the silence but desperate to know the name of the hauntingly beautiful melody coming from his speakers.

“It’s by a composer named Tomaso Vitali — it’s the Vitali Chaconne,” he said, looking over at me with raised eyebrows. “You like classical music?”

“Not particularly,” I murmured, straining to listen as the violin crescendoed in an achingly sweet climax of strings. I’d never heard anything like it before. “But this is… I don’t have words for what this is,” I whispered, utterly overtaken by the music.

“I know what you mean. I feel the same way.” Sebastian cleared his throat roughly. “Some people don’t get music. How it can take you away from a place or a moment you don’t want to be anymore, and transport you somewhere else entirely. Somewhere better.” He blushed, as if embarrassed by his own admission or worried that he’d revealed something too personal.

“Do you play?” I asked.

“Every day,” he admitted, laughing softly.

“What instrument?”

“Piano,” he said, smiling to himself. “My mother would’ve preferred violin, but she thought I wouldn’t have the discipline for it.”

Somehow I doubted that. Sebastian didn’t strike me as the undisciplined type, but I wasn’t about to question him.

“I’d love to learn, someday,” I mused softly, knowing that it wasn’t a possibility. Music lessons were expensive and, even if I won the lottery and could somehow purchase a piano, the giant instrument would take up the entirety of my tiny bedroom. I grinned as the ridiculous image of me sleeping on top of a grand piano each night popped into my head – my pillow and blanket sliding against the glossy black wood as I tried to get comfortable.

“I could teach you,” Sebastian offered casually, as though that was an actual possibility. I could only imagine what his popular posse would think of him hanging out with Lux Kincaid. I held in my snort and managed to nod.

“Mhm, maybe,” I muttered noncommittally, looking out the window.

Was I actually having a normal conversation with the senator’s son? I couldn’t quite wrap my mind around that fact. I didn’t look back at him until we were pulling to a stop in front of the hospital entrance.

“So… I guess this is it.” Sebastian shifted the car into park and turned to face at me.

“Guess so,” I said, gripping the door handle like a lifeline. I didn’t know what to say to this beautiful boy, who talked about music and made me smile when nothing in my life seemed worth being happy about. “Thanks for nearly running me over. It was real fun.”

“Anytime. It was my pleasure.” He laughed.

“Goodbye, Sebastian,” I said, getting out of the car.

“See you in class, Lux.”

Sure, he’d see me. But we both knew we’d never talk like this again. We were from different worlds, and the reality was that the white-trash girl in the ripped up jeans simply didn’t mix well with mansions and Mercedes. It was a shame, I thought, walking through the doors. For a moment, there, I could’ve sworn we’d connected on a basic human level. Sitting in his car in the rain, everything else had fallen away and we’d seemed like the only two in the world.

I knew better than to think it could last. Tomorrow in class, he’d ignore my presence and it would be as if it had never happened. All would be right in the world. I ignored the pang of loneliness in my chest, forcing a smile on my face as I thought ahead to Jamie.

I resolutely did not look back as the automatic glass doors slid shut behind me and, thus, had no way of knowing that Sebastian’s watchful eyes followed my retreating form until I rounded a corner and faded from his view.





Chapter Five





Now


Without turning around, I knew he was in the room with me. I’d know that husky voice anywhere, no matter how many years passed. It still sent chills racing down my spine.

Ignoring the spilled lettuce at my feet, I promptly ducked behind the closest rack of designer clothing. The makeup artists were all staring at me like I was a crazy person – which, lets be honest, I pretty much was – but I didn’t care. There was no freaking way I was coming face to face with Sebastian today. Actually, not ever. But most certainly not today, when my hair was slipping into my eyes, my blouse was wrinkled with perspiration and humidity, and I had gum on my favorite pair of heels.

I could, however, spy on him from behind this conveniently placed rack of clothing before making my escape to the elevator unnoticed. In retrospect, I should’ve walked away. No — I should’ve run away. I should’ve done the practical thing: high-tailed it for the elevator immediately and gone on with my blissfully uncomplicated life.