Touching Melody (A Forever First Novel) (28 page)

A sob of relief escapes my throat. I need to be more careful. I turn and smile.

Professor Jenkins clears his throat. Gives my face a once over. Shakes his head. “Are you warmed up? Can I hear how the piece is coming along?”

“Um, sure,” Kyle says.

We move to take our seats. After I’ve adjusted my bench, I glance at Kyle. Send him a message with my eyes. This isn’t going to be good. My fingers aren’t limber. I haven’t played in a couple of days.

Kyle saves me.

“Do you mind if we run through a couple of exercises?”

Professor Je
nkins’ eyebrows rise into his salt and pepper hair. A look that asks, “What have you been doing?” He takes a seat in a chair. Crosses one leg over the other, and adjusts his clothing. “Of course. Proceed.”

I’m so happy I could reach over and kiss Kyle, but I don’t. We run through scales
together for five minutes. I’m amazed at how well we play together. It’s not easy to play a song with someone else. The best duet partners learn to breathe together. For many, it takes years of practice. But with Kyle, it’s as if his heart is a part of me. I sense the beat, when he’s going to breathe. Each time I glance at Kyle, I get the feeling he’s experiencing the same thing.

My fingers are feeling better
, more limber. I nod, letting him know I’m ready.

Kyle counts
quietly. “One. Two. Three.” He starts to play. I join in. My fingers play the notes. My soul follows along. Soaring. Reaching. Believing. Worry about Evan, about whether I should be with Kyle, and the stress of school fade into the background.

I am the music.

I’ve had the piece memorized for a while and I play with my eyes closed, only occasionally opening them to watch Kyle when there’s a particularly difficult section. His ice-blue eyes meet mine every time I look over. Melting me. And I’m lost. In his eyes, the chords, the melody.

When it’s finished, Professor Jenkins claps. He stands, picks up his briefcase
and his coat and moves to the door. “Lovely. Almost there. Keep it up. I’ll check back after Christmas break.”

He leaves.
The air’s thick with a tension I hadn’t noticed before. I glance at Kyle and we both start to laugh.

“Are you
staying with your aunt and uncle for Thanksgiving?” He stands and makes his way over. The butterflies in my belly flutter with eagerness.

I swallow and clear my throat. “Yes.
Are you going home? I mean, to your aunt and uncle’s?”

He walks behind me,
touches my back with his hand. Moves my hair out of the way and massages my shoulders.

“
Mmmmmm. That feels sooooo good.” I let my head hang forward, giving him easier access.

His magic fingers knead the stressed muscles. Then move further down. I close the lid over the keys and lean forward.

Kyle chuckles. “I take it you don’t want me to stop.”

“I might have to hurt you if you stop.”

“Got it, Boss.” His fingers move further down my spine.

M
y body is humming in happiness. I think I could let him do this for hours. He moves along my waist to my sides, then presses in. My body responds like a light bulb flipped on and I whirl around, slapping his hands away. “Don’t tickle me.”

He pulls me close, nudging my neck with his nose, his lips.
My heart pounds against my chest so hard I think I’ll pass out. “I want you, Maddie Martin.” His hands slide under my shirt and his hands press my body tightly against him.

I melt into him, hugging him. I want him too. But Evan’s voice is in my head.
“Keep your knees together and your lips closed.” 

He
straddles the bench so he’s facing me. I lean in. Mesmerized by his hands on my body. When they reach my neck, he lifts my face and kisses me. Long and deep, until I press into him, dizzy with pleasure.

“Until break we’d better practice long and hard.” His voice is hoarse, filled with emotion.

I
mutter something incoherent, too focused on the gratification his tongue and lips are eliciting as he blazes a trail of hot kisses over my body.

33

Maddie

Coats Are For Babies

“My Aunt and Uncle are waiting, Gina. Let’s go.” I’m trying not
to act like an impatient bitch, but she’s making it difficult. At the moment she’s stuffing random clothes into a big black duffel bag. “We’re going to be gone three days, not two months. Jeans, tee shirts, shoes. That’s it. All you need.” I stomp my foot in frustration as I watch her ignore me. Open a shoebox and toss her black ankle boots into the bag.

Gina looks up
. “Almost done.” She pulls a short black dress off a hanger. “You never know when you might need a party dress.” She smiles big, and it reaches her eyes, a rarity for her. It finally occurs to me that she’s excited. To meet my family. A small piece of my heart melts. I’ve sensed something going on with Gina. I’m hoping during these three days—without boys, parties, booze, or drugs—she’ll tell me what that something is. “Ready,” she says, tugging on her black leather jacket and zipping it. Wrapping a red scarf around her neck.

She walks over, tugs on my gray sweatshirt, and says, “Why the hell don’t you have a coat?”

“Coats are for babies,” I say smugly.

She snorts.

We head down on the elevator, her with her big bag, and me with a small rolling suitcase. The elevator is crowded. Hot and stuffy. When the door dings open, we burst from the small container. I look at Gina, and she smiles.

“This is going to be fun,” she says, pushing open
Irvine Hall’s front doors.

I’m about to agree until I see Evan. He’s leaning against Kyle’s Jeep. His ankles and arms crossed. He’s smiling, and my heart drops into the pit of my stomach.

Kyle
, I think, and frantically search for him. I see my aunt and uncle’s car. They are parked in front of Kyle’s Jeep. My heart is frenzied. I wonder if Evan knows who they are.

“Hey Maddie.” Kyle
appears on my left and wraps a hand around my waist.

“Hi,” I respond, my gaze spinning back and forth between Kyle and Evan.

Kyle kisses my cheek. “Let me help you with your suitcase.”

“Um…” Evan points a finger gun at me and pretends to shoot. I look at Kyle. “That’s okay.” I walk a little faster, pulling away from his hand. “I’ll see you in a few days.
‘Kay?” My uncle gets out of the car and opens the trunk. A big smile is plastered on his face. I notice his dark hair is thinning in front. He’s wearing a brown leather jacket and tan pants. Happiness spins through me. I’m so happy to see him.

But I
panic. Walking over to my uncle feels like betraying him. Giving him up. Allowing Evan to know who he is. Although I immediately realize he probably already knows. Still, I pretend not to see my uncle.

“
Maddelena Eleanor Martin. Where are you going?”

I skid to a halt. “Uh, sorry. I didn’t see you.” The words sound as lame as they are.

Gina gives me a strange look. I’m about to give her an excuse when her phone chirps. She pulls it out of her pocket and looks at it. Then spins in a circle, like she’s lost something.

“I’ll be right there,” I say to my uncle, holding up a finger. Then help Gina search for whatever it is she’s looking for.

“Hustle. Your aunt is anxious to get home. Something about an
I Dream of Jeanie
marathon.”

I see Collin the same time Gina does. She drops her suitcase. Runs. And jumps into his outstretched arms. They kiss. Their hands roaming all over each other
’s bodies, like they can’t get enough. You’d think it’d been years since they’d seen each other, instead of hours.

Collin says, “I changed my mind.
My parents can suck it. I can’t leave you.” He glances at the bag she dropped. “Unless you have other plans?”

“Oh.” She steps from his arms. “I-I…” She looks at me, her eyes pleading
. But I can tell she doesn’t want to be one of those girls. The kind who choose the boyfriend over the best friend. So I save her.

“Gina’s so sweet. She was helping me with my bags.” I pick up her bag and whisper, “You owe me.” I smile.

She smiles back. Mouths, “Thank you.” Puckers her lips in an air kiss. Out loud she says, “I’ll see you when you get back.”  She hugs me. “Love you, Maddie. Thanks.” She pushes me back, looks at my face. “You’re like the best person I’ve ever known.”

I hug her again. “Ditto, Gina.”

She glances at Kyle, who is having a heated discussion with Evan. “Don’t do anything.” She stops. “What am I saying? Do lots of crazy stuff.”

I laugh. “Thanks. I will.”

She sidles up to Collin and kisses him like they’re alone—or should be. They walk away together. Arms around each other. It’s really sweet.

My uncle grabs the bag off my shoulder and tosses it in the trunk. I
roll over the other one. “This one, too.”

He throws it in, and then hugs me tightly. “Missed you, kid.” He
ruffles my hair like I’m five.

I pat my hair back into place.
“Missed you, too. Thanks for coming to get me.”

He guffaws. “Of course.”
Uncle John opens my door. I slide in behind my aunt.

“Hey, honey,” Aunt
Eliza says.

“Hi.” I get buckled, and my uncle starts the car.

“Did you need to say good-bye to that boy?” He looks at me in the rear view mirror.

I pee
k out the back window. See Kyle’s looking my way. I wave. Either he doesn’t see me or he’s mad. He turns away and climbs into his Jeep. The wheels squeal as he pulls away from the curb.

“I guess not.”

My room looks the same as it did the day I left. Pale green walls, cream curtains, shelves full of books. An antique desk and chair and my queen-sized bed. I toss Gina’s bag on the bed and set my suitcase next to it. Unzip it and pull out my music. The first thing I want to do is play piano. My piano.

I climb down the stairs and head straight for the black baby grand. Lift the top and push back the lid.

Scales first. I play for a few minutes, then adjust my bench. Play more scales. Then I run through the duet I’m going to play with Kyle.

When I finish, there’s
clapping from the kitchen.

“That’s beautiful
, Maddie.”

“Thanks.” I fiddle with some chords.
A melody that’s been rattling around in my head the past few days.

“Dinner
’s ready.”

I
stand. “Did you need some help? I can set the table,” I say, entering the kitchen.

My aunt wipes her eyes. “No.” She hugs me tightly. “It’s good to have you home.”

My uncle is already sitting at the small oak table and I sit across from him in my regular seat. Aunt Eliza brings over a plate of burgers. They are covered in melted cheese and bacon. Instead of buns are glazed donuts. I raise my eyebrows in question.

“A celebration dinner,” Aunt Eliza says.

Uncle John puts two glazed donuts on his plate. Stabs a hamburger patty with a fork and places it on top of one of the donuts. Slaps some lettuce, tomato, and catsup over the top. Sticks the other donut over it. Lifts it to his mouth and takes a bite. A little catsup squishes out the side of his mouth. He wipes at it with a napkin. “Not bad.”

I shrug. Repeat the process. “
Alrighty then.” I take a bite. Chew. My uncle’s right. It isn’t bad. It’s actually kind of tasty. I take another bite.

Eliza laughs. “See, John dear, she likes it.” She grabs a cookie sheet full of fries and dumps them into a bowl. Brings them over along with a container of caramel. “Would you like some fries with that?”
She smiles brightly.

I giggle. “Most definitely.”

Uncle and I give the caramel fries a taste. The combination is actually surprisingly delicious. John seems to agree because he’s nodding.