Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
They excuse themselves, but I refuse to give up on my music. My heart isn’t healed, but their praise helps. Even though it’s well past time for me to leave the studio and head back to my apartment, I choose to stay.
The director enters the room just as I finish the next piece. “Hello, sir.”
“I have good news. You’ve been scouted. Two different companies are interested in you. One of them is with the symphony we played with, and the other is in London.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, I couldn’t tell you in front of the guests, but I wanted to inform you. Unfortunately, I have to leave, so you’ll have to lock up when you’re finished. Have a good night.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Please, don’t thank me. You’re an amazing talent. Think about the offers. I’ve sent them to your email, but you may get a call from their offices. Have a good evening.” It’s pretty late there, so I don’t expect to hear from them.
I’m about to start my next number when my phone rings. I foolishly hope it’s Cyber, but it’s not. “What’s up, Bee?”
“So, where the hell are you?” she shouts in a panic.
“I went to practice for a bit.”
“Can’t stay away from your piano for that long?” There’s a hint of humor in her tone.
“It’s not mine, remember? I’m just using it. I don’t have my piano anymore.” It’s not something I’ve shared with anyone, and only Bee knows the truth. It’s the reason I’ve cut off all contact with my parents. Love shouldn’t come at a price. They could keep it, and I’ll play on a damn Casio keyboard from a big-box store if that means that I don’t owe them my soul for it.
“I know, Andi. Still, I thought you’d be here, sulking over Cyber or something. I brought ice cream and everything.”
“Sorry to disappoint. I’m coming with my tears for your viewing pleasure soon. Let me pack up.”
“You know I love your sarcasm so much.”
“I know.” I close the piano lid on the keys and then turn when I hear the door close. Turning around, I find my cousin Bee, but she’s not alone. Cyber’s standing right there.
“What are you doing here?” I hiss because it’s the only thing stopping me from crying.
“We need to talk.”
Bee waves a bag in front of me and says, “I’m going to take this ice cream and go visit the hospital. I have to go check on a patient there.”
“I bet,” I say, smiling at her until she leaves the room. I can’t look at Cyber right now because all I want to do is cry. I’m not sure how they made it past security or the dean, but all the lights are off except this one.
Surprisingly my phone rings, and I check the number. It’s the one the dean mentioned. I send it to voicemail. Now is definitely not the time for a conversation about my future with anyone other than this man in front of me.
And I’m not even sure I’m prepared for that one.
Chapter Twelve
Cyber
Thirty-six seconds. I count it. Thirty-six seconds of silence pass between us before her phone rings. Not once has she given me her attention. She pulls out her phone and looks at it before sending it to voicemail.
I don’t like it one bit.
When it comes to that fucking phone, she’s been insanely secretive. I want to smash that device against the wall. I love electronics; all tech has been my obsession until now. Not five seconds later, it’s ringing again.
“You’re popular today,” I snarl, feeling jealous as hell.
“What are you doing here anyway? I thought I was a mistake you made. Don’t you learn from them?” she says, glaring at me with venom in her eyes that reeks of the pain that I put there.
“Fuck, I didn’t mean we were a mistake. Hell, it’s that I let you keep that damn phone and not dealing with that asshole from the start. If I hadn’t been so damn eager to claim you as mine, then we probably wouldn’t be in this mess right now. He would have been caught long before then.”
“You left.”
“I went outside to get air before I got myself arrested. Then you fucking cut out with Torres. Boomer is the only reason I didn’t go to prison for killing that fucker yesterday.”
Her phone goes off again. “Son of a bitch. Who the fuck is it?”
“It’s a job offer. They kind of want an answer soon.” She’s extremely nervous, rocking from one foot to the other.
“Where is it, Andi?” I ask.
She doesn’t say a word, freezing in place with her head looking down at her phone. “Where is the job offer located?” The tension in my voice grows with every word.
“London.”
“London as in England?” I know there’s one in Kentucky, but I doubt she’s talking about that place.