Page 81 of Yours, Finally

"Keep listening. This is a draft for a song I'm writing; this version is missing the lyrics."

"Like a karaoke song? Just the melody?"

He nodded. "It's not the final version, but it's getting there."

We quieted as the music continued. There was a hint of sadness to it too; it intensified when his voice added another layer.

I'm not, I'm not, it said, and it echoed a few times.

On and on and oncame later, on a passage just like the one before.

In gold, in goldwere the last words, in a double echo, making it sound like a dream.

The music didn't fade; it ended with purpose. It left silence between us, letting me hear my own heart— it mirrored the pace of the song.

Still naked and snuggled up in bed, a rare ache feathered against my breastbone. It was the longing in the music he'd shared, binding itself to my marrow.

"Do you have the lyrics yet?"

He chuckled. "First, you're supposed to tell me if you like it."

I smiled and lifted myself to my elbow. With a hand on his chest, I made a path all the way to his beard. I ran the pad of two fingers over his eyebrow and a high cheek.

"It was beautiful." I dropped a kiss on his cheek, then his lips. "It was haunting, yet romantic. Thank you for showing me."

The corners of his lips turned up. "It seemed fair, since the song is about you."

My jaw dropped. "What?"

He nodded. "Yep. It's about you."

"Like— the lyrics too? Or just the music?"

"All of it."

"You have to share the lyrics! I need to know how you write about me."

"I will soon. For now I'm happy to leave you in suspense."

I laughed in disbelief. "You have an evil side, it seems. I don't enjoy being left on read like this."

He chuckled and pulled me in for a kiss. "You can take it."

"I can take many things but, this one? Just cruel, Jake Stewart."

"You want to hear the song that badly?"

"Of course!"

"What if I told you I've written many songs for you?"

"Let me guess. You're going to tease me about those too?"

He grinned. "Of course."

"Unbelievable!"

I tried to make distance between us, pretending indignation, but he saw right through me. My smile might have had something to do with it.