Page 81 of Before Eve

“I know.”

We listen to each other breathe.

“What are you wearing?” he whispers.

“The same thing I was wearing when we got here.”

“No,” he groans. “You’re supposed to make something up. Something sexy.”

“Oh.” I think of stuff I’ve seen in magazines that he might like. “A blue see-through bra with matching see-through panties,” I say, not fully believing I just said that.

He takes a breath. “I do loveyou in blue.”

“What areyouwearing?”

“No shirt. No jeans. Just snug Calvin Klein boxers.”

It’s my turn to take a breath. I like that image. Verymuch. “Not Daffy Duck?”

He laughs. “Bye, Blue Eyes.”

“Bye.”

Downstairs, West comes in and starts rummaging around the kitchen. But instead of joining him, I get my guitar.

Cradling it, I settle on the top step of the loft and stare out across the cold valley. I strum a few chords, warming up. I mimic one of Bus Stop’ssongs and do okay, I suppose. Our night at the beach comes back to me and has me transitioning into the notes I’d created, and West had written lyrics to. I play it through a few times and add to it here and there.

I lose track of time as I play, disappearing into the rhythm, the strumming, and the chords. I try to remember all his words to the melody, but can’t, and so I focus on what feels right, what sounds right, and how it flows through my soul.

When I finish, I sit, relishing the vibrations of the guitar as it settles.

A soft clap fills the air, and my eyes open to see West standing at the bottom step.

“Hi,” he says.

“Hi, back.”

He takes a step up.

“What are you doing?”

Another step up. “Watching the most beautiful girl in the world play the loveliest song.”

I draw in a breath. “Oh…”

He takes another step up. “I’ll ask if I can kiss her.” Another step. “No, I’ll just kiss her.” One more. “No, I'd better ask her first.”

“What are you talking about?”

Another step up. “Those are the three sentences that went through my head continuously until I finally worked up the nerve to kiss you.”

“You didn’t ask me.” Wait, did he?

He takes another step. “Hell, Eve, I’ve never put so much thought into kissing a girl in my entire life.”

A few more steps and he’ll be right here.

“Finally, I decided I’d just do what felt right.” One more step up.