Page 91 of Blind Devotion

Work emergency. I have to leave. You were sleeping so well, I could not wake you. Stay. We will talk when I return. I promise. I love you.

No one would ever think Adrien an easy man to deal with, but for better or worse, he was mine.

“Marie, when did Monsieur De Villier say he’d be back? I can’t remember.”

“Not before tomorrow afternoon, I believe.”

I shut my eyes and sighed. “Seems my boyfriend forgot my audition tomorrow morning.”

So upset, it must have slipped his mind. It wasn’t helping his case, that was for sure. I gnawed on my lower lip.

“Would you please let me know about alternative transportation options for getting to Lyon? And would you mind sending Alizé over? I need her opinion on my wardrobe.”

“Good idea. She has a cunning eye for fashion. I do wish you the best tomorrow, mademoiselle. Your playing is…divine. It deserves to be heard. Is the plan still to leave this afternoon?”

“Yes.”

“That might be a little short notice. Perhaps you should ask Monsieur Erel to reach Monsieur De Villier for you. He will have better suggestions.”

That sounded like Adrien didn’t want me leaving the house without his approval. Well, he could go shove his control where the sun didn’t shine. With or without his approval, I was going to that audition.

“The princess beckoned?” Alizé’s heels clacked along the tile in the bedroom. Her figure blurred into existence against the dark backdrop of the wall tones.

“Over here,” I called from the walk-in closet. I had yet to pick an outfit. I needed to wow these judges. This was my future, something for me that had nothing to do with Adrien and my feelings for him.

“You playing dress up?”

“How do you feel about some girl bonding time during a trip to Lyon this afternoon? We’d only return tomorrow after my audition at the conservatory.”

“Only if we take the helicopter. I’m not a road trip sort of woman.”

“Fine by me. Not like I’d enjoy the scenery.” I groaned in exasperation.

“Wonderful, I will arrange it.”

“Wow, okay, great. Can you…Would you help me pick out an outfit?”

As suspected, Alizé pitched right in, practically rubbing her hands in glee. As she passed me, I purposely bumped into her to get a feel for her pockets. No phone. I was hoping that meant that she left it somewhere in the bedroom instead of not bringing it with her at all.

“I’m going to go freshen up.”

I learned the layout of Adrien’s bedroom within the first couple of days of sharing it with him. I didn’t need my cane here to navigate the furniture. I did it from memory.

I checked the throw on the bed, the top of the nightstand, and the dresser last. There it was, but the screen was a large, bright blur. I couldn’t see the buttons nor feel them. Nothing I seemed to touch was changing anything. I grunted a cry and marched back into the closet. I held the phone out to Alizé.

“I need to call my brother, and you’re going to help me.”

“Am I?” she asked, amused.

“You owe me for all the shit you said and did when we were younger.”

She sighed. “So I do.” She took the phone. “What’s the number?”

I gave her the number I remembered for Renzo from months back, hoping he hadn’t changed it.

“I told Adrien you’d find a way. I’m glad you did.”

“Are you? You and I never exactly got along.”