Page 116 of Strings

Cherese arrives in a beautiful red dress with a flower on her hip. I wave to her and she waves back. I need to get backstage. My surprise will be arriving soon. Where is Sebastian? I really wanted to talk to him before things got crazy.

“Holy handbags! You are gorgeous!” Amy makes me turn for her. “He bought this for you? For real? Oh, Talia. I want you two together more than I want tonight to be a success. Isn’t there any way you can work it out?”

“I didn’t want to tell you before, but I hope so too. I’ve been looking for him, but I can’t find him. Is he here?”

Amy jumps lightly in her heels. “Let me check.” She pulls a walkie talkie out of a bag on her hip and speaks into it.

“Anyone have eyes on Strings?”

She waits for a response.

“How come I don’t have one of those?” I ask.

“You don’t need one. You have me and your phone.” She motions down to it and I check it as it vibrates once again.

It vibrates constantly. I thought it was how we were communicating. Apparently I’m not cool enough to get one. “Strings? Is that Sebastian?” I ask.

She nods. “That’s his code name for tonight. Strings is a lot easier to say.”

There some static, then a man speaks. “Strings is in the lobby. At the coat check.”

“Go!” Amy says, pointing.

I take off. I don’t know what I’m going to say, but three words come to mind. I feel myself trembling the closer I get. Once I’m in the lobby, I stop and try to see over and around heads. After a few minutes, he turns and we make eye contact across the room.

He mouths, “Wow,” to me and I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. Somehow, seeing him makes all the nervousness disappear. I want him and I need him to know. I start my way toward him. It’s a maze of people. He never takes his eyes off of me. After a few minutes of dodging around people, I’m finally in front of him.

He’s not wearing his glasses and he’s dressed in a black tuxedo I’ve never seen before. It must be new. He makes my heart race.

“Hi.” It’s all I’m able to say.

“Hi,” he says with a crooked grin.

“Thank you for my apartment and this dress, and well, for everything including Bobby. Deep down, I always knew you were a Russian Mobster.”

“Shhh,” he says, placing a finger to his lips. “Don’t give me away. Playing violin has always been my cover.”

I smile shyly. I’d better get it out before I lose my nerve. “I have to tell you something.”

“What is it?” He fixes his cuff links as if he’s uncomfortable.

“I’ve been meaning to tell you this for a while now, but see, I didn’t know myself until just the other day.”

He looks over his shoulder and past me as if he’s looking for someone.

“Am I bothering you?” I ask.

“No! No, not at all. I asked my accompanist to meet me here and I’m afraid she’s not going to show. It’s an important night. I have a lot riding on this song.”

“You’re accompanist or your date?” I ask.

He rolls his eyes. “She’s not my date. Stop it. Jealousy is very unflattering, even on you.”

Sucking my cheeks in, I have to take a breath to control my sudden frustration. “I’m not jealous. Why would I be?”

“I don’t know. Why would you be jealous? We’re finally over, right? Isn’t that what you wanted all along?”

As I open my mouth with the intention of telling him how I feel, my phone buzzes. I glance down and it’s Amy.