Page 20 of Strings

“Spoken like someone who knows how to make it.”

Loud laughter comes from the hall. He takes a step backward and glances toward the other players. He sighs as he returns his focus to me. “Well… this sucks ass.”

“I agree. It’s complete shit.”

We stare at each other for a moment before I speak. “Can we forget this happened? Everyone thinks I passed out because I didn’t eat a good breakfast. Let’s pretend we don’t know each other and go our separate ways. Again.”

“Sebastian? Is everything okay? The orchestra is waiting for you.” Bella rounds the corner and places her hand possessively on his back.

“Bella, like I told the rest of the group, I need a minute.” He steps out of her touch. “I don’t know why you think it’s okay for you to be here. I said go and I meant it.”

She salutes him. “Yes, sir. I just wanted to make sure yourgirlfriendwas alright. It almost seemed as if you were shocked to see each other. Didn’t you know she was working here?”

Uh oh. The entire plane ride and our conversation comes rushing back to me.

“Of course I did.”

“I didn’t know he was here today,” I add for good measure.

“You seem mad at each other. Is there trouble in paradise?” she asks hopefully.

I scowl at her.

“We had a little disagreement this morning about breakfast. She didn’t eat, obviously. But everything is fine now.”

“Yeah, it’s fine.”

Sebastian moves next to me as if to show Bella we’re a united front. “Shouldn’t you be warming up, Bella? You were a little flat this weekend. I’d hate to have my principal flutist be upstaged by her associate.”

“Whatever. I’m never flat, as you well know.” She sticks out her chest and even I feel impressed by her rack. “Bye bye, new girl. I hope you make a better impression on the next people you meet.” She glares at me, throwing daggers my way once more before she makes her leave.

I rub my forehead. This is bad. “She’s a pain in the ass, isn’t she?”

“More than you will ever know.”

“She thinks we’re still dating? Didn’t you tell her we broke up?”

“And when would I have done that? Did you think I was going to call her over the weekend to announce my new freedom from my fake girlfriend?”

I shrug. “Okay, well, now what do we do? You’re going to have to tell her it’s over.”

“I know. I will. Give me until the end of the day, okay?”

“Fine. Just make sure you share the reason you give for why we broke up so I tell the same story in case anyone asks. And don’t make me look bad. Everyone already thinks I’m a joke now.”

“They do not. Ignore her. She doesn’t know anything and her personal thoughts do not echo that of the orchestra. They think the badass new events manager didn’t eat breakfast. Worst case scenario, they think you passed out because my hotness was too much to bear.”

I laugh. “You’re not hot.”

“Sure I am.”

“Maybe to crazy stalker girls like Bella.”

“You sure seem like a crazy stalker. You followed me here, didn’t you?”

I open my mouth in anger and he laughs. “I’m joking. I know you didn’t. It’s all an odd coincidence.”

“Just my luck.”