Page 50 of Strings

“Why does it matter?”

I cross my arms. “Will you just answer the question?”

“Three, maybe four.”

“That’s it?”

“It’s all I need.”

I huff. “Obviously not. You look exhausted. You seemed tired yesterday morning, too. And when I met you on the plane.”

“Talia, I’m fine. Now, about dinner…”

“Tell him another night.”

“I can’t. He’s only in town through this weekend and I leave Saturday for Spain.”

“Spain. Oh yeah.” I smile brightly. “You’ll be gone for two whole weeks then, right?”

He shakes his head. “Your excitement at my departure is invigorating, Talia. Could you at least pretend to not be so happy about it?”

I flop down on the couch next to him and touch his arm. “Oh no, Bash. How will I ever function without you?” I fake a sniffle and wipe my eye with my finger.

“Yeah, yeah. I get it. I know I’ve made your life hell.”

“I wouldn’t exactly call ithell. That seems a little harsh.”

“Heaven?” he questions.

I laugh. “More like purgatory.” I stare into his blue eyes as I lean my head on my arm along the back of the couch. My knee touches the side of his leg and it doesn’t go unnoticed by either of us. “How come you only wear contacts when you have a concert? You have amazing eyes.”

He gazes back at me then down to my lips briefly before he faces forward. “I don’t know. I really don’t like them that much.”

“Your eyes?”

He snickers. “My contacts.”

“Hmph. That’s too bad.”

He smirks and turns his body to face me. “You like my eyes, huh? Do they make you all woozy?”

I shake my head in fake disgust as he inches closer to me. “If your eyes weren’t attached to your fat ego, I might say they were nice.”

“You already said they were amazing. Admit it. You like me. You are going to miss me.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. You’re an idiot.”

“I’m an idiot with gorgeous eyes. Do they make you want to do things?”

“Eww. No,” I respond, pushing his chest with my hand. It’s firmer than I imagined.

“Do they make you want to see more of me?” He leans his face closer to mine as I push his chest. I’m not pushing hard enough to make him move, and although I could apply more pressure, I don’t.

“Neither you nor your eyes make me want to do anything but run away.”

“Look into my eyes, Talia…”

I laugh at the tone and depth of his voice. It’s like he’s trying to hypnotize me. I lean back to get away from him and he leans further into me until he’s over me.