Rolling my shoulders back, I took a slow breath. Professional and calm, I told myself. This was going to be a great project.
I told myself that with every new job that came my way, but somehow this time I really believed it, as a prickle of warmth ran through me. Every new client was an opportunity to be a bit less shy, a bit more outgoing.
Opening the door, I stepped in as a tall man was slowly rising to his feet. “Hello, I’m Corina Taylor, and I’ll be working on your account.”
A strong hand shook mine as I focused on his face. A chiselled jaw line. A perfect nose. A sweet smile that nearly knocked me flat.
Dark brown eyes locked on mine, sending every molecule of breathable air flying straight out of my body.
“Ethan Cooper. So nice to see you again, Corina.”
2
_____
Ethan
Like everyone else in this odd little world, my life had been a series of strange occurrences and weird luck. And the harder I worked, the more hours I put in, the luckier I seemed to get.
Every time I practiced my vocal technique for three straight days, I’d get a few hundred more followers on social media. Every time I played guitar for a ten hour stretch, I’d have a few new fan
s contact me. And every time I pulled an all-night songwriting session, I’d be offered an amazing gig.
But since I moved back to my home city to live near my mom instead of my dad, things were really taking off. I was renewing old connections, and people were very eager to help with absolutely everything.
I’d asked everyone I could from high school if they knew whatever happened to Corina, but nobody could tell me. She was much younger, and I wasn’t in any classes with her, so I didn’t even recall her last name. All I remembered was that when we were thrown together for that one band project, I was absolutely infatuated with her.
The thing was, there was no way in hell she would have noticed me. I was skinny and pimply with bad hair, and couldn’t really talk to girls.
I remembered that Corina kept referring to B as a C-flat, which was totally wrong, and completely charming. Her delightful laugh had made me yearn to kiss her. I’m glad that I didn’t, in a way. She was too young for me at the time, and I wouldn’t have wanted her first kiss to be so awkward and clumsy.
I was like the C-flat. I didn’t really exist – shy and ugly, and nobody ever looked at me. It was like the walls of that school wanted me to dissolve into them and disappear completely.
Time always seemed to go more slowly when Corina was around, as if my senses needed more space to take her in. Or perhaps it was just that I was trying so hard to remember every vivid detail.
It was shocking that Corina had been friendly with me. She was so adorable – those bright brown eyes, incredibly observant. Her hair was a little weird, but it was bold of her to try something different. I loved that she was an unapologetic bookworm. I loved that she didn’t try to be like the rest of the kids. I loved everything about her, from her blue beaded bracelets to her lovely full lips.
The ones that were currently flattened into a straight line as she stared at me, wide eyed. “Ethan?” she whispered, dropping my hand, and sinking into the seat beside me.
“Your hair looks amazing that long,” I said, stopping my hand from reaching out to tuck it behind her ear.
“Thanks.” Her intense stare traveled over every inch of me, analyzing. “I can’t believe it’s you.”
I attempted a grin to put her at ease. “I’m so glad I found you again.”
Giving her head a shake, Corina pulled a notebook from her purse. “Let’s get started. I understand you have a big concert that needs to be packed?”
Just like years ago, she preferred discussing the project at hand to idle small talk.
Quickly giving her the details of the showcase, the venue, and the opening band, I noticed that her fast handwriting was remarkably tidy. I also noticed that she seemed to be enjoying the way I couldn’t keep my eyes off her.
Outside the giant windows, the clouds covering the sun blew past, releasing the soft glow of sunset light to beam around Corina’s face and hair. Like an angel.
In that second, I knew that we were meant to be together. It was a simple fact, as certain as the table under my elbows and the breath in my lungs.
“What’s the point of this concert?” she asked, her beautiful eyes fixed on mine. “I mean, beyond entertaining your fans and all that. Why is this one a big deal?”
“Always getting to the main point,” I said, nodding. “I admire that about you.”