Chapter Twenty-Eight Scarlett
I’ve been trying to be normal about watching Evan play piano, but the second I see him walk onto that stage in the perfect suit with his head held high, all the air escapes my lungs.
I’ve seen him play before. This really shouldn’t be that big of a deal.
But I’m so proud of him. He worked so hard for the SEI and he deserves that internship more than anyone in our class.
I’ve listened to the way he talks about music and how these events were some of his favorites as a kid, and now he gets to be the one providing that comfort for other people.
I can’t imagine how surreal that must be for him.
I can’t take my eyes off him. I’ve seen Evan stressed out, focused, tired, but I’ve never seen him this confident. It’s clear just by the way he sits in front of the grand piano that this is what he was made to do.
The room hushes as Jaden starts by introducing the orchestra and the main sponsors for the event. There’s the quiet hum of the band shuffling and the conductor getting ready to start, and I hold my breath.
There’s silence.
And then Evan starts a slower rendition of the intro to Frank Sinatra’s ‘One For My Baby’.
A tear slips out instantly, and I wipe it away, letting out a quiet laugh at how ridiculous this all is.
How do I feel like this already? This shouldn’t be happening to me.
I should already be fighting the itch to get away from him and be alone again, but I don’t feel like that with him.
I want more of him. Constantly. I want to be in his bedroom watching horror movies with him as he pretends he isn’t scared.
I want to push his hair out of his face and trace my finger over the lined dimples on his cheeks.
I want to watch him get ready, and stare at the loose tie around his neck.
I want so much of him that it’s terrifying.
Evan is completely in his element right now, his eyes closing every few seconds to get lost in the music before the lead singer begins the song. I almost lose my composure, but I hold it together, barely.
Cal sighs beside me. “He’s good, isn’t he?”
“Good? He’s incredible. It’s not fair that he can be this talented.” I sigh, smiling. “You must be so proud.”
“Proud is an understatement,” Cal murmurs, turning back to watch his son.
Neither of us says much as the band transitions into a Frank Sinatra medley for the first hour as more people enter.
I don’t know how much time goes by without us saying anything to each other, but I don’t think we need to.
The music alone is enough to fill the silence, and it’s not as awkward as I thought it would be.
After we’ve been standing for a while, Cal and I walk around the room, chatting with different business owners.
He doesn’t introduce me as his son’s girlfriend, but instead by my full name, and I appreciate it.
Mostly because I still need to talk to Evan about whatever the hell that was all about.
But Cal introducing me as me gives me a sense of power that would’ve been lost if my introductions were led by the fact that I’m dating a millionaire’s son.
I want my name to mean something on its own.
And from the way Cal lets me lead conversations with big CEOs, he must sense that too.
When I look back at the stage, a different pianist is in Evan’s spot. I scan the room quickly to see where he might’ve disappeared to, but I can’t find him. Someone taps my shoulder, and I gasp, turning around to find the culprit.
“Jesus, you scared me,” I breathe out, gripping on to Evan’s forearms. He just smiles, his cheeks the cutest shade of red. I can’t help it. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him deeply. He sighs into my mouth, his shoulders dropping. “You’re . . . You’re incredible.”
He chuckles, shaking his head as he pulls apart. “That’s just what seventeen years of practice does for you.”
“Please,” Cal scoffs from beside us. I drop my arms from Evan’s neck and he snakes his hand around my hip instead, tugging me into his side. “You were a natural the second you got in front of a keyboard. I knew you’d be good from the start.”
Evan’s flush only deepens, and I have the urge to cover his entire face in kisses.
He’s cocky about everything else but this, and it baffles me.
He’s got to know how proud everyone is of him.
He did this. Not because of his dad or his family’s money.
He did this because he’s talented and he put in the work. He should be proud of that.
A tall brunette woman wearing a dark pantsuit appears behind Cal, a hand on his shoulder.
She looks familiar in a way I just can’t put my finger on, but from the way Cal’s face lights up when he sees her, I can tell they must be close friends.
They exchange hellos before she turns to Evan and I, her eyes widening.
“Evan, I almost didn’t recognize you. I didn’t know you were performing tonight,” she says, folding her arms against her chest, an empty champagne flute hanging out of one hand.
Evan smiles proudly. “Yeah, it’s my first time being part of the orchestra. It’s really nice to see you.”
“You too, and congratulations, that’s huge!” Her smile is so radiant that we’re all beaming in seconds. Something about her energy shifts the tone in the room, like sunshine peeking through blinds. I’ve never felt someone’s aura so positively before.
“Oh, this is Lina Brown,” Evan says, squeezing my hip. “She’s the CEO of a new sustainable fashion company.”
“You must be Scarlett Voss,” Lina says, holding out her hand to mine. I shake it, looking between Cal and Evan.
“How did you—”
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” she says, nodding smugly.
She must catch my confusion because she laughs, waving a hand in Cal’s face.
“Not from these two. I’ve been in talks with North University.
I’m planning to host a little talk before the semester’s over, about a program I’m running through the summer. ”
“Oh, wow, that’s amazing,” I say, not bothering to hide my surprise.
Lina nods again. “Your professors speak very highly of you.”
“They do?”
“Yes, but between you and me, they’re worried you’re not getting the most out of your degree since you’re not picking up any art or fashion design classes.”
I swallow, patting at a flyaway stuck to my forehead. “I thought focusing on business and analytics was the smartest decision.”
“But it’s not what you’re most passionate about, is it?
” I don’t respond. I don’t know how to respond.
How does she know this? I’ve included designs in assignments before to back up my work, but it’s never been a main focus point for my classes.
I didn’t think anyone besides my academic advisor really noticed that.
Lina sighs, offering me another smile. “Look, you’re probably the first to hear about the opportunity, so you’ve got a head start.
I think you should apply. And if you’re accepted, there’ll be one-on-one mentoring with me and other people from Glow throughout the summer, focusing on designing and bringing those pieces to life with the team. ”
“That sounds incredible,” I say in awe. “I’ll definitely think about it.”
“Good. Here’s my card.” She hands me a pink business card, shaking my hand again. “Congratulations again, Evan. I’ll see you around, Cal.”
When Lina leaves, I’m pretty sure Evan and Calahan are saying something to me, but I’m barely computing anything. What the hell just happened?
I’ve heard about Glow over the years, but this past quarter has seen the true rise of their business. Lina is constantly bringing something new and fresh into the fashion world, and being able to work closely with her would be incredible.
I finally bring myself back to earth to see Evan and Cal smiling at me. I grip Evan’s hand. “Do you think I should do it?”
He laughs as if that’s what he’s been saying this whole time. “Yes, Scarlett.”
“But my family—”
“Will realize how badly they fucked up and how it’s too late for them to make it up to you now,” he finishes for me.
I blink at him. “This could completely change my life.”
“In a good way?”
“Yeah, in a good way.” I can’t help myself. I wrap my arms tight around his neck, pulling him close to me. He squeezes me tight, a firm, calming pressure that has me melting into him. “Thank you,” I whisper into his chest. “Thank you for inviting me tonight and for everything else.”
“I’m glad you came.”
*
By the time we’re ready to go back to the car that’ll take us to our hotel, we’re stumbling slightly into the elevator from the drinks we celebrated with after Evan finished his shift in the orchestra.
There’s a happy buzz in my chest, filtering away all the anxious feelings that crept up on me tonight.
I feel light on my feet. Between watching Evan, networking, and talking with Cal, it’s been a good night.
Being around the Bransons in this capacity wasn’t nearly as scary as I thought it was going to be.
I didn’t get any weird looks or comments from people.
Maybe the healthy competition between our families isn’t as big of a deal as I thought.
If anything, I’m doing my parents a favor by being seen in public with the Bransons again.
Evan and I stand side by side in the otherwise empty elevator, staring at our reflections in the glass, and I say, “You introduced me as your girlfriend,” an awkward giggle slipping past my lips.
Evan looks at his shoes. “Yeah, to my dad.”
“And then to everyone else.”
“Right.” He looks up at me in the reflection of the glass. “Do you not . . . want to be my girlfriend?”
“I mean, I do. I think. I just thought we’d talk about it first.”
He nods slowly. “Okay, this is us talking about it.” He turns to me then, and I forget how to breathe. His gaze is intense. Unyielding. “What do you want, Scarlett?”
I let out a shaky breath and tell him the truth. “I-I don’t know.”