Fifteen
As much as I hated skipping lunch with my goddess, I knew it was important to get my song recorded so I could submit it before the deadline this afternoon. Something that I plan on doing once Sadie gets here at one. Everything is ready to go, but I want her to listen to it before I send it in. After finishing up some grading and few other odds and ends, I still have twenty minutes before she arrives. So, I settle in the chair that Sadie was in the first time I made her come and grab my guitar.
Once I find a chord progression that works, I close my eyes and let my muse fill my mind. It’s not long before the melody starts to form. I’m smiling as I hum it. When I hear my office door open, my heart trips in my chest. Until I open my eyes and find Bianca smiling down at me. I’m on my feet in an instant, my free hand clenched at my side, ready to send her packing.
“That was beautiful,” she smiles.
“Get out,” I snap.
“Can we talk?” she asks softly.
“We have nothing to discuss,” I growl. “You can leave.”
“Please, Brock,” she purrs.
I smile at this. Because I used to love it when she begged me. But now that I have Sadie in my life? Her words fall flat. But my smile must give her the wrong message because she steps forward and runs her hand down my arm.
“I need you, Brock,” she breathes.
“No,” I snap. “We are done. Get. Out.”
At that moment, the door of my office opens again. But Bianca keeps at it.
“You still want me,” she breathes. “You only wrote songs for me, and it looks like you still do.”
“That song wasn’t for you,” I say with smirk. “It’s for the woman I’m in love with now.”
Sadie’s soft gasp makes both of us turn our heads. One of her hands is on the door handle and the other is pressed against her heart. Her eyes are brimming with tears as she looks at me. I step toward her very slowly. My guitar in my left hand, I run my right hand over her cheek and press a soft kiss to her lips.
“You look beautiful, Sadie,” I whisper as I pull back.
“Thank you,” she says.
“And yes, I’m in love with you.”
A tear slips down her cheek at this. I brush it away and then take her hand to pull her into my office. Completely forgetting that Bianca is still here.
“What the fuck, Brock,” she snaps.
“This is the last time I’m going to ask you to leave,” I say as calmly as I can. “If you refuse, I will call campus security and the police.”
As I say this, I pull Sadie into my side. She’s tense and I fucking hate it. Because if she believes that she has any competition from Bianca or any other woman, she is sorely mistaken. I keep my glare in place and focused on Bianca until she makes her decision. Thankfully, she steps toward the door. Unfortunately, she isn’t finished talking.
“I’ll be in touch,” she says. “Professionally.”
“I don’t think so,” I tell her. “Find someone else.”
“You’re the only one who can help me, and you know it, Brock,” she snaps. “This is important to me. Can’t you even consider helping me? As a friend?”
“Friends don’t steal from each other,” I snap. “I gave you my heart and soul and you shredded me for your own personal gain. There’s nothing left for me to give you.”
She smirks at this, then turns her attention to Sadie.
“And you think he’s really in love with you?”
Sadie tenses and my patience snaps. I blindly set down my guitar and stalk toward Bianca. Her eyes widen as she no doubt realizes how pissed off I am. Then I do something that could be a mistake, I grip her shoulders and physically push her out of my office. Slamming the door in her face and locking it. I exhale and my entire body sags in relief. When I turn back to Sadie, her arms are crossed over her stomach and there are still tears in her eyes.
“Sadie,” I breathe. “I’m so sorry about that.”
“That was Bianca?” she asks.
“Yes,” I nod as I walk over to her.
“She’s beautiful,” she shrugs.
“Not to me,” I tell her. “Not anymore.”
“What does she want from you?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t care,” I tell her. “There is no place in my life for her. Ever. You, my sweet Sadie, are the only woman I need in my life and in my heart and in my arms. Always.”
I get a watery smile from her. And while I want nothing more than to pull her against me and kiss her senseless, I feel a greater urge to do something else first.
“Will you listen to my recording?” I ask her.
“Yes,” she nods. “Of course.”
As quickly as I can, I pull up the recording on my screen and tap my mouse. In seconds, the piano introduction plays. Her smile brightens and I give in to my desire and pull her into my arms so I can dance with her. And sing along.
Because what she doesn’t know is that I’ve changed the final line.
Two minutes pass as I duet with myself. My goddess has relaxed and is gifting me with her gorgeous smile. When the final chorus starts, I stop dancing and gently cradle her face in my hands. Her brow furrows for a minute as her hands lightly grip my waist. When the last line begins, I smile as I sing it with just one word changed.
“Because this love of mine is yours…always.”