Page 63 of A Wish for Us
Tears in my eyes, I give one last glance.
I lived, and I loved, and danced life’s sweet dance…
I layered acoustic guitar chords I’d had stored for years but never used over the top. And Bonnie’s voice sang loud and clear. I mixed it three times, until the next track pushed through the background, replacing the violet blue with lime green.
When the next mix pumped from the speakers, I looked up at Bonnie. Her hand was over her mouth, tears streaming down her cheeks. My stomach cramped. Until she looked into my eyes and her hands fell away. A smile so wide it seemed to hit the damn ceiling spread on her lips. She got off her stool and walked to me. I pushed her back out of sight of the crowd and let her smash her mouth to mine to a background of gold and magnolia and chocolate browns. I tasted the tears on her lips and the mint on her tongue.
Her chest pressed against mine as my mixes controlled the crowd, making them sway and jump and dance. When Bonnie pulled back, I wasn’t ready. I cupped her cheeks and took her mouth again. Now that she’d given me her lips, I never wanted to give them back. The colors shifted to blue, heading for navy. I pulled away and walked back to the podium. The crowd went insane. I glanced down and saw Easton at the front, eyes closed, some girl hanging off his arm. He had two bottles of beer in his hands, just feeling the beat.
I slowed it right down. The lighting technician took my cue and brought the flashing lasers to a soft white glow, dimming the brightness. The smoke that had been pumped out all night hovered in the air, suffocating the dormant white beams. I held my hand in the air, the crowd waiting for my call. The slow beats calmed their slamming hearts; the long low notes brought their pulses to normal. I heard my breath echo in my ears. I felt the heat from their bodies slam into mine, felt their readiness to be brought back to the high only I could give them.
My fingers waited; the technician waited for his cue. I looked at Bonnie to see her on the edge of her seat, waiting for me too. I smiled to myself, feeling so full from the music. Then, when they were ready, when they had taken as much pause as they could possibly take, I slammed my hand down and brought the rain.
The lights dropped, and strobing lasers bathed them in green. The beats drugged them, entranced by my hand. I heard a laugh from beside me and turned to see Bonnie scanning the jumping crowd, their bodies moving as one unit to the heavy bass I gave them like a drug.
I smirked and gave them more, gave her more, and her hands went in the air and her eyes closed. I paused and just looked at her.
Something settled in my chest that I hadn’t felt in years. Something I never thought I’d find ever again. Silver. I choked at the sight.
Happiness.
My hand slipped from my laptop, waking me the hell up. I refocused on the set, but that silver never left me. It was branded on my brain. Its color as strong as if it’d been gilded, like a crest, onto my mind.
The whole time I played, Bonnie sat, a smile on her face, and watched me. And all the time violet blue and silver warred for dominance in my mind. I flicked my hand off the laptop, the final beat glittering on a sphere until it faded into nothing toward the back of the room.
The house DJ took over. I picked up my laptop, holding my hand up for the screaming crowd. Sweat beaded on my forehead, but adrenaline surged through my veins. I turned to Bonnie. Her face was flushed, and despite the time, her eyes were bright. I slipped the headphones off her head, tucked my laptop under my arm, then lifted Bonnie off the stool. Her hands came down on my biceps as I dragged her down my chest until her feet hit the floor. I took her hand and led her off the podium and into the corridor. I didn’t care if anyone was around. I didn’t give a damn if anyone saw. I walked Bonnie up to the wall. The minute her back was against the brick, I smashed my mouth to hers. Bonnie was just as eager as I was. Her hands threaded into my hair, yanking on the strands to get me even closer. My blood sang with the music I’d poured from my body for the past three hours.
Bonnie gasped against my mouth, but I needed to taste the sweetness that always burst on my tongue whenever we kissed. I traced my tongue down her neck. “Cromwell,” she whispered. The sound of my name from her lips only spurred me on.
Bonnie grabbed my head and brought me back to her mouth. I wasn’t sure how long we kissed, but she broke away again, struggling to breathe. My hand flattened against the wall. Hers were on my chest. She breathed and breathed, and I let her catch her breath. When she’d calmed, she spoke only two words: “My song.”
“Your song.” I’d never put lyrics to my mixes before. Never felt the need…until her.
The sound of the door opening was like thunder in the corridor. I stepped back from Bonnie just as Easton stumbled through. “Fucking Cromwell Dean!” A girl trailed behind him. Easton wrapped his arms around me. “That set!” He looked at Bonnie. “Bonn…your song.”
She smiled at her brother. “It was amazing.”
I patted Easton on the back. “Let’s go.”
Easton shook his head and threw his arm around the girl standing behind us. “Going back with Emma. She goes to the college here.”
“How are you going to get back?” Bonnie asked.
“Bonn, it’s an hour back home. I’ll get the bus tomorrow sometime.” He looked at the blond in his arms. “Or maybe Monday.” He shrugged. “Just gotta see what happens.”
Easton backtracked the way he came, back into the club. Bonnie watched after him, concern on her face. “He’ll be okay,” I said and took her hand in mine.
Bonnie gave me a tight smile, but she let me lead her back toward the dressing room. We grabbed our stuff then made our way to my truck. As soon as we were inside, the air in the cabin thickened.
“Well?” I turned to Bonnie. She was already watching me, an unreadable expression on her face. “What?”
“I get it now.” She wrapped her arms around her waist.
“You cold?”
“A little.” I reached for my black jumper and handed it to her. She smiled and slipped it on. It drowned her small frame. She closed her eyes and smelled the collar. “It smells like you.” She opened her eyes. I waited for what else she would say. I turned the engine on and let the heater heat up the car.
“How?” Bonnie’s voice cut through the white noise as I pulled onto the road. I glanced at her, eyebrow raised. “How did you get my song?”