Page 52 of Solo

“You did.”

“Oh my God. Katherine, I am sorry. So not only am I a dick for treating you like that in the first place, I’m a dick for doing to you exactly what your father has done.”

“Kinda,” I say, looking up at him with a smile.

He’s staring at me with such intensity that I want to look away. But I don’t. Instead, I scoot the short distance between us until my face is just inches from his.

“But I might let you make it up to me.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Drew

“Okay, okay, wait. Let me see if I’m understanding this. You went to school with Daniel Gillies?”

“Yes,” I confirm for the third time. “He was my roommate for undergrad. We shared an apartment in Brooklyn. I was best man at his wedding a few years back.”

“We’re talking about the same Daniel Gillies? The one on the conducting faculty at New York Conservatory?”

I get up on my feet unsteadily and stand in front of a tall bookcase, perusing the shelves until I spot what I’m looking for. I reach up, grab the thin volume, and take it back to the couch with me. “Making it up” to Katherine turns out to involve her picking my brain about my time at the New York Conservatory. She’s peppered me with a dozen questions about the curriculum and professors. And, the truth is, I’m only too happy to walk down memory lane with her. Those were the good old days for me. And Casey.

“Come here,” I say, patting the cushion next to mine. She gets up, blanket still wrapped around her, and sits where I’ve indicated. I flip through the plastic-coated pages until I find the one I’m looking for. “There,” I say, pointing to the picture of myself in a black cap and gown, pink tassel hanging. I’ve got an arm around a tall, goofy-looking guy with a ridiculous amount of hair.

“Look at you! You’re so young!”

“Gee, thanks,” I retort, my tone dripping with sarcasm. “’Cause, you know, I’m such an old fart now.”

“Oh, stop it,” she giggles, giving me a gentle jab with her elbow. “You know what I mean. What’s he like?”

I shrug. “He’s a good guy. An exceptional conductor. We all knew he’d be going straight to the top.”

Katherine reaches over and flips to the next page of the photo album. Looking back at us are Daniel and his wife, Vivica, a spectacularly beautiful black woman who looks as if she just stepped out of a Victoria’s Secret commercial. She’s wearing a wedding dress and clutching a bouquet of flowers with one hand and Danny’s tuxedoed arm with the other. I’m standing to the right in my own tux. Casey is standing to Vivica’s left in her silvery maid of honor gown.

“Wow,” Katherine says from next to me.

“Yeah, I know. All the girls thought he was hot. I never saw it myself…” I chuckle.

“No,” she says, shaking her head. “Not him. You.”

“Me what?”

“You. You look so happy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look even close to that in the years I’ve known you. It’s a…” She pauses and looks up at my face. “It’s a really good look on you.”

“Huh. I guess I’ll have to find more things that make me happy,” I murmur as I close the distance between us with my lips.

“Well, Dr. Markham,” she purrs against my mouth, not an inch from her own, “I can tell you from having taken your classes for so long, when you’re happy, everyone is happy.”

I tilt my head back to laugh, but I don’t get away for long. Katherine reaches up and takes my face in her hands, gently but firmly pulling me back down to her and her waiting lips.

She’s right, I am happy. It’s been so long that I’d almost forgotten how good it can feel. But, as I pull her into a tight embrace, something tells me I won’t be forgetting again anytime soon.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Kate

My neck is stuck at a weird angle. When I reach behind me to adjust my pillow, it groans.

What?