Exit Stage Six: A Contemporary New Adult Romance Novella Read Online Free PDF Page B

I’m so sorry!” I blurted.
    “It’s okay.” He gave me a rakish grin, “It’s just me…” his
expression sobered as he took in my appearance.
    “Going to work?” he asked.
    “Yeah.” I said. He nodded gravely, eyes roaming me from head
to toe. I wore skin tight unrelieved black. Comfortable black non-slip shoes,
black leggings and a fitted black top that accentuated what cleavage I could
get out of my chest. My makeup was heavier than I liked. Kohl rimmed eyes with
dark shadow and clear lip gloss. I had to stand out in the dim light and from
behind the mask while I worked behind the bar at the club. No joke, we had been
taught how to do our makeup for work.
    “Evan.” I whispered.
    “Yeah L.B.?” his voice was husky.
    “I’m going to miss my bus.” I said.
    “Yeah, sorry.” He swallowed and let go of my hips and I
instantly missed the warmth of his hands there.
    I went down the stairs and began to cross the courtyard when
he called out from the open air landing…
    “London!” I turned.
    “Come up to my place when you get home.” He said.
    “I don’t know Evan, I’m exhausted and I don’t get home until
almost three thirty and that’s only if I can get a ride…”
    “I’ll be up. Just… please, come up…” he said.
    “Okay.” I reluctantly agreed.
    I barely made my bus.
    ~*~
    I trudged up my stairs after a long shift and stopped in
front of my door. I threw back my head, shoulders drooping and groaned. I’d
promised Evan, but damn was I tired. I stood still for a moment or two at war
with myself before finally dragging myself up the final flight of stairs.
    The door opened almost immediately upon my light knock.
    “Hey.” He said, standing aside.
    “Hey.” I said softly in return and brushed past him. He shut
the door behind us and trudged barefoot into the apartment.
    “Come on in, sit down.” He said and I did as directed
realizing belatedly that there wasn’t any place really to sit.
    I sat down on the edge of the futon and looked up.
    “What was so important that it couldn’t wait until morning?”
I asked and immediately winced. That had come out bitchier than I’d meant it
to. He smirked.
    “It’s okay, I know what you mean and I’m sorry, I just
really wanted to do something nice for you.” He knelt by my feet and took off
my shoes and socks.
    “Lie back.” He ordered softly and without thinking about it
I complied.
    He went over somewhere to my left and returned with his
acoustic guitar.
    “Come up here and get comfortable.” He patted the pillows
and I groaned. He laughed a little.
    “I promise, once you get comfortable this time I won’t make
you move for the rest of the night if you don’t want to.” I hauled myself up
and laid out properly beside him.
    “I wanted to play this for you.” He murmured and got the
guitar in position. I rolled my eyes over and tilted my head to look up at him.
    “Okay…” I said and he closed his eyes and began to play.
    My heart stopped in my chest as the sanguine notes of
Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata filled the small apartment.
    “Oh my God…” I breathed.
    A faint smile played on Evan’s lips, lashes dark crescents
against the smooth pale skin below his eyes as he played. He opened his eyes
and his smile grew marginally when he took in my expression. I didn’t dare to
breathe.
    I listened and he played. I remained completely still while
the notes floated seemingly effortlessly from his fingertips. Tears gathered in
my eyes, that he bothered to learn it caused my heart to constrict within my
breast. That he played it so sweetly for me, so flawlessly… I swallowed hard and
felt the stirring of something big in my heart.  I closed my eyes and he played
on, the final notes drifting into the deepening night, silence descending on
the apartment.
    I left my eyes closed, savoring the moment. He was still
beside me for long moments and then came the rustle of cloth, the dull sound of
him setting the instrument aside.