Page 70 of Serenade Me

Chapter Twenty-three

Anca

“Where the fuck have you been?” Jez yells at me when I step into my hotel room.

I push Marius back out into the hallway before Jez sees him and close the door behind me.

“What’s up bro?” I say, pushing past him and into the bathroom, turning the shower on.

“I said, where the fuck have you been all night?”

“I went for a walk, I was still too hyped up from the concert. What’s the big deal?” I try to keep my voice light, my hands busy so I don’t give myself away.

“Well, I called you at 6, to tell you that they’ve moved the call time up, and you AND Marius both missed a briefing meeting this morning. Where were you?”

“Nowhere in particular. I ran into him on my walk and so we went to grab a coffee. We didn’t know there was a meeting, not our fault we missed it,” I shrug.

“No, I know my guys, they never miss meetings. He didn’t even pick up his phone,” Jez says, like he knows it’s my fault. If only he knew it was because Marius’s hands were busy roaming my body to answer the phone.

“Well, that’s not my fault! Anyway, get out of here. I need to take a shower so I can be on time for you and your precious band’s rehearsal.”

“Anca.” He says my name. Like he does every time he’s about to give me the third degree about something.

“What?”

“What’s going on?’

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You better not. Be careful, Anca. There’s a reason why I’ve kept you apart from this life.”

“You didn’t keep me away from it. I was in school. But I’m a big girl now, Jez. It might be time you start to get used to that.”

“You might be a big girl, but I’m still your bigger brother. And I’m telling you. Don’t do what I’m thinking you’re doing.”

“I’m showering, that’s what I’m doing. And you’re leaving.”

He looks at me for a moment before he grabs his phone and leaves.

And I take Marius’s jacket off and hold it to my chest before hanging it up, reluctant to wash his scent off me.

But it’s not Marius I’m thinking of as I get ready to shower. It’s Jez, and how he’s really going to react when he finds out. And what I’m going to do if I have to choose between them.

***

One year ago

“Anca, this is your big brother. If you don’t call me back within 12 hours, I’m breaking down your door. Listen to my voice. Do I sound like I’m kidding? Call me back, Anca. I’m worried about you.”

I delete his voice mail and pull the blanket tightly around me. The light from the phone screen is too much and I switch it off completely. The room falls into complete darkness, and it’s only then I can take a full breath.

Knowing that the phone isn’t going to ring again.

That it’s not going to be Jez looking for me.

Or the Maestro.

That no one can reach me, at least for the moment.