Page 59 of Sure, Pal

I started with a few of the covers I usually played at my gigs.

Evan’s mom watched me play for a minute, and then she said, “Do you know any Boston songs?”

I smiled. Evan and his dad always blasted classic rock while they worked on the Camaro. “I think I can do More Than a Feeling, but I might butcher it.” I bit my lip and patted my guitar. “Here goes nothing.”

As I played, I watched a little smile stretch across Tanya’s face. When I finished, she almost whispered, “Thank you.” She reached out and patted my shoulder, and then headed up the stairs.

Charlie stood, too. “I’ll leave you kids alone to make out.” She gave Evan a pointed look and headed up the stairs after her mom.

Evan shook his head and ran his hands through his hair. He glanced over at me and said, “Can I hear your new songs now?”

I cleared my throat and nodded, trying to ignore Charlie’s comment. I missed Evan’s lips. It had been almost a month since I’d felt them against mine, but that wasn’t the way he needed me right now.

First, I played a song I’d written about taking chances and believing in myself. Evan smiled and clapped when I finished. “Perfect. It’s very you.”

“Thank you.” I took a deep breath and played the first few chords of the next song. This was Evan’s song, and I wasn’t sure how he would take it. I opened my mouth and softly sang the words I’d stayed up all night writing.

Raindrops remind me of your love,

Falling softly from above,

Like little kisses on my skin

Like I’m opening to let you in.

I’m gettin’ soaked, but I’m not cold.

Instead I feel alive and bold.

So baby, let it rain on me

Let your love rain down on me

Evan watched me, and his eyes burned with something that I couldn’t describe. My heart pounded, but I kept singing.

So baby, let it rain on me.

Let your love rain down on me…

When I finished, Evan ran his fingers through the ends of my hair and said, “I love it.”

“Thank you.” I smiled at him and caught his hand.

Suddenly Evan stiffened and pulled away from me. “Sienna, I’m sorry. I’m… a mess. If I’m giving you the idea that I’m ready for a real relationship, I’m sorry. Maybe we shouldn’t do whatever this is. It’s not fair to you.”

My heart raced, and I worried that the song was too much and that I shouldn’t have sung it for him. But I held my head up high and faked the confidence I didn’t feel. “Are you trying to push me away again? I let you do it before, but selfish confident Sienna is getting stronger every day.” I reached out and patted his cheek. “I’ll see you at my show this weekend.” I stood and picked up my guitar.

Evan gave me a half-smile and shook his head. “I don’t deserve you.”

I shrugged and leaned down to kiss his forehead. “That’s unfortunate because you’re stuck with me, so I suggest you get over that feeling sometime in the next twenty years.” I smiled at him over my shoulder and walked out the front door.

We were going to figure this out. I knew it.

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