Page 19 of Holding Her Heart

She left the bathroom. Everyone had moved from the dance floor, and the most incredible sound was now filtering through the speakers around the bar. Wow. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, goose bumps spreading all over her skin. Someone—an angel—was singing Whitney Houston’s Run to You.

Aster swallowed down the emotion she felt surging up into her throat, willing her feet to move. She couldn’t see the stage, but she could see the team sitting and staring in awe at it. As Aster rounded the bar—her knees jelly-like—Eden came into view, the emotion pouring from her expressive eyes and remarkable voice chilling Aster to the bone. “Oh, Jesus.” Aster was well aware that her mouth had fallen open, but the entire room had faded out, only Eden remaining in front of her.

She felt a hand tugging at her arm, Aster’s body now being dragged into a seat. “Stop drooling.” Blair’s voice penetrated her thoughts momentarily, but Aster didn’t respond. She couldn’t. Everything within her begged to reach out and touch Eden, to hold her as the pain in her voice became almost unbearable. “Are you with me?” Blair asked.

“Shush.” Aster admonished, frowning as she shot a glance at Blair. “Just…be quiet.”

“Oh, God,” Blair whined. “I knew it. I fucking knew it.”

Aster didn’t know what Blair knew, but she didn’t care. Eden had her wrapped up in the moment, enveloping her with a voice so syrup-like it had the ability to make her burst into tears.

“Hey,” Aster said, leaning into Blair. “Who the hell hurt her?”

“What?”

“Eden. That’s a voice of pain. Surely you see that…”

“I-I…” Blair frowned. “Shit.”

“You see? Or rather, hear?”

“I do.” Blair nodded, dropping her head to her hands. “I’ve been a rubbish friend lately. And I only noticed that she was…not doing too well earlier.”

“She seemed fine with me until this morning. So, whatever happened, it happened very recently.” Aster knew something wasn’t right, but was she the person to question it? She’d only known Eden for a month or so. But now that Blair recognised it, she could work through it with Eden. “Maybe she needs a friend right now. I’d offer, but I don’t think I’m the right person.”

“Why?” Blair turned side on, shooting Aster a questioning look.

Aster lifted a shoulder. “Because I don’t. Now, I’d like to enjoy the rest of this.” She tilted her head towards Eden, smiling as her eyes flitted away from Blair. “I’d really like to enjoy it.”

“Okay, but can I speak to you when Eden has finished?”

Aster simply nodded. She didn’t want to waste another second, not when Eden was serenading the bar. God, I wish she was serenading me. Aster smiled when Eden looked directly at her, that piercing stare holding her against the booth they were seated at.

But then the song came to an end, leaving Aster more than disappointed. She wanted to listen to that voice all day, every day. She wanted to wrap herself up in a warm blanket, Eden beside her, while her soft breath washed over the side of Aster’s face, sweet lyrics slipping from Eden’s mouth.

Eden lowered the microphone and handed it back to the guy taking care of the music. The team erupted into cheers and whoops, but Aster remained silent and still. She had no words to describe what she’d just witnessed. She knew a few people who had a lovely voice, but that wasn’t lovely…it was extraordinary. Haunting. Special.

Eden dipped her head, smiling as a blush crept across her chest. The team were all up on their feet, crowding around Eden while they congratulated her on such a beautiful performance, but Aster wanted them all to piss off. She wanted Eden to herself. She wanted to pull her to one side, tell her how exquisite everything about her was, and kiss her until this night was over.

Get real. Never going to happen.

Eden flopped down beside Aster, blowing out a deep breath as she reached for her glass of white wine. “Wow. It’s been a while since I did that.”

“It was great,” Aster said, aware that Blair was watching. “Really nice.”

Blair snorted. “Nice? Great? It was fucking amazing!”

Aster winced. Yes, she was aware how stupid her own description was. But she didn’t want to seem too enthusiastic. Because in her mind, she wanted to get on her knees and kiss the ground Eden had just walked across. “Well, yeah. It was amazing.”

Eden offered a shy smile. “Thanks, Aster.”

“I think you may have put everyone else off.” They all laughed, and Aster was thankful for the reprieve. Blair would be lurking, no doubt about it, but for the time being…laughter was the best thing for everyone involved. “They’ll slowly slope off to the stage and cancel their tracks.”

“Oh, I’m sure they won’t.”

Aster relaxed, sipping her beer as she rested an arm along the back of the booth. “No, you’re right. We’re not that lucky.”

7

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