Page 71 of The Fate of Us

“What?” I ask completely dumbfounded.

“Yeah, Anna May. You’re kind of a big deal already.”

I lean against the building in complete surprise from Mason’s words. “I don’t understand.”

“Not everyone there was in the industry. And I may know someone who knew someone who was there. I saw a video.”

“No one was supposed to be recording anything.” My heart beats wildly in my chest.

“Anna, you do know what year it is, right? No one follows the rules.”

I bite my lip as anxiety starts to take over. “You heard the song?”

“Fuck yeah. It was intense and powerful and unrefined.”

I take a deep breath before I ask my next question. “Are you going to show it to Noah?”

He takes a few moments to respond and I worry he already sent him the video. “Only if you want me to.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”

“You know, Anna. I think you should let him hear it. Damn.” He pauses. “That song was incredible. And not one I ever heard you work on. And by the lyrics, I know you must have just written it. I think he needs to hear it.”

I rest my head against the wall and look up at the stars that are almost nonexistent in the light pollution. “I’m not sure if I’m ready.”

“For him to hear the song? Or for him to figure out you used it as your way of apologizing?”

I blink back a few tears that formed in my eyes. “Both.”

“He deserves to hear it.”

“I know.”

We are both silent for a few minutes. The only sound is the soft music filtering through the phone on his end and the revelry in the streets on mine.

“I’m proud of you, Anna. Noah would be proud of you too.”

“Thank you.”

“Keep doing whatever the hell it is you are doing there.”

I smile at that. “I’m just writing songs.”

“I think you are doing more than that.” Mason laughs. “I’ll let you get back to your night. Don’t party too hard.”

“I won’t.”

“Goodnight Anna.”

I contemplate just hanging up but my heart gets the best of me. “Hey Mase.”

“Yeah?”

“Tell him I love him.”

“You can do it yourself.”

I nod even though he can’t see me. “I know. But until I find the courage to. Tell him, please.”

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