Page 79 of The Fate of Us

I look over at the elevator buttons and see he hit the button for the top floor. I raise a brow at him and he chuckles.

“I was hanging out in the stairwell last week and someone left the floor, I assume to go smoke in the garage. I slid through the door and took the elevator to the top. Once I found the place we are going I knew I needed to come back.” He grins at me. “I waited for the smoker again and taped the lock on the door. No one has noticed.”

I laugh just as the doors open to the top floor. I follow Cole out the elevator and to a door marked emergency exit. I have no idea where he is taking me as we climb another set of stairs that leads straight to another door.

“Ladies first,” he says as he gestures to the door.

I look at him curiously but my curiosity gets the best of me and I open the door.

We are on the roof that overlooks the city of Nashville. I swear I can see miles away. I walk to the edge and peer down, Broadway booming a few streets over.

I start to walk around the entrance block to the nook where Cole is standing with a smile on his face. On the other side is a garden full of plants, a lush oasis in the middle of the city. I walk through the rows of greenery, my fingers brushing over the softness of the leaves and flowers. I can see a few garden beds with fresh fruits and vegetables growing.

When I come out on the other side a few couches are set up with lights hanging around it as well as a guitar and a notebook. I feel Cole approach behind me. “What is this place?”

“I found it randomly. I was having a day when I found this place. I was looking for an escape and made it to the roof. I’ve been up here every day since.”

I turn to face him. “Who’s is it?”

His face flushes a little and I laugh as I see him get shy. “One of the restaurants downstairs. The chef has her own garden up here. Farm to table idea.”

“She caught you?” I guess.

“I scared the shit outta her.” He grabs the back of his neck and laughs. “But I remind her of her grandson so she let me stay up here. She even comes up here sometimes to listen to me play.”

I look around and take in the space up here. It’s beautiful. It reminds me of Asheville. The lush greenery bringing a sense of calm to my otherwise fucked-up life.

I take a seat on one of the couches, laying my guitar next to me. I close my eyes as I lean back, finding my center like I do in yoga. I breathe in and out, letting go of everything that happened earlier in the day.

When I finally open my eyes back up, Cole is looking at me.

“You alright?”

I nod. It’s true, I do feel better. The open air, the plants, the calmness, it all feels better than being cooped up in the studio. “Shall we write some songs?”

Cole smiles at me as he sits across from me, picking up his guitar. “Let’s do it.”

* * *

I sitin the corner of a bar in a dive and sip on a gin and tonic. Cole got an opportunity to play here at the last minute so Austin and I decided to come here and watch. No doubt in my mind things will move quickly for him. He is talented and a heartthrob.

We ended up spending hours last week writing songs on the roof of the building. Austin was blown away by what we wrote and kept both of us in Nashville longer. Cole has become such a good friend and an amazing songwriting partner. There is a spark between us when it comes to music and I hope we can write more together in the future.

I am heading home to Asheville tomorrow. And I am not sure what I am going home to. Noah called me a few days ago, the first time I heard from him in over a week. But I was too scared to answer the phone. I didn’t want to lose the magic I was feeling with my work.

He didn’t leave a message. And I am not sure if that is a good or bad thing.

“You sure you want to leave this place?” Austin asks me, shaking me from my thoughts.

This isn’t the first time he asked me either. And even though my heart is broken and I have no idea what is going on with Noah, Asheville still feels like home. I pick at the hole in my jeans. “Yes. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love it here.”

Austin nods as he sips on his beer. “You could make a lot of money here if you stayed.”

I look up at him. “I can make a lot of money anywhere. I just write the songs, Austin.”

“The labels and producers want you here.”

“And I can come back when I am needed.”

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