Page 78 of Hope & Harmony

“Finally?”

I tilt my head to the side. “What?”

“You said finally. Nice tofinallymeet you.”

At that, l let out an awkward chuckle, having always known if we met—for real—I’d have to explain how I know her. Though I guess I don’t, really.

Rubbing at the stubble along my jaw, I try to think over what I should say in response, how to explain to her who I am. What Iabsolutely don’t want is to scare her or bring back any emotions or fears from that night.

She speaks before I do, her beautiful, caramel-colored eyes locked on mine.

“I knew that song. The one you guys played, the new one.”

My eyebrows lift in surprise.

“I’ve been hearing it for years in my head,” she continues, “but I’ve never known why.” Madi takes another step forward so there’s just a foot or so between us. “Doyouknow why?”

I do. It’s because she was the inspiration for its creation. Because I wrote it as I sat in a chair next to the door just inside her hospital room. Because once it was finished, I played it for her every night that I could.

The fact that she knows it—that she’s been hearing it in her head—fills something inside of me that I didn’t know was empty.

“I sang that song to you when you were in the hospital,” I finally say, wondering how she’ll respond.

It’s not every day you find out some guy sat in your hospital room while you were unconscious, playing music. As much asIknow I’m a good guy, she doesn’t know me at all. Part of me expects her to recoil, step back in shock, and make a face of disapproval.

What I don’t see coming is that smile.

My god.

That. Smile.I’ve never seen Madi smile before, and it sends a shock straight through me. It’s bright and wild and beautiful, better than I ever could have imagined.

Then she steps forward and wraps her arms around my shoulders, her chest flush with mine, pulling me in tight.

“I’m sorry for hugging you without asking,” she says, her voice a sweet whisper near my ear. “Especially because I just finished working out. But oh my god, I felt like I was going crazy.”

I bring my hands to her back, my eyes closing as I breathe her in, the fresh, citrusy smell of whatever lotion or perfume she’s wearing completely at odds with the city. It takes effort to keep my hands braced against her back instead of letting them roam and tug her in closer, which feels so natural.

“I heard that song over and over again, but I couldn’t figure it out. I didn’t…” She pauses and pulls back so she can look me in the eye. “I thought I made it up. The guitar. The words.” Her eyes dip to my mouth for a beat. “Your voice.”

The urge to kiss her sweeps through me, but I hold fast. This is a woman who has been through plenty, a woman I don’t actually know, regardless of how close I feel to her after the weeks I spent at the hospital and how many times I’ve thought of her over the years. I’ve literally dreamt of this moment, wondered what it might be like if we bumped into each other in the chaos of this big world, what I might do or say.

And now, she’s here.

Right here.

In my arms.

She brings her forehead to mine and closes her eyes. “Are you the one who saved me?” she whispers.

I nod. “Yeah,” I whisper back. “I am.”

Madi opens her eyes, and I see they’re brimming with tears just before she pulls me back in for another hug. Her hands grip me tightly like she doesn’t ever want to let go, and this time, I don’t resist the urge to pull her in closer. Holding her in my arms just feels right.

Why does it feel so right?

“Dude, what the hell was that?”

The sound of my brother’s voice behind me shatters the intimacy of this moment, and whatever little cocoon we were in evaporates, letting in the sounds of the city and the glaring street lights and the people passing us by.

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