Page 74 of The Baritone's Rival

“Let’s go home.”

Chapter 23

Oscar

The line of gray folding chairs outside the Manhattan Lyric audition room didn’t exactly exude a sense of welcome or comfort, but Oscar didn’t mind. He was one of only two singers waiting their turn. He flipped through his music absent-mindedly. After all that had happened, he couldn’t bring himself to be nervous. He was mostly just grateful.

Trent’s audition was immediately before his, so Oscar assumed he’d be there soon, although Trent was cutting it close.

The elevator bell rang from the other end of the hallway, and the two polished aluminum doors slid open to reveal his mate. Oscar’s cheeks warmed upon seeing how handsome Trent was. He wore a charcoal suit that accentuated his strong, compact body, and his blonde hair was perfectly coiffed.

A smile spread across his face as he made eye contact with Oscar. Trent’s steps bounced as he crossed to his mate, plopping down in the adjacent folding chair and leaning against Oscar’s shoulder.

Oscar kissed him on the temple. “Are you ready?”

“I think so,” Trent replied, biting his bottom lip. “I think…I’ve been ready for a while. I just haven’t let myself feel it.”

“You’ll get it. You’re amazing.” Oscar slipped his hand into Trent’s, intertwining their fingers. Trent’s palm was warm and comforting against his skin.

“Please. You’lldefinitelyget it.” Trent grinned. “I’ve seen your audition book. You’re way more versatile than I am.”

“Am I?” Oscar winked, and Trentlet out a low chuckle. Oscar leaned over and whispered. “Whatever happens, we have time. You’re my mate. You can spend the next hundred years singing if you want.”

Trent tapped his fingers on the large black binder he held in his hand. “A hundred years, huh? So you think I’m gonna go vampire?”

“I, well, I hoped.” Oscar was suddenly flustered. “I didn’t mean…whatever you want to do is what I want.”

Trent leaned forward and kissed Oscar gently on the neck, sending a cascade of tingles down Oscar’s spine.

“I’m teasing. I’ll become a vampire. Eventually. I don’t want to look quite this young when you turn me. I’ll get more respect if I’m solidly in my thirties.”

“You…you’re not wrong.” Oscar’s phone chimed, and he slid his hand into his pocket to quiet it. “That was the alarm I set for your time slot. They’ll come for you soon.”

Trent nodded and tightened his grip on Oscar. “It’s crazy that after being so obsessive about this audition for so long, now it…it doesn’t seem to matter as much.”

Oscar pulled back and looked at him, raising his eyebrow. This was unlike his mate.

“Really.”

Trent rolled his eyes. “I mean, I care about it, obviously, but it’s not everything. We have a whole life to build, regardless of whether either of us is part of this program next year.”

Oscar leaned in and gently kissed Trent. His mate’s lips were soft and warm.

Someone behind Oscar cleared their throat. He broke the kiss reluctantly and turned to see a young woman in a matronly blouse with a bow at the neck. An intern, Oscar presumed.

“Mr. Erickson?” Her voice was monotone. “They’re ready for you.”

Trent stood, smoothing the front of his suit. “It’s time.”

“Break legs, sweetheart.”

Trent smiled and followed the woman through a nearby door, leaving Oscar on his own.

If Oscar were smart, he would have looked over his music one last time, making sure that he was confident in every phrase and breath. But he couldn’t find it in himself to worry over it. Instead, he closed his eyes, hoping to hear his love sing.

The doors to the studios were thick, but they couldn’t do more than muffle the clarion voice of a world class opera singer. And that’s what Trent was. Oscar knew it. He believed in Trent, and as the strains of his first aria rang out, Oscar lost himself in the luxurious sound.

Trent was nailing it. Oscar had never heard him sing better. He could tell that even through the wall. He couldn’t imagine the richness of timbre the auditors were experiencing on the other side of that door. His mate was perfect.

---