Page 101 of Life of the Party

I nodded; I knew exactly what he was talking about. “But, it’s different with music.” He explained. “It’s like the one place I can just…be free, you know? I write anything that comes to my head. And some of it’s…pretty embarrassing.”

“Now I want to read them even more.” I pouted.

“Maybe another time, okay?” It was his turn to change the subject. “So, speaking of music…what’s your favourite song, Mackenzie?”

I sighed, relenting begrudgingly. “It’s “Name” by the Goo Goo Dolls.”

“That was quick.” Grey grinned at me. “You’re serious?” His smile widened. “Of all the songs in the world, your favourite is “Name” by the Goo Goo Dolls.”

“Yes.” I smiled.

“I don’t believe it.” Grey chuckled, and then he picked up his acoustic guitar. I watched in disbelief as moments later, the sweet, haunting chords of my favourite song were floating in the air, his fingers deftly strumming the notes.

He sang to me with his beautiful voice.

“Even though the moment passed me by, I still can’t turn away

All the dreams you never thought you lose got tossed along the way.

Letters that you never meant to send get lost or thrown away

And now we’re grown-up orphans that never knew their names

We don’t belong to no one, that’s a shame

But if you could hide beside me

maybe for a while

I won’t tell no one your name …

And I won’t tell ‘em your name…”

I blinked back sudden, happy tears as Grey sang the song, his voice soft and raspy, touching my very heart. His blue eyes smiled at me as he played, enjoying my reaction to his tune. I couldn’t even help myself…he just…moved me.

“You play so beautifully.” I shook my head in admiration. I’d never met anyone so talented in all my life. His dreams of making it big weren’t crazy; they were inevitable. Grey finished the song, strumming out the last note so it rang in the air.

“I love you.” It was nearly bursting out of me; I just had to say it.

“What can I say?” He smirked. “The Goo Goo Dolls do it every time.”

I didn’t want to sleep that night. I knew we had only a few precious hours left before he had to leave, and I didn’t want to waste them with unconsciousness. Grey chuckled at me, cuddled up together beneath the blankets, his lips to my ear.

“Go to sleep, Mackenzie.” He nuzzled, his voice low and drowsy.

“I can’t sleep.” My eyelids were so heavy, I struggled to keep them open. “It’s like the Aerosmith song. I don’t want to close my eyes ‘cause I don’t want to miss a thing…”

When I awoke, it was dark outside, but the moon was bright, flooding his bedroom with silvery light. It took me a moment to realize I was all alone. I stretched my arm out for Grey, and when my hand touched the empty mattress, my eyes flew open, instantly panicked he’d left for the airport already, that I’d missed his goodbye, and Grey was gone.

“Hey,” his voice calmed me. I turned over and found him sitting in a chair beside the bed. He was dressed and ready to go, his acoustic guitar on his lap. I smiled, bemused, and sat up in the sheets. His gorgeous face was barely visible in the moonlight, but I could see he was smiling at me.

“I’ve gotta go, but I just…I wanted to play you something first.”

He started strumming the guitar then. The rhythm was gentle—not quite a ballad, but not upbeat either. After the sweet, softly picked intro, Grey began to sing.

“Sitting here in the dark, Mackenzie’s next to me.

She’s lying in the moonlight, shining silver in the sheets.

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