Page 77 of Come Back to Me

“You sure?”

“If I am, the doctors didn’t diagnose it. I’m fine. Too good at compartmentalizing.”

“I can’t do that. I’m really bad at it. When I’m focused, I shut everything out—”Oh, to be at the center of that focus.“—and I know that sounds like compartmentalizing, but it isn’t. I ignore everything else.”

“I don’t see that it’s a problem.”

“It wouldn’t be if I were a mega-famous musician,” she grouches. “You’re allowed to be eccentric then.”

Because I get her point, and am well aware that money facilitates Callan’s peculiarities, I clear my throat. “You ever thought about using this time at the Seven Cs to make it happen?”

“What do you mean?”

“To get the sounds out there.”

“My music doesn’t fit what’s popular.” Her hair rasps against my shirt, letting the scent of her shampoo fill my senses. “It’s fine. I accepted it a long time ago, but it would make my life easier and stop my mom from trying to hook me up with a job as a teacher if I could break out.”

“That’s her job, you know? To make sure you’re settled.”

She sniffs. “You sound like Zee.”

Lips quirking into a smile, I murmur, “People appreciate classical music.”

“Usually, they prefer musicians who play the classics.”

“Not true. Ludovico Einaudi is mainstream?—”

“He’s a pianist,” she inserts. “My favorite instrument is an oboe. When was the last time an oboist was a household name?”

She has me there.

“You thought about movies?”

“Movies?”

“You know. Movie scores.”

“No. It’s a hard world to get into and I don’t have any contacts.”

“I could probably help out.”

“What? How?”

When she rolls onto her side to face me, it’s both heaven and hell.

More of that cinnamon scent overtakes the air between us, and I get my confirmation that being her focal point is heady shit.

“Know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy.”

“Is this because you’re a Korhonen?”

“No. It’s because I served in the RCAF.”

Her hand snaps around my forearm, nails digging in. The prospect of her dragging them down my back takes over everything for a moment until she croaks, “And?! Don’t leave me in suspense, Cody!”

“You ever heard of Rock Ferrer?”

“Of course I have! He’s bigger than Ryan Gosling.”

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