Page 146 of Crescendo

“Oh, my god, Lydia.”

“What? They loved it.”

“They loved Lydia Howard Fox talking to them.”

“Oh, and you don’t?”

My eyes ran over her face, drinking in every inch of her. This woman who had changed my whole life. Simply incandescent. “No, I do. It’s my favourite thing ever.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Just talking is your favourite thing?”

“Lydia! Jesus. Not here.”

She laughed and pulled me into another kiss, deep and needy and filled with promises.

I couldn’t wait to spend forever kissing her, composing with her, laughing with her. What a life to live.

When we pulled apart again, she brushed my hair back, looking at me with absolute adoration. “Hey, darling?”

“Mm, yes?” I melted into her.

“I love you.”

I felt like I knew exactly what this moment sounded like in music. Maybe I knew what my next piece would be. Another song for her, something happier this time.

I pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “I love you too. So,somuch.”

She looked the same way she had on the stage, like her soul had been set on fire. It was a great look on her.

“Do you suppose we should get back inside?” I asked, laughing blissfully. “I think there are some people in there who are very excited to see you. Two of whom seemed to expect you.”

“Didn’t everyone expect me?”

I rolled my eyes fondly. “You know what I mean.”

She laughed, keeping her arms wrapped around me as we started moving back towards the auditorium doors. “Hey, I need your dads to like me, and I had to tellsomeonewhat was going on.”

“I cannot believe you all kept that secret from me.”

“Only because we love you and want good things for you.”

I hummed, leaning into her as we walked, my arms tight around her. “I think you’re the greatest thing.”

“Sorry,” a member of staff said as we reached the door, “you’re going to have to wait for a break in the performance.”

“No problem,” I said happily. I wasn’t against standing in Lydia’s arms for however long it took.

Their eyes bugged as they seemed to realise who was standing in front of them. “Oh! Er, Ms. Howard Fox. I, um, do you want… I mean, ordinarily… but…”

I almost laughed. They really would let Lydia do whatever the hell she wanted here.

She waved them off quickly. “No, no. We’re happy to wait here for as long as it takes.”

“Oh. Okay,” they replied before politely and awkwardly turning away as Lydia scooped me up into another perfect kiss.

I had the feeling the piece being played wasn’t going to feel long enough and we’d be swept back inside before I’d hadnearly enough of kissing her. But, hey, we had plenty of time to kiss and soar together now, and that was all that really mattered. Lydia Howard Fox and Ella Hendrickson. Together.

Epilogue

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