The Bed You Make
Chapter 30, concluded
Some time during the second performer's set Stefan had undone his suit coat and stretched his left arm along the back of Dara's chair. Feeling the movement, she had turned and searched his face for just a moment before awkwardly tucking her body in against his. Her new position effectively cleared her line of sight toward the stage and she'd smiled gratefully at Stefan.
Over the next hour, Dara's body had melted comfortably against him. Her gaze remained fixed on the stage and she occasionally mouthed the lyrics to a familiar song along with the young amateurs on stage. Generously she sought to share her enjoyment of the music. Several times during the evening, Dara had tilted her face to his and murmured a comment about a performance or a song. Stefan wondered if she had any idea how revealing her generosity was.
"… been a great audience. Thank you."
"Give me your pen." Dara didn't wait for Stefan to comply, but twisted about and reached inside the right pocket of his suit coat and withdrew the pen he kept there. She flipped over the paper flyer advertising the next week's entertainment and began to scribble the young man's name and the names of the four songs he'd sung upon it. His set had left the crowd spellbound and clamoring for more.
Stefan leaned in. "This young man," he tilted his head toward the stage, "is deserving of the crowd's accolades."
"His voice is amazing, isn't it?" Dara marveled. "L&B Records would be perfect to handle his style of singing." She jotted down a song or two she thought would suit the young man's vocal stylings. "I want to give his name to Ned. Ashton," Dara clarified.
"It is fortunate that you and Ashton were able to remain friends."
"Thankfully," Dara replied, still writing. "We never should have crossed that-" Stefan felt her stiffen.
Dara straightened up, deliberately putting distance between their two bodies. "I'd forgotten," she said quietly, "how good you were at that." Silently she placed his pen on the table. "Thank you for the evening. I'm ready to go now."
"As you wish."
Stefan almost regretted imposing the walls back between them.
