Living Out Loud (Austen, #3)(39)

“And I’m quite sure that will be more than enough.”

Everyone broke out in chatter, and Aunt Susan pulled up the prescreening requirements on her phone, reading them off with her reading glasses perched on the tip of her nose. I’d have to submit a résumé and write an essay, submit my transcripts as well as academic referrals, and record a video of myself performing three pieces by memory, using a provided list as a guideline.

My confidence wavered when I heard that list.

The two sections of required selections were at the highest level—I didn’t know why I was surprised; it was Juilliard after all—chosen to show skill and speed, timing and movement, emotion and feeling. And the third was a piece of choice from a list of composers.

I mentally flipped through the pieces I already had in my toolbox; there wasn’t time to learn anything new, not at that skill level. And, preoccupied with the task, I waved goodbye to my family and headed downstairs.

Aunt Susan had called the driver, who was waiting for me at the curb, but I sent him on. Armed with several bottles of water, my notebook, an hour to kill, and the good fortune of a beautiful day, I decided to walk, to think, to plan.

I set off up Fifth, turning into the park. I had plenty of time and decided to kill it by taking the long way around the top of the reservoir. Every ten minutes or so, I’d stop at a bench and open my notebook, my fingers tapping my leg as I thought through the pieces in my repertoire, my gaze roaming my surroundings and the chilly breeze cooling my skin, damp from exertion.

By the time I reached the reservoir, I’d chosen my first piece—Chopin’s études Op. 20, No. 6—and my sonata—Haydn, Hob 23—and I was trying to decide on my third piece as I stood at the rail, looking over the length of the lake at Midtown, the buildings in miniature at that distance.

It started as a squeezing in my chest so complete that there was no point of origin. My breath slipped away, and I glanced down at my hands. My nail beds looked as if they’d been smudged with ink. And I couldn’t call out with empty lungs, couldn’t do anything but reach for the rail as darkness crept into my vision like tendrils of smoke.

My knees gave out, and I sank to the ground, blinking out of consciousness.





10





White Knight





Annie

His voice came from what seemed like a long way away. An immeasurable amount of time had passed under me like a river. A moan crept up my throat. My lashes fluttered. And I opened my eyes to find him.

His hair was as dark as midnight, eyes blue and crystalline, his nose elegant and lips wide, dark brows drawn together with concern. I rested easily in his lap, surrounded by him, more shocked at the sight and smell and sensation of him than that I’d fainted in the middle of the park.

“Oh, thank God you’re awake. Are you all right? We were about to call an ambulance.”

“No, no. I’m okay.” I would have sat up to prove it, but honestly, I didn’t want the moment to end.

His eyes searched my face, stopping on my lips. He brushed the swell of my bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. “Your lips…”

“Yes?” I breathed.

“They’re a little blue. Are you sure you’re all right?”

I sighed and finally sat, running through an assessment of my body. Heart was beating steadier than usual and with no pressure or pain or tightness in my lungs. “Yes, I’m sure. Thank you.”

A few people had gathered around, but they seemed satisfied and went on their way. But the boy still sat at my side, angling toward me.

“Man, that was scary. I’ve never seen somebody faint before,” he said, dragging his fingers through what had to be the most luscious hair I’d ever seen in my life.

“I’m sorry. I…I have a heart condition that sometimes likes to make itself known.”

He chuckled. “Does it always drop you like a bag of hammers?”

I found myself chuckling back. “No, not usually. Thank you. For stopping and all.”

At that, he smiled, and it almost blinded me with its brilliance.

“I’ve never rescued anyone before. Not that I did much,” he admitted a little sheepishly.

It was adorable.

“Well, I’ve never been rescued, so it was a first time for both of us.”

I noticed then that we were still sitting in the walkway and moved to stand, but he reached for my hand, helping me up, and once we were standing, he didn’t let my hand go.

“I’m Will,” he said with his eyes locked on mine and his lips smiling in a way that made my insides feel effervescent.

“I’m Annie.”

He bowed dramatically. “Pleasure to make your acquaintance, madam.”

I giggled, offering a curtsy as he kissed my hand. “Why, thank you, good sir.”

“Allow me to call on you tonight to inquire after your health. Prithee, would you honor me with your phone number?”

I laughed, but a crackling fire burned in my chest, the cold in my hands and face dissipating to make way for a flush that I felt through my whole body like a fever. “That would be most agreeable.”

He smiled and pulled my arm into the crook of his elbow. “Can I walk with you?”

“You don’t even know where I’m going.”