Chapter 29: Chapter Fourteen-2

Lee scoots away from me. “If I play guitar, will you please stop calling me your friend and touching me?” “I didn’t touch—fine!” I cross my arms. “Go get your guitar.” “Don’t order me around in my own home, you stupid commoner,” Lee scoffs. He puts his plate in the sink before he disappears to go get his guitar. I put my plate in the sink and go take a seat on the loveseat in the living room and wait for Lee to show. He appears with his guitar. Taking a seat, he checks if everything’s in tune. I notice his guitar has stickers and things stuck on it. The edges look rusty, too. He must’ve had this guitar for a long time. “Okay, all good to go,” Lee says. “What song?” “The song you were singing earlier,” I say. “I think it was Wanted by Hunter Hayes?” Lee nods. “He’s so hot.” He puts his hand up. “Stop right there. I’m already playing guitar. Don’t go all girly on me about how good he looks.” “Fine,” I pout. Suddenly, an idea springs in my head. “How about we do a duet?” I’m smiling so wide I think I might be scaring Lee. “No.” “Please?” “No.” “You’re going to regret this, Lee.” I cross my arms. “We’ll be best friends forever and ever and I’ll call you up every night to talk about how hot Hunter Hayes and Ed Sheeran are. And I won’t stop there. I’ll send you letters and emails with pictures attached and everything. I’ll even—” “Okay!” Lee says abruptly. “We can do a duet.” I grin and Lee starts strumming his guitar, the melody coming out softly. Lee’s face is concentrated on the guitar—his eyebrows together and his lips pressed together. I’m mesmerized by this look. He looks so innocent and calm. Lee looks up and indicates that I should start. I’m a little nervous singing in front of Lee but I love the song so much I ignore it and just sing. “You know I’d fall apart without you. I don’t know how you do what you do.” Lee grins and starts singing, also. “’Cause everything that don’t make sense about me… makes sense when I’m with you.” His voice is so deep it almost surprises me. It’s actually good. He wasn’t kidding when he said he was in a band. I could imagine girls fawning over him as he sang.  He continues singing and I pitch in when I’m needed. I grin as we sing together. We sing together, “Put aside the math and the logic of it, you gotta know you’re wanted, too.” My favorite lines come up. “’Cause I wanna wrap you up, wanna kiss your lips… I wanna make you feel wanted. I wanna call you mine, wanna hold your hand forever. Never let you forget it. Yeah, I wanna make you feel wanted.” Our voices sync together and Lee’s staring at me with his blue eyes. Our mouths are moving but  our eyes are so focused on each other’s. There’s an electric feeling in the air. Is it me or are we getting closer? Lee’s voice gets louder with mine. “’Cause I just wanna wrap you up, wanna kiss your lips… I wanna make you feel wanted. I wanna call you mine, wanna hold your hand forever, never let you forget it. Yeah, I… I wanna make you feel wanted.” Our voices get louder as the song gets louder. We reach the end and soften our voices—fading out. And the guitar’s quiet, the room’s quiet. The only loud thing is my heartbeat. It’s pounding really loud. We’re both panting heavily—thanks to the high notes. I suddenly get off the couch and I’m on my knees in front of Lee. His hands find my cheeks and I place mine on his forearms. What’s going on? “Lee,” I breathe. “I… I think I like you.” I say it. Just like that. Weight has been lifted off my shoulder. And then the regret comes in. Did I say it too fast? Maybe I should’ve waited until I knew him more. “Ivory,” Lee whispers. He’s moving closer and closer. I can smell his aftershave. It smells strong and fresh. “Ivory,” he repeats. He’s not responding to my confession. “H-How do you feel about me?” I ask. He’s dodging my questions. That’s not a good thing. This is bad. This means he doesn’t feel the same. He ignores me and just moves his lips closer to mine. Maybe… he’s just a lonely businessman who’s horny so all he needs me for is sex. Wait, what? Could I be right? That he doesn’t actually like me but he just hasn’t been this close to a woman for a while? Our lips are about to touch— Ding Dong! The suite’s doorbell rings. Our eyes widen at the same time and I back away—hitting the back of my head in the process—and Lee runs to the door. I groan in pain as I get up as well. Who could be at the door? Lee is looking through the peephole of the door when I reach the door. He gets a glimpse and suddenly backs away. His face is pale—all color gone and it looks like he’s seen a ghost. “You okay?” I shrug him, but he won’t budge. Lee’s frozen into place. His mind is somewhere else. “Lee!” His eyes suddenly refocus on me. He takes my shoulders. “Ivory. What happened earlier and what happened at your house—it was a mistake. I’m sorry. I just got carried away. I’m sorry if I led you on… but I don’t feel any romantic feelings to you.” My heart shatters. “I’m sorry.” “W-What?” I manage to say. “I didn’t mean to try to kiss you and lead you on. It was in the spur of the moment. I shouldn’t have done what I’ve done.” Lee is shaking. “Lee, what’s wrong?” I ask. “Why are you acting like this? Who’s at the door?” That’s right. He only started acting so frantic after seeing who was at the door. “Who’s got you so shaken up?” I try to peek through the peephole but Lee grabs my wrist. “No! Don’t. Don’t look. I-It’s some important business. Go wait in my room.” “Lee! Who is it?” I try to ask as he pushes me into his room. He’s about to lock his bedroom door, but he looks up straight at me in the eyes. His eyes aren’t soft anymore. Beads of sweat are trailing down his head. “It’s… my fiancé.”