Page 48 of Unraveling Fate

Night fell outside the garage,but the day’s warmth radiated from the Ferrari’s leather seats, soaking into Cadenza’s shoulders, lightening the weight of the black hole her charred car had left in her chest.

After Reyna had dropped her off, Drostan had come by with chocolate, another loaner, and the idea of selling whatever parts they could salvage. Taran usually showed up this time of day, and when he arrived, she knew he’d wrap her in a hug, safe and steady as his heartbeat.

Turtle chocolates and rides. Tea you drank and tea you spilled. Arms that kept the world at bay. This was what it meant to have friends. To have people who cared about you with no thought for what they’d get in return. And if they cared, perhaps she was worth being friends with. Perhaps she was more than just a crazy girl who heard things.

And with Taran, more than friends? But they’d only spent a week together and if all went according to plan, she’d leave the country next month. She bit her lip. Cadenza held no illusions about long-distance relationships. Ilaria had left California to return to Italy and her performing life without even attempting to maintain a thirteen-year marriage. What hope did one as young as hers and Taran’s have? And what about Reyna? Nurturing a new friendship across continents wasn’t any easier. Even if they cared now, when she came back from Venice, would either Reyna or Taran be interested in seeing her again?

Ifshe came back. For the first time, the thought of an invitation to stay in Italy filled her with apprehension instead of ambition.

One thing at a time, Cadenza.She leaned her head on the steering wheel and hummed the Berlinetta’s song, the melody curving around her like a hug.

A line of percussion interrupted the tune. She snapped her head up. That was new. The car had only ever given her melody before.

The beats played again, rising and falling like a radio station just out of range. A boom rippled through the floorboards, rattling the car. Bodhran and bass slammed into her.

Taran.

Cadenza swam through the rhythm searching for her anchor. She squinted into the night searching for him. She found neither.

She pushed out of the Ferrari, and the drumsong ebbed. She stared at the car. That made no sense. Maybe Taran was around the corner? She ran to the edge of the garage, scanned the road. No one. Where was he?

The waves of drums peaked, slamming into her from behind, dropping her to one knee. And then, there it was.

Taran’s heartbeat.

Coming from behind her. In the garage.

Cadenza turned to the sound. Taran stood where the Ferrari had been seconds ago, bent over, breathing hard. He pushed his hair out of his eyes, caught Cadenza staring at him, and froze.

Her mouth moved wordlessly. She’d been standing right here. In the middle of the garage door. No one drove the Ferrari out. Taran didn’t walk in.

Ferrari yes, Taran no. Ferrari no, Taran yes.

Impossible.

“Where’s the car?” The words squeaked out of her, strained.

“Cadenza—”

“Where’s the car?” she demanded, louder this time. “All this time, I kept asking, where’s the car? And you wouldn’t tell me.”

“Cadenza.” Taran staggered a step forward.

She paced back and forth, arms drawing her shock in the air. “No. You wouldn't tell me because—oh my gosh. Oh my gosh.” Her voice climbed an octave, and she threw her hands up.

“No. I’m insane! I really am. Hearing things, seeing things.” And now Taran was seeing her rave like a lunatic. Because he must have come into the garage and she just didn’t see him. Any other answer was crazy.

Just like her.

How could she ever have thought people would think her worthy of friendship, or anything else? She was hallucinating, and Taran would think she was crazy.

“Because I am,” she sobbed. “Sono pazza!”

“Cadenza, if I can just?—”

“No. I’m insane. I can’t—” Her breath came in short gasps. Buzzing filled her ears. Tears stung, and her throat closed. She turned and fled into the dark, her mother’s voice chasing her.

Pazza, pazza, pazza.