Page 66 of Resisting the Fall

My jaw dropped. “That’s amazing news!” Not only because I’d made the first cut, but there was now one less step of the audition process I needed to stress over. “When does the next round begin?”

“It’ll take place at David Geffen Hall on Thursday. Check-in is at eight sharp.”

“Wait. This Thursday? Like in five days?”

In my periphery, Ben’s gaze shifted to me.

Jean-Paul waited a beat to answer, which had me regretting asking the question.

“Not that it’s a problem,” I assured him.

“I’m glad. Being that I slid your application in a little late in the process, I know it’s not much time to prepare, but you’ve auditioned before. It’s the same list of approved orchestral excerpts, and you can perform whichever concerto you currently have most polished.”

Five days. Could I be ready? I had to be. With how rarely positions opened up at the New York Philharmonic, who knew when I’d get another shot? “I’ll be there!”

“Great. I’ll let the committee know. Now don’t forget to send me that updated schedule. Though now that I’m thinking about it, we might not want to fill it too full just yet. I have a good feeling about this audition, Maven.”

I wasn’t nearly as confident as Jean-Paul, but I allowed his faith in me to combat my nerves. “I hope you’re right.”

Now I just needed to get back to New York. ASAP.

“What was that about?” Ben asked, pulling me from my thoughts once I’d ended the call.

I couldn’t dim my smile if I’d wanted. “I made it to round two of three auditions for the New York Philharmonic.”

“Wow.” His tone was somewhat flat. “The New York Philharmonic. It’s your dream.”

“Yeah.” Since I was eleven and my mom took me to see the symphony orchestra play at Avery Fisher Hall—now David Geffen Hall—at Lincoln Center, it had become a dream of mine. No, not just a dream, it had become the dream. I’d completed tens of thousands of hours playing the violin and six years of intense schooling thanks to the vision of eventually being on that stage. Seated among one of the most talented groups of musicians in the world. “Not that I have super high hopes. This will be my fourth time auditioning. I didn’t even make it through round one on my first two attempts. Last time I got cut after round two.”

Ben nodded, clearly not sure how to respond to my declared failures. “So the audition is this week?”

“Thursday. But I’ll need to head out tonight. I’ve been practicing, but not as much as I should. It’ll be easier to remain focused in New York.”

“You’re taking the train?”

I nodded. “I’ll have Carson run me by the trailer to grab my stuff, then he can drop me off at the station.”

Ben pulled the truck in front of my mom’s house. “I’m happy to take you.”

Of course he was. It was the gentlemanly thing to do. Or maybe he meant he was ready to get rid of me. It was a toss-up. “You have to help your dad with the maze. Plus, I want to say goodbye to Penny. But thanks for the offer. And for the ride.”

He went to unbuckle, and I stopped him. “I’ve got it.” I scooted across the seat to the passenger side when his hand gripped mine. I paused at his touch and looked over my shoulder. Déjà vu hit hard and heavy, and it instantly threw me back to the night he first kissed me.

He glanced at his hand on mine, then quickly released it. Maybe I wasn’t the only one who struggled with old habits. “Are you coming back?” he asked. “After the audition?”

I shifted to face him. “I don’t really have a choice considering you’re still refusing to see reason.”

He smiled like I’d offered him a compliment. “I’ll see you then, I guess.”

“Actually, you’ll see me tomorrow when we share a meal together over a video call. Oh, and I also got us an online session with a marriage counselor for Monday at four. I saw you had nothing on your calendar at that time, so hopefully that works.”

Before Ben could verify his schedule, his phone started ringing. This time with LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It.” His exasperated look was way too amusing.

“Now, that’s a great song.” I pulled the door handle and slid out, pausing before shutting the door. “Don’t be too relieved you don’t have to share your bed with me tonight.”

He gave a cocky grin. “So it was an invitation?”

With the way my whole body reacted to his teasing, it was a good thing I was leaving. How was I going to get through another four weeks of this? “Goodbye, Bennett.”