I say goodbye to Cora and end the call and I feel better.

Then worse.

I really meant what I said. I don’t care what we want to label it, but I need to… I don’t know… feel like she’s really mine.

I need to do that in person.

And I can’t wait another few days until she gets back from New York.

I find my discarded tee shirt, wipe the sticky mess off my hands and chest, dig up my phone and book the first flight I can to New York City.

* * *

Immediately after the last encore, the band wishes me luck and I take a car to the airport. I’m in New York by sunrise.

Of course, in my haste to sweep in and make the grand showing-up gesture, I’d completely forgotten to ask Cora where she’s staying and when her audition is. I laugh to myself as I get in the cab and the driver asks me where I’m going.

I have absolutely no idea.

But I few seconds on my phone and I have a room at a hotel near the Tisch building at NYU and I’m able to charm/name drop to enough people to find out when and where the auditions are being held.

I take a seat in a small room amongst a few very nervous actors. Some are running through their lines. Some read through scripts. One woman just stares at a framed Pulp Fiction poster and looks like she’s going to vomit.

A few people stare at me. For some, it’s like they know me from somewhere. Others are trying to size me up as competition.

All that’s left to do is wait.

And hope I’m not too late.

* * *

After what seems like forever, Cora emerges from the audition panel room.

She’s a sight for sore eyes. Her hair is slightly shorter and she’s dressed in jeans, boots, a lavender blouse and leather jacket. She looks ready to kick ass and take names. She closes the door behind her and faces the room.

And a huge smile erupts on her face.

She doesn’t see me yet, but I see that smile.

And I’m so happy, I could die.

I sneak up behind her.

“So, I guess it went well,” I say, hoping I don’t startle her.

She blinks, surprised, but happy.

“Ian,” she cries, throwing her arms around my neck and pressing her body to mine.

I wrap my arms around her and hold her much longer and closer than is appropriate in a waiting room. Or anywhere in public for that matter. But I don’t give a flying fuck.

I guide her out of the building before we get any more unwanted attention.

“Let me take you to lunch and celebrate,” I tell her, “There’s a small pub on the corner. You can tell me all about it.”

She nods. “But this first,” she teases. She pulls me flush against her and kisses me in the way that I’ve missed so sorely this past month. I groan as I sink into her kiss.

Fuck, no one else kisses like Cora.

No one else even compares.

Her soft lips claim mine and her green-apple scent floats around me and the whole damn world stops.

She feels like home.

“Okay,” she says, “We can go in now.”

Still kind of spinning, she leads me inside the pub. We take seats at the bar and order beers. We clink pint glasses, celebrating Cora’s audition, the end of my tour, New York and the fact that we’re both in the same city in the same bar and can finally kiss like that again.

We’ve clinked glasses so many times that the bartender think’s we’re insane, but it’s too much fun to care.

“I have a really good feeling about it,” Cora says, “The interview part went well. I’m usually super stiff and awkward in situations like that, but the conversation flowed. I even got them laughing, which may or may not be good.”

“I’m sure it’s good,” I tell her. She’s adorable when she rambles.

“And the audition was… I don’t think I could have done better,” she says, her eyes full of hope, “They seemed impressed. They asked lots of questions. I just feel… I don’t know. I feel really, really good right now.”

I smile. The air feels lighter. It’s all I want. For Cora to be happy.

“Ian,” she says in a nervous whisper. “Thank you.”

I raise an eyebrow. “For what?”

“You don’t realize what you’ve done for me.”

I’m still confused.

“It takes a really tough man to lift up a woman like you did for me. To help me realize my dream. And to be patient with me and everything I was going through. You just… you have no idea how selfless you were. Are.” She gets a little choked up. “Thank you, Ian.”

I take her hand and kiss her knuckles.

Sure, we had our rough moments, but I love her.

And I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.

“So… what happens for us now?” I ask.

“I was thinking about that too,” Cora says, “I can’t ask you to wait anymore.”

“Thank God,” I tell her, “This month has been hell without you.”

“I want to be your girlfriend. Like, actually your girlfriend. Like, have an official title and be a real couple and shout it from the fucking rooftops… God, I sound completely crazy, don’t I?”

“No crazier than I do,” I tell her, “I love you, Cora.”

“I love you too.”

I try to keep my cool, but I feel like I could fly right now.

We finish lunch and pay the tab.

“So, do you want to do some cheesy tourist things?” I ask her, “I’ve been to New York City for shows, but I’ve never gotten to see all the stuff you’re supposed to see. Empire State Building? Times Square?”

“Your hotel?” she asks.

Thank fuck.