Adjusting my guitar, I strum the chords again, murmuring the lyrics as I try to perfect the song Max started writing with me. Over the last few weeks we’ve been compiling the songs in small chunks. She’ll write the odd lyric or two during class or when she’s supposed to be doing homework.

I’ve taken all her thoughts and managed to break them up and rearrange them so the song flows smoothly.

I love her most recent addition, and I think it’ll be great for a bridge…

I’m happy to drown in this moment with you

I realize you’ve taught me to fly

Floating above the world, what a view

Spell caster, let’s own the sky

“Spell caster. Spell caster,” I sing and strum, drawing out the word as I build to kick back into the chorus…which we’re still working on.

The song will be good. It’ll be amazing.

If we could only finish it.

I glance at the clock on my wall and wonder how it’s going. Man, I’m nervous. Max said she was going to try for a family meeting tonight. She looked ready to puke when she mentioned it at lunchtime. We were all sitting in the cafeteria together. Velocity and Holden Carter at the same table was weird, but the Barlow sisters seem to be gluing us together and we’re helpless to resist.

The band is stoked to have Max back, although in an effort to respect her dad’s rules, we’re having to fit in both lessons and band practice before school, which means I’m not getting to teach her as much as I’d like. She’s still got so much to learn, but maybe after she shows her parents the plans, they’ll ease up and let us throw lunchtime band practices into the mix.

Running my pick down the strings, I start playing without really thinking, my thoughts consumed by Max as I hum and strum.

I’m so lost that I actually jump when Dad taps on my half open door.

He chuckles. “Hanging out in la-la land, are you?”

I shake my head with an embarrassed grin. “More accurately Max Land.”

“It’s not an awful place to be.” Dad winks as he holds out my phone. “You left this on the table, which I don’t mind. It meant I could say a wee hello to your girlfriend.”

My eyes pop wide as I lurch for the phone, Dad instantly invisible as I press it to my ear. “How’d it go?”

“Good. Better than expected.” I sense Max’s smile and the tension in my shoulders pops free. Running a hand through my hair, I release a breath. Man, it feels like I’ve been holding it for hours and I didn’t even realize.

“You still grounded?”

“Oh yeah. This is Maddie’s phone. The punishment’s not going to change anytime soon.”

“What about lunchtime band practices?”

“I still need to work on those. I’ll give them a couple of days to process this first.”

“Right. So…a lot of processing required, then?” I wince, hoping it wasn’t too bad. I wish I could have been there to support her, but I would have just been a distraction.

“They’re taking the plans pretty damn well. Mom in particular has jumped on board, so that’s positive. Hopefully she can help me bring Dad around a little faster. He’s still hurting, though. He’s really gutted about the baseball thing.” Her voice goes soft and sad for a moment. It makes my chest ache for her. I want to wrap her in my arms and hold her, remind her that everything will work out.

“I’m glad your Mom’s in.”

“Yeah, she’s already checking out community colleges for me.”

“Make sure she focuses on the ones near Berkeley.”

Max snickers. “Believe me, I am pushing those big-time. But we have to be prepared for the fact that it may not work. Dad’s really not keen on me selling those baseball cards, and I don’t know how I can afford to live away from home. I may just have to settle for Cullington Community College, which sucks, as I really don’t want to do the long-distance thing after summer.”

“Roman’s going to Cullington.”

“Roman’s not you.” Her voice is now small and heavy, if that’s even possible. This is supposed to be a phone call to celebrate that her parents listened to her. I don’t want it to be one big downer.

Forcing a bright tone, I try to smile when I promise her, “We’ll just have to make the most of the summer.”

“If Dad ever lets me out of the house.”

“He will. He just needs time to process.”

“Yeah, I know.” She sighs. “I just miss you already. I know that sounds lame.”

“Don’t think about it yet. We still have a prom and a summer to look forward to. And once I’m gone, we can video chat and hang out that way. We can still jam together.”

“It won’t be the same. I won’t be able to kiss you.”

My lips twitch with a grin. “I’m sure we can figure out a way to make up for that when we’re actually together.”

Her laughter is soft and breathy before she goes quiet. I lick my lips, trying to think of something excellent to say. Something that will make her drown in the moment, or float in the sky.

But she gets there first, whispering four little words that levitate my heart so high I swear I’m hovering above the bed.

“I love you, Cairo.”

My heart expands. Those giddy bubbles Mom told me about pop and burst as I whisper, “I love you too, Max-a-million.”

She giggles then—a girly sweet sound that’s very un-Max.

“Man, I can’t wait to see you tomorrow morning. Be prepared, because I’m kissing you breathless the second you walk into the music room.”

“Sounds good to me.” She’s smiling again. I can hear it in her voice.

I want to stretch the conversation out, lie down on my bed and chat the night away, but Maddie interrupts us, saying she needs her phone back.

We reluctantly say goodbye to each other and as soon as she’s gone, I flop back on my bed and gaze up at the ceiling.

And she thinks I’m the spell caster.

I shake my head with a grin, happy to be owned by my one-in-a-million girlfriend.