"Modesty is key, because, like you said, it isn't a date, but you still need to appear desirable." Adam hands me a floral-print maxi skirt, which I drape over my arm. He scans the pile I'm holding. "Okay, go." I shuffle into a dressing room to change. We've picked a bit of a boho look. I pull on the floral skirt, tug the peasant blouse over my head, and strap on the gladiator sandals. I waltz out to a beaming Adam. "Gorgeous! I knew you'd look good in white." I return to my street clothes to pay for the outfit. Adam drives me back home to get ready. All it takes is a little mascara to make my eyes stand out, plus a thin braid on the side. Seeing my beach cruiser, I get an idea. It's not hard to fill a basket on a bicycle with sheet music, so I pedal over to Josh's apartment. The ride calmed what nerves I had, and I knock on the door. He opens it with a smile, welcoming me to his home. Immediately, Sweeney jumps up, paws on knees. "That's Sweeney." Josh declares. I nod, stroking the dogs head. "Here, we can practice in the living room." He leads me to a comfortable living arrangement, perfect for a bachelor like himself. I pull out my sheet music, but Josh stops me, laughing. "Nothing serious tonight," he demands,"I was thinking karaoke." Good. We both liked karaoke. He pulls out a machine, and hooks it up. Then, as if a lightbulb went off, Josh asks,"Do you want to meet some other opera singers?" What does he mean? "Yeah, that sounds great." I respond, following him to the kitchen. Picking up his cellphone, Josh instructs me to put out some chips and salsa. "Oh, don't forget queso. Celine is partial to cheese." I try not to think about the fact that Celine Dion was going to be in my presence, soon. The chips and dips are placed on the coffee table, along with crackers and hummus. A bottle of wine brings the setting together. As I'm getting a drink of water, someone knocks on the door. Upon hearing Andrea Bocelli exclaim,"We're here!", I almost choke on my beverage. Josh comes running out of, what I can only assume is the bathroom, and opens the door. "Hey guys, glad you could make it." Sarah Brightman cries,"Anything for our favorite baritone." A deep voice from the back, yells,"Hey!" Josh laughs. "Bernd! Everyone, come in." Once I have the eyes of each opera singer, Josh introduces me. "David Foster found Carolyn at Juilliard, where she attends college." Eyebrows are raised. "We met several weeks ago, and I've had the good fortune to hear her sing opera. She is also a baritone. Carolyn can go lower than any female tenor I have ever met." Blushing, I confirm their thoughts, with a beaming Groban next to me. Josh guides everyone to couches and chairs, so we can start. "Tonight is primarily for all of you to get to know my young charge, and have the chance to work with her. I assume everyone will return to their busy lives, some night not be able to help Carolyn anymore, after tonight. So, without further ado, let the music begin!" Celine is eager to see what I have in store, jumping up to duet The Prayer, a song I adore. From then on, everyone is excited about my talent. I sing 'Nessun Dorma' with Bernd Weikl, 'Alejate' with Bocelli, and Sarah Brightman challenges me to 'All I Ask of You', something I find hilarious. As the night draws nearer, Josh moves onto classic rock songs, beginning with 'November Rain', but most of the people there have fallen asleep. I glance at the song list, and demand to duet 'The Prayer' with Josh, because I've always wanted to. I had a crush on him since I was fourteen, what can I say? He agrees, and presses play. Taking Celine's part, he belts, "I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go." Josh sounds so beautiful. After a few of my Italian lines, I can see, out of the corner of my eye, him staring at me while he sings. I turn to Josh, and try to read his face. His eyes show the most emotion, though I can't quite tell what it is. They're searching my face, but what do they say? Fear, perhaps worry? Sadness? That's when I realize, that behind his eyes, is love. Josh is singing to me, with love. I can tell he knows I figured it out, so I gaze into his deep, brown eyes, letting every feeling I had for him during the last seven years come pouring out. We step closer to each other, just as the song ends. Still staring at him, I start to help wake our guests. Quickly, Josh gets everyone up, and out. "Bye, see you some other time." He shuts the door, locks it, then comes over to me. Our eyes lock once more, but this time, something happens. I begin to gather my things, so I can go home. Feeling a hand on my arm, I glance up. In the tone that only romance movies use, Josh says, "Wait. I don't have some sappy line prepared, or a quote-worthy speech. All I know, is that when you looked back into my eyes during the song, you felt it, too. There was something. I don't know if it was love, but I want to find out." As he says this, I move nearer and nearer to him. As he finishes, I gaze up at him. No sooner had the last word come out of his mouth, than my hands are grasping the back of his neck, pulling down, and pressing our lips together. As Josh's bottom lip slides between mine, I maneuver my hands up a bit, so that my fingers are near his ears, playing with his curly locks. I feel Josh lower his hands a little, letting them rest on my waist, as he pulls me closer. The kiss is becoming more passionate with each moment, me pulling his head down, against mine, while he is hugging me, drawing our bodies together. I step into the space between his feet, hoping that Josh gets the memo. He backs up, slowly, keeping me close. When we get to the couch, he sits, and grasps the backs of my knees, gently setting me on his lap. I know that I'm falling in love with Josh, as I kiss him, I realize, I've never loved anyone this much. I finger his hair, and let my upper lip move, sensually, but then I break away. Not subtly, just steadily, we weren't kissing anymore. I back up a little, looking at him. I wanted Josh. I did. Just not now. "Is something wrong?" He questions, rubbing my arms. He is so sweet. "No. I think we need to take it a little slower. I like you, but it doesn't feel right, yet." Josh seems only a tad disappointed, I think he is more thrilled that I said I liked him. Looking down at his chest, I realize that he's gotten more muscular over the years. I place my palms on Josh's chest, my hands roaming his torso, making their way to his shoulders, where they run down his arms. I slide onto the cushion next to him, grab his hand and lay my head on him. "Maybe we could watch a movie?" Josh's eyes light up, I can tell he's got some great ones. "Yeah, what do you want to watch? The Godfather? Star Wars? Psycho? Oh! I know!" He rummages through a shelf of films, finally pulling out 'Beetlejuice'. I grin. "Good movie." Popping it in, he says, "When I was a teenager, I kind of had a crush on Geena Davis." I laugh, and exclaim, "Really? After seeing it, I had a crush on Alec Baldwin for weeks!" Josh chuckles, and settles down beside me. As the movie plays, out of the corner of my eye, I can tell he's gazing at me the entire time.
