Counter Melody Novels & Stories

"I mean, I think perhaps you just bring out certain qualities." She tilted her head. "Case in point. Only a romantic would say that." He gave up. Let her think whatever she wanted as long as she was happy and he played a part in it. "I need a dance lesson." He reached around her and pulled her phone from her pocket. Behind her back, he swiped the screen and went through her downloads. Most of the songs he recognized. "What's this one? Sad Song by We The Kings." She went still against his chest. "Um, it reminds me of you. It's a ballad, sort of."

"Now go home. Don't cause trouble for me here." At seven that evening, I reserved the window seat at the upscale restaurant where we had gone on our first date. I ordered a table full of dishes Victoria had once loved most. Soft violin music filled the restaurant. Outside the window, the city lights and traffic glittered through the night. I sat there quietly, watching the red countdown in midair that only I could see, watching it keep slipping away. [Death countdown: 41 hours, 30 minutes, 12 seconds.] Seconds and minutes passed.