His voice was low, almost reverential. “Eve, this place is beautiful. Duvier must pay you better than I thought.”
“They pay me plenty well, Jack, but this is not from Duvier.”
“No? What then?”
“It was…” I paused, “a severance package.”
“Very generous severance.”
“Yes, it was,” I answered in clipped tones. “The kitchen is this way.” I started down the hall and realized Jack was not behind me. He was standing in the doorway to the living room, staring like a lovestruck teen at the grand piano.
“Do you play?” He almost whispered the question.
“Oh, no, I wish I did, but no.”
“So why do you have a Steinway?”
“The couple that I bought the apartment from were moving into a care facility. They didn’t want to be bothered with selling the contents of the apartment, so I bought it furnished. The piano came with the apartment. Even though I don’t play, I think it’s too beautiful to get rid of. I’ve always had a daydream that someday I’d meet someone who could teach me.”
“I suppose I could be persuaded, Eve, if you went about it the right way,” he said with a smirk.
“Oh, no, Jack, I wasn’t hinting that you should…I meant I was daydreaming of bumping into some old, cranky Russian woman at the grocery store who would teach me.”
“While I can see the appeal of an old, cranky Russian woman, I think I might be a better fit as a teacher for you, Eve.”
I pursed my lips and turned back toward the kitchen. This time he followed me. He pulled container after container out of the bags and I pulled out plates and cutlery “I don’t have any beer, but I can do sparkling water or wine.”
“That’s OK. I brought beerandwine. Which would you prefer?”
“White wine, please.” He poured our beverages and I opened containers.
“I have to warn you,” I said sternly. “Phad Thai is my absolute favorite dish. It will not go well for you if you try to hog it.”
“Duly noted,” he said, his lips curving up into a smile.
We piled our plates high and took them and our wine to the table to eat. It hit me how oddly domestic this scene was. Just Jack and me, eating dinner in my kitchen, like that was a normal thing. It just felt…right.
“How is work going?” he asked, after he chewed and swallowed his first mouthful.
I held up a finger to indicate my mouth was full. Phad Thai must not be rushed. I savored the flavors and textures, crunched a peanut, then took a sip of the wine which was crisp and fruity. I sighed happily. “Work is going well. There is always so much to do. It seems we barely wrap up one project and then we’re knee deep in the next one. How are rehearsals going?”
“Fine,” he said, giving a one-shoulder shrug. “I’m trying to fit a new song in and some of the guys aren’t happy about that.”
“They don’t like the song?”
“Oh, they love the song, they’re just pissed that I didn’t consult with them before adding it to the set list for the concert.”
“Let me guess, Animal threw his sticks at you?”
Jack threw back his head and laughed. “Yup, spot on. You seem to have a good grasp of the band dynamics.”
“Do you feel like you’ll be ready to go on Saturday?”
“Oh, yeah, totally. Most of this stuff we could do in our sleep. It’s just the new song is a bit tricky. But I think it’ll be worth it.”
I took more bites of my food and another sip of wine. “I’m really looking forward to it.” I said, shyly. “I’ve never been to one of your concerts and I can’t wait to see you perform. Thank you for inviting me.”
His smile lit up the kitchen, like I’d given him a gift. “I love performing, but It will make it a thousand times better to have you there, Eve.”
