A voice distracts me from my thoughts—and it’s not Nova. Maggie gives me a quick glance before going back to typing. “You playing tonight?”
I nod. “The guys are in the studio and Mary asked me to fill in for them,” I manage to say.
She only nods, going no further.
It’s Will who speaks this time. “You should come hear him play tonight, Mag. You don’t have class tonight anyway.Whenever he’s there, the restaurant is full. Where did you learn to play like that? Do you only play guitar?” he asks curiously, moving his plate of chocolate chip cookies toward me.
I hesitate, and Nova draws a star on my thigh above the surface of my jeans before getting up and heading toward Steven, who has just called her name.
In our code language, the star meansI am here.
I sigh, then take a cookie from the plate and bite into it. It’s great. My best friend has hands of gold. I’ve missed his cakes and cookies.
I swallow, focusing on Will’s question. “Well... I learned to play guitar at the music club in midle school.”
“Do you only play guitar?” he asks again.
I shake my head. “I play both electric and acoustic guitar, piano, keyboard, recorder, ukulele, and bass.”
When I finish listing the instruments, I notice Will’s surprised look and Maggie’s arched eyebrow.
“What?” I ask.
Maggie shrugs and points to Nova and Steven, who are sharing a donut, before focusing on her essay again. “They told us you were a musical prodigy, but I didn’t think they were serious. When they talk about you they always sound so... Fuck, I don’t know.”
I frown. “Like what?”
“Excited.” Will takes over, showing me a genuine smile.
He runs a hand through his brown hair. “You’re really good at playing. I heard you left a music academy. What do you do now?”
I thank him with a nod. “Oh, my father got me a job teaching music in a kindergarten. It’s only until the end of June, and I’m always joined by the class educator, but it’s a nice place.”
My words catch Maggie’s attention—she closes her computer with a snap and crosses her arms, listening now.
Will chuckles. “Maggie teaches dance to elementary school children.”
I stare at my phone, waiting for a message, and when I look up, I notice Will’s pensive gaze. He scratches his chin as if studying me.
“I’ve got it!” he snaps, scaring Maggie, who slaps the back of his neck.
“What?” I ask.
“You’re Peter Parker! You’re him. Spitting image. Can’t you see the resemblance, Mag?”
She rolls her eyes and ignores him.
“Peter Parker?” I ask, confused. What does Peter Parker have to do with anything?
“It’s one of his many obsessions. Sooner or later you’ll understand.”
I only nod, and Will continues. “By the way, you’re looking for an apartment or just a place to stay? Because I have some contac—”
At that moment my phone vibrates with a message. It’s Derek Wilson. He says he’s outside the bakery and on his way in.
“I’m looking for a roommate, but I have an appointment with a guy right now. Do you mind if I—” I don’t finish because Steven takes a seat beside me, and Nova sits on his lap, placing a tray with four glasses of lemonade and a can of Cherry Coke on the table.
My best friend drapes an arm around her neck and begins twirling a lock of her hair. “You okay?” he asks, placing the can of Cherry Coke—my favorite soda—in front of me.
