I shake my head. “I’ll just read.”
“For real this time,” she says, pointing a finger at me. “No listening.”
She turns back to the piano and sets her fingers on the keys before I can respond.
Which is a good thing, because there’s no way I’d agree to not listen. But I’m smarter about it this time. I keep myhead down, only glancing up occasionally to marvel at this incredible, strong, resilient woman as her fingers dance along the keys.
Two hours later, we leave the theater and walk back to Agatha’s house. Lily is bouncing with excitement, a new wave of life imbued in her spirit.
“Can we come back again?” she asks, literally hopping around me as I walk.
“Yes,” I say with a chuckle. “Rufus said we can use the theater any time after hours.”
She squeals and claps her hands. “This is the best thing that’s happened in the last year and a half. No, the last five years.” She puts her delicate hands on my bicep, stopping us both in place. “Seriously, Ryder. Thank you.”
Her blue eyes are full of passion and sincerity. She blinks up at me, and if she asked me to go slay a dragon for her right now, I’d do it. I’d give anything to make her smile, to help her feel alive… To make her feel safe.
“You’re welcome,” I finally say. My voice comes out hoarser than I meant.
She smiles up at me, then gives a light shiver.
“Are you cold?” I ask. “Your dress is pretty thin.”
“I’ll be fine.” But the tremble in her fingers says otherwise.
I shrug my leather jacket off my arms. “Here.” I wrap the jacket around her, realizing a moment too late how close our bodies are. She looks up at me, her eyes filled with gratitude. Her nose and cheeks are turning red, and the smile on her lips is so, so tempting.
I linger too long, but then remember my place. Peter. Her brothers and her father.
Turning back to Lily, I pat her shoulders as un-romanticallyas I can—more like I would with Peter—and gesture at the road. “Come on. Let’s get you home.”
I start walking, and a moment later I hear her feet pattering behind, catching up until she’s next to me again. “How did you know about the theater?”
“I was there this afternoon with Gwen. The kids were rehearsing for the school play.” I glance over at her and grin. “I’m actually going to help choreograph their fight scene.”
Her genuine smile makes my chest tight. “That’s amazing! I’m so happy for you!”
“Thanks.”
We fall into silence as we walk more. “Do you want to come eat cookies?” Lily asks.
“If you’re not too tired,” I reply. “I’ll never turn down your baking.”
“I’m so wired from playing. But you can handle staying up longer?”
I wave her off. “Don’t worry about that. I’ve had plenty of late nights with your brother.”
Her eyes widen, and she swallows hard. “Yeah, I guess he parties pretty hard these days, huh?”
Crap.
Be nonchalant.“Uh, I guess.”
“And you…you like that, too?”
“Like what?”
“Partying? Drinking?” She pauses. “Girls?”
