But he never said a word. He honored my boundaries. It was only right that I honored his, no matter how much I wanted to cross them.
I sighed softly and finished off the last of my coffee. I had work on a website to finish, and I wanted to practice more of the musical score. I asked the server for my check, paid my bill, and left them a healthy tip.
As I approached the door, another man rose from his seat too fast and too close for me to avoid running into him. I grabbed his arm to steady him. “Sorry about that. Are you okay?”
The man nodded. “I’m fine.”
I let go and continued on my way. As I rounded the corner to head to my apartment, I could have sworn I heard someone say,“Break a leg tonight.” But when I turned back to look, no one was there. I shook my head and kept walking.
I spent the rest of the morning and into the late afternoon switching between working on the website and practicing the score. In the middle of it all, I got an email from a new client requesting graphics for a spring festival they were hosting in late April. I emailed them back asking about the scope of the project since it was already near the end of March. My schedule was getting pretty full, and I didn’t want to overcommit myself.
Throughout the day, despite my best efforts, my thoughts kept returning to Tony. He hadn’t texted me today. Not that I expected him to. At all. But I had to admit I liked hearing from him. He was probably celebrating the arrest of the guy who had killed Cody’s mother. I certainly wasn’t part of that. I was only an occasional participant in that group of friends. He probably wouldn’t show up at City Lights tonight either. He’d be spending time with his brothers and all their friends.
I rolled my eyes at myself. Now I was just being a whiny bitch. I’d been invited to their gatherings and celebrations plenty of times. But I often made excuses for why I couldn’t join them. It was no one’s fault but my own if I felt left out. I shook off my self-pity and checked the time. Almost five-thirty. I had to be at City Lights at nine, so I still had enough time to get a decent nap and some dinner before I headed downtown.
Of course my asshole brain didn’t give me a break from Tony. It decided I needed to dream about him. I woke up grumpy and horny, a situation that was only half alleviated after jerking off in the shower. Luckily, I managed to shake my bad mood before I got to the bar.
There was a fairly good crowd already, and I saw some familiar faces as I walked through the bar to the back room to hang up my jacket. When I opened the door, I noticed a vase of lilacs on the small table. They were a vibrant magenta insteadof the usual pale purple. I inhaled deeply, taking in the lovely fragrance.
The early evening bartender, Jack, came in to grab his coat and go home. “Where did the flowers come from?” I asked.
He shrugged. “No idea. Someone put them on the piano this afternoon. There wasn’t a card or note. I moved them back here because we’re not allowed to have stuff like that on the piano.” He eyed me. “Maybe they’re from someone you know?”
I shook my head. “Not likely, unless it’s a secret admirer.”
He shrugged. “You never know. Hopefully, it’s not some creep.”
“It seems harmless enough,” I replied.
“You’re probably right,” Jack said as he put on his coat. “Have a good night.” He turned to leave, but then turned back. “Hey, I heard you really impressed people last week.”
I smiled. “I suppose I did. It got me an audition and a substitute spot for David Miles’s show.”
He clapped me on the shoulder. “That’s great. Congratulations. See you next week.”
I hung up my jacket, took my tablet out of my bag, and headed out to the piano. I turned on my tablet and set it on the music rack. I was eternally grateful for the modern technology that allowed me to fit an entire library of music on one device. I ran my fingers over the keys, as was my habit, making sure the instrument was in tune. Not that it was really a question. The management of City Lights was meticulous about keeping all its instruments in top shape.
Steve, the late-night manager, came over to me, grinning broadly. “I hear you got a contract to sub for David Miles’s show. Congratulations.”
I shook my head and smiled. “Thanks. Word travels fast around here.”
“That it does,” he replied. “I hope we get to keep you a little longer though.”
“I’ll be here for a while, I’m sure.” I checked my smartwatch. “Oops. Time to start.” Steve headed toward the bar, and I opened my set with a song from the musicalChicago.
The bar was more crowded than it had been the week before. There were so many people clustered around the piano that I couldn’t see the bar. Every once in a while, a server would bring me a glass of water or a soda. Some of the customers offered to buy me drinks, but I politely refused. I wasn’t much of a drinker, especially when I was working.
By the time my first break rolled around, I was more than ready. I finished playing “Do You Hear the People Sing?” fromLes Misérableswith a flourish and bow. Cheers and applause rang through the bar, and then I heard a deep male voice shout, “Hooyah!”
“No way,” I murmured. I made my way through the crowd, and my heart leaped. There was Tony, Michael, Marco, and Liam, along with a tall blonde woman and a slender dark-haired man I didn’t know, sitting at a large table. Tony had brought his team to watch me play. A feeling I couldn’t name bloomed inside me. How did this man always know what I needed?
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
TONY
Judging by Greg’s bemused but happy smile, I’d made the right call in bringing some of my team to come see him play. I pushed out a chair we’d saved for him. “Have a seat. You look like you need a break.”
He smiled shyly as he took his seat. “Thanks.”
