CHAPTER SIXTEEN
GREG
Cody ran to Nico and threw his arms around his waist. “Daddy! Mr. Greg is teaching me how to play the birthday song!”
Nico grinned as he picked up his son. “That’s great, buddy. Did you say thank you?”
Cody turned his head to look at me. “Thank you, Mr. Greg.”
“You’re very welcome, Cody.”
Nico tightened one arm around Cody while he held out his free hand to me. “Thanks, Greg. I really appreciate you teaching him.”
I shook his hand. “It’s my pleasure.”
“Daddy, can we get ice cream?” Cody asked.
Nico chuckled. “Sure thing, buddy.”
“Yay! Ice cream!”
I grinned as I watched the pair walk out of the classroom. I went back to the piano to look at the music I had prepared for the group class that would be arriving at four.
I was playing through one of the pieces when I heard someone knock on the doorframe. I looked up to find Jeremy standing in the doorway. “Hey, Jeremy. What’s up?”
He walked into the classroom and leaned on the piano. “I have been instructed by my brother-in-law to make sure you don’t slip out of the building after your last class.”
I huffed a laugh. “Fair. I have been known to disappear from time to time. I promise I won’t ghost you.”
He nodded. “Good. I really don’t want Liam to be upset with me. He’s looking forward to having dinner with you.” He rose and headed out of the room. When he got to the doorway, he turned around. “I almost forgot. What kind of wine do you like? Red, white, or rose?”
My eyes widened slightly in surprise. “Oh. You don’t have to go to any trouble for me,” I replied.
Jeremy shook his head. “It’s no trouble at all. Just tell me what you like, and Sean will grab a bottle from the hotel.”
I had forgotten that Jeremy’s husband, Sean O’Neil, owned the Moonlight Inn hotel. Getting a bottle of wine would be no problem at all for him. “Red is good. Thank you very much.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll be back up at seven.”
“See you then.” I went back to my piano, trying to quell the anxiety that arose at the thought of being in a group of people I didn’t know well. I shook my head at the thought. I knew Jeremy. I’d been working with him for more than a year. And I’d gone to high school with Sean. We’d taken quite a few theater and music classes together. I didn’t know Liam and Marco as well, but they weren’t strangers.
I sighed. My stupid social anxiety popped up at the weirdest times. I had no trouble teaching a class of a dozen students or playing in a crowded bar, but having dinner with four very nice people sent my head spinning.
I growled in frustration. “All right, brain. Let it go.” I pulled up the music for a later class on my tablet and began to play. As always, playing soothed and grounded me. My anxiety eased, and I was ready to be present for my students.
I barely noticed the time passing because I had so much fun teaching my classes. I was so impressed with twelve-year-old Zari that I gave her some extra music to practice at her school since she didn’t have a piano or keyboard at home. I was saying goodbye to her when Jeremy came back into the classroom.
Zari smiled broadly at him. “Mr. Greg said I did so well learningClare de Lunethat he gave me this one to do next.”
Jeremy took the pages from her and nodded in approval. “Very nice.Für Eliseis a good piece for you.”
“Thanks, Mr. Jeremy. See you next week.” She ran out of the classroom with a broad smile on her face.
“Good work,” Jeremy said. “She’s excited about learning. That means you’re doing a good job.”
I felt my cheeks heat. “Thanks.”
“Ready for dinner?” he asked. “Sean is making chicken marsala and roasted potatoes.”
