“I’m a big boy, Michael. I’ll be fine. I’ll go to a show or something.”
He huffed a frustrated breath. “Fine. But you’re not going to sit around moping on a Saturday night. Tonight, I’m taking you to a piano bar that recently reopened in the Village. It’s a gay bar, so it should be fabulous.”
I glared at him. “I’m not going to try to hook up with some random in a bar.”
“I never said you should,” he retorted. “Just come out with me and enjoy an evening of music and drinks.”
“Fine,” I growled. “But you better feed me first. I hate bar food.”
“It’s a deal.”
CHAPTER FOUR
GREG
City Lights Bar and Cabaret was packed. Or at least the piano bar side was packed. I had no idea what was going on in the cabaret portion of the place. Getting hired to play in City Lights on Saturday nights meant they had a high opinion of my talent. I hoped I could live up to their expectations.
During my first set, people came up to introduce themselves as regulars. I recognized several people from the Broadway shows they’d been in, and my palms started to sweat. It turned out that playing for Jeremy’s master class had nothing on playing and singing in a piano bar in Greenwich Village on a Saturday night.
Once I got past my nerves, I settled into a groove of performing and interacting with the customers. Occasionally, someone would grab the nearby microphone and sing along with what I was playing. Other times, they would request a show tune, and the whole bar would start singing along. I could honestly say it was the most fun I’d had playing in a long time.
I was close to the end of my first set when I saw Tony D’Angelo and his brother Michael walk up to the bar and order drinks. While they were waiting, Tony was scanning the bar like he did wherever he was. When he spotted me, his eyes went wideand a broad grin spread across his handsome face. He spoke briefly to Michael, then headed my way.
He waited until I finished the song I was playing before coming over to me. “Hey, Greg. How are you doing? It’s been a minute.”
I rose and gave him a quick hug. “Hey, Tony. It’s been since Jeremy and Sean’s wedding, I think.”
He nodded. “Yeah, that was a busy day, for sure.”
Tony’s company had provided security for Jeremy and Sean’s wedding. Since Jeremy was also friendly with Tony’s family, the entire D’Angelo clan had joined in the festivities. I’d actually met Tony the year before—the same night I met Jeremy for the first time. He’d come to the bar to keep an eye on Jeremy because of a stalkerish ex-boyfriend.
“You’re looking good,” Tony said. “I didn’t know you worked in the City.”
I nodded. “I live here now.”
“No shit. When did that happen?”
“Two months ago. I moved here in January,” I replied. “I live up on 125th Street.”
He jerked his thumb in the general direction of north. “I’m on 30th.”
A patron tapped my shoulder to get my attention. I looked at my smartwatch and said to Tony, “I have another ten minutes in this set. Maybe we can have a drink together when I’m on my break.”
He smiled and squeezed my shoulder. “Sounds good. Michael and I will be over by the bar.”
I watched him walk away, noting, as I had done every other time, what a fine ass the man had. Over the time I’d known Tony, I hadn’t had many opportunities to actually talk to him because he was usually working. When I’d first seen him at Reilly’s, Icould have sworn I’d met him before, but for the life of me, I couldn’t remember where.
I had to admit, the man was delicious. Tall and broad-shouldered with just the right amount of stubble on his square jaw. The flecks of gray at his temples only added to his appeal. The fine lines around his eyes and mouth spoke of someone who smiled and laughed frequently. He struck me as a solid, steady man. The kind of man who would make someone a good husband. Not that I was looking for that. I’d had a run at a serious long-term relationship, and it had almost killed me.
Now I was strictly an apps man. I didn’t think Tony was that kind of guy. He seemed like a man who would want a home and a family. That wasn’t me. Not anymore.
The ten minutes flew by and ended with a rousing chorus of “You’ll Be Back” fromHamilton.After the cheers and applause died down, I bowed out and took my break. I found Tony and Michael at a small table on the other side of the bar.
Tony grinned when he saw me approach and indicated the empty third chair. “Have a seat. How long you got?”
“Half an hour,” I replied.
He slid a glass of ice water my way. “I figured you’d need some after all that singing.”
