The audience clapped and cheered, all except Jerold, who only had vengeful eyes for Brock, who completely ignored the jerk as he clapped and winked at Brianna—message received.
Good thing her song was over because her knees were threatening to give out.
Anthony stood as she exited the stage and patted her on the shoulder as she sat down. “Nice lick there at the end, and I liked the arrangement. Try not to rush the song though.”
“Nerves,” she said. Once she sat down, she glanced behind her, but Brock was gone.
“No need to be nervous,” Anthony said. “You did a great job.”
That made her beam. She sat through the rest of the performances on a cloud.
* * *
Once everyone had played and received individual critiques, the workshop leader announced a half-hour break with instructions to meet outside the pavilion in groups according to instrument or voice, and then they’d break off from there. The volunteer coffee kiosk was up and running so Brianna decided she would grab a quick cup and see if she could spot Brock anywhere.
Which she did—just a few yards from the kiosk, talking to Rachael and the hot guy with her. She caught Brock’s eye and he motioned her over.
Deep breaths, Brianna. Rachael’s just a friend you haven’t met yet, right?
Yeah, sure. Keep telling yourself that.
But today was a day for firsts, and how was she ever going to do what she loved if she let her fears hold her back? Brianna straightened to her full height, smiled, and walked toward the group, coffee in one hand, fiddle case in the other. Rachael looked away from the hot guy and smiledright at her.
I can do this. I can do this.
She barely noticed the man coming toward her untilbam. He bumped her shoulder as he walked past, making her spill her coffee. She stopped and looked down at the hot black liquid now staining the front of her favorite cotton dress—her lucky red dress, actually.
Brianna turned. “Hey!” she yelled at his retreating back.
Jerold looked over his shoulder without breaking his stride. “Watch it! You’d think by now you’d learn how to carry a cup of coffee without fumbling,” he said.
A blur flew past her and then Brock had Jerold by the arm. “I think you owe the lady an apology,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Hey!” Jerold tried to shake Brock off his skinny arm and failed miserably. “Why you gotta harass me, asshole?”
“Because you’re a dick, plain and simple. You did everything you could to distract Brianna this morning and now you assaulted her—”
“The fuck I did!” He pointed at Brianna with his other hand. “She’s a clumsy bitch who almost spilled coffee on me! She could have hurt my hand.”
Brianna had been holding the hot cloth of her dress away from her body. She was pretty sure she had a nice pink burn on her abdomen by the way it stung. “Excuse me, but I’m the one who got burned here.”
Uh-oh. Wrong thing to say. Brock’s eyes blazed and he looked like he was about to tear Jerold's arm right out of its socket.
The other man with Rachael practically materialized at Brock’s side. “Whoa, Badger. That’s not gonna help anything.”
Brock reluctantly dropped Jerold’s arm.
“Thankyou,” Jerold said to Hot Guy. “You got a leash for this animal?”
Hot Guy just smiled. “We’ll need to check your ID, see if you legit belong here. Otherwise, we’ll be happy to escort your ass out.”
Jerold’s mouth dropped open. “I’m one of theartists.” He turned and pointed at Brianna. “If anyone should be escorted out, it should be the white trash standing right there,” he said, just as Brianna sensed someone standing next to her. She turned to see Rachael Collins. Of course; the timing couldn’t be better.
Rachael placed one hand on Brianna’s shoulder and offered her a wad of paper towels with the other. “Are you okay? Did you burn yourself?”
“Thank you.” Brianna tried to keep the tremble out of her voice and only mostly succeeded. She pressed the wad of paper towels against the wettest part of her dress. “I think I’m okay.”
Brock’s eyes shot daggers at Jerold. “Put your finger down now before I bre—”
