Lucas whistled and stood, affording her a one-man standing ovation. Henri joined in.
A deeper pink crept into Tessa’s cheeks. “You liked it?”
“Liked it? I loved it!” Lucas approached the drum kit. “You look familiar. Did you ever play with Hocus?”
Tessa shook her head. “I haven’t played with a band since college.”
“What was their name? I might know them.” Lucas stepped into full manager mode. Any second now he’d suggest signing her. Too bad Henri spotted her first.
“The Mighty Titans.”
Lucas did a double take. “What?”
“The Mighty Titans. I played in the marching band. We ruled halftime.”
“You mean, you haven’t played drums professionally?”
“Well, no. Why?”
“I swear I’ve met you somewhere before.” Lucas cocked his head to the side, as though viewing her from another angle might jar his memory.
“You might have.” Henri stepped forward to wrap his arm around Tessa’s shoulders. “We met in rehab.”
* * *
“Did youget the recording I sent? What did you think?” Henri lay across his bed, phone to his ear. He hadn’t hidden in his room to take a phone call since high school. Something about Seb, though, reminded him of his first forays into dating. Assuming his old “teenager on the phone” stance seemed right, somehow.
“Yes, I did. Were those Tibetan bowls there at the beginning?”
“Yes.” Henri imagined Seb, sitting in the big house alone. If they both weren’t busy, Henri could catch a plane and be there in a few hours. And do what? He was a student, asking a teacher’s opinion. Sebastian wasn’t his boyfriend.
Then why did butterflies dance in Henri’s stomach? Why did he hang so much hope on Seb’s approval of Tessa? Maybe because of the man’s music sense. If he didn’t feel Tessa was a good choice, Henri should listen. He’d deliberately sent sound only, not wanting to influence Sebastian unduly. He’d love Tessa, her passion, her fire. If he noticed, sight unseen, that was the effect Henri wanted.
“And the drums later in the recording. Same person?” Seb’s voice, rich as a cup of hot cocoa, slid along Henri’s spine. Was he lying across his bed too? Or was he sitting at the piano, gazing through the window at the woods? Did his heart ache as much as Henri’s?
“Yeah. The woman can play anything. Put a couple of books in front of her, hand her two pencils, and she’ll make music.” Henri held his breath, waiting for Sebastian’s approval.
“You trust her?”
Did he? “Yes, I do.”
“Keep her.”
One down, three to go. “I can take a day off if you’re gonna be nearby. I can come up, or you can come here. Hang out, maybe. I’ve got some new songs I’d like you to hear.” Why did Henri feel the need to show off the new songs? An opera singer’s opinion shouldn’t matter so much.
“I’m afraid I can’t. I’ve got a full schedule.” Seb answered a bit faster than seemed natural. Maybe, since he’d cashed the check, he had no further use for a struggling rocker. Henri’s heart dropped to his stomach. Of course Sebastian didn’t want any more to do with him. He’d been a paid teacher, no more. The sex had been a bonus.
“I’m sorry I’m wasting your time if you’re busy.” Henri started to hang up.
Seb stopped him. “I do want to see you. I’m just… busy. I have two days off next week, but my patron is hosting a party and I have to be there. He wants to show off his pet tenor.” A touch of resentment flavored the words.
Henri’s hackles rose. “Hey, whenever you have time, text me. If there’s any way possible, I’d like to touch base with you.” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “I miss you. You’re the only one I can talk to who doesn’t think I’m crazy.”
Sebastian restored the mood with a snicker. “I don’tthinkyou’re crazy. Iknowyou are.”
“That’s what I like about you. I’m watched all the time, and anything I say or do gets used against me. With you I can be as crazy as I want to be, and the worst you’ll do is raise the eyebrow of death at me. You also don’t just tell me what I want to hear, or whatever will get your way.”You save me from myself.
A belly laugh reverberated over the phone. “If only you’d listen.” Seb’s laugh ended abruptly. “Ihavetogonowbye!” Silence.
What the fuck?
