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At the end of the song, the entire room erupted in applause, but I had forgotten they were even there. Lena felt like the only person in the room. She gave me one last half-hearted smile, and then pushed herself to a standing position, returning to the piano bench.
Head still spinning, I turned my attention to the kids, not missing the strange look on my PR team’s faces. “Well, I think your teacher, Miss Harris, has a very lovely voice.”
“Yes,” the little girl swooned. “I love it.”
Me too.
I pushed the thought away, and the rest of the class passed in a daze. I had no idea what the hell was happening to me, but it was hard work to keep from glancing over to Lena every time she laughed or added to the lesson about the difference between bass and treble.
And before I knew it, the classroom was empty.
“Thank you so much for coming.” Melissa, the director of the school, shook my hand—holding on way too long. “I just can’t tell you enough how much it means to us. It’ll help us grow our summer program for sure.”
Lena nodded, standing back a few feet. However, she stayed quiet, her eyes never fully meeting mine. Something about us singing together must’ve struck a nerve, and based on the way I was feeling in the moment, I was beginning to think that if I could get her alone…
I’d make good on all those fantasies, just to hear that heart-stopping sultry voice.
“I was thinking…” Genna appeared, placing her hand on my shoulder. “This was such a good experience and take, that I think the three of you should go to dinner tomorrow night. It’d seal the deal when we release this to the public.”
“I…” My voice trailed off as I began to accept the idea. However, something like warning bells rang in my head. No. This is the way to getting hurt. She doesn’t even like me. “Instead of that, why don’t we just invite them—and the entire class—to an exclusive band practice and concert? We could maybe let some of the kids play with us. I noticed some have real talent,” I added, focusing on the kids. After all, that’s what the whole thing was about, right? Not the fact that the musical chemistry Lena and I had together had my mind running.
“I love that idea,” Genna remarked, her expression filling with surprise. “I’m impressed with you, Jackson. I was a little worried about this whole thing, but as it turns out, you had a great idea.”
“And we would love to have you back any time,” Melissa said eagerly, her hand brushing my arm again. The woman had to be a solid ten to fifteen years older than me, but that never seemed to slow them down.
And for some reason, instead of being entertaining, I found it beyond annoying.
I pulled my arm away but tried to do so in a nonchalant fashion. “Well then, let’s set it up for Friday.”
“Perfect, and are parents invited?” Melissa pulled out her phone, typing away.
I shrugged. “Sure.”
“Well, perfect, I’ll send you the location details,” Genna said, before looking to Lena. “You have quite a voice. I have to say, that wasn’t what I was expecting.”
Lena blushed and it made my heart do that weird stutter again. “Thank you.” Her voice was timid. “I don’t really sing much anymore.”
“She gets total stage fright. It’s crazy.” Melissa inserted herself into the conversation again. “If she could’ve overcome that, I have no doubt she would have been famous.”
Ouch.
Lena just shrugged. “Maybe so. Anyway, I better get home. I have a morning class I need to get back for.”
And just like that, she left.
My eyes followed her out of the room, until she was no longer in my sight. If I was fifteen again, I would say that my dislike for the woman had turned into a crush…but after everything, the feeling only made me dislike her that much more.
Because she was the kind of woman who could destroy me.
“I think I’m going to head out,” I said, clearing my throat after a few minutes of not listening to Genna and Melissa’s conversation. Everyone nodded and, feeling conflicted in so many ways, I left the room without another word.
I just need to get this whole thing out of my mind.
Digging my phone out, I hit the call button beside Tyson’s name. I held it to my ear as I slipped through the doors to my car, parked in the lot. Thank God I drove myself here.
“Hey, how’d tonight go?” Tyson answered, his voice brighter than usual.
“Uh…it went fine, I think,” I muttered. “I was just wanting to know what you were up to tonight. I was thinking maybe we could hit a couple dive bars or something. I could use a drink.”
