“Nice to meet you,” Danny said, smiling warmly.
“I can’t breathe,” Jere finally said and tugged at his collar.
“You need to lay off the protein powder. If you get any bigger we won’t be able to clothe you,” Danny said, doing a very appreciative once over on him.
“I fit just fine in joggers and a tank,” he countered. “I just don’t understand why we’re required to be uncomfortable when the event insists this will be an ‘enjoyable and relaxing evening’.”
Everyone chuckled and I wished it were easier for me to interact with people. We took our seats and Gabriel laid his hand on my thigh, his possessiveness and comfort soothing me. While everyone talked easily, I traced the hard edges and patterns on the architecture to calm my nerves. The auditorium filled up quickly and I was passed a folded paper detailing tonight’s program. I spotted Matteo’s name near the end, designating him as the pianist for Rachmaninov’s piano concerto no. 2 in C minor.
The event got started with a man stepping forward to thank everyone for their patronage and introduce some of the up-and-coming musicians featured. The lights turned on the stage and a full orchestra began playing, the uplifting and exuberant music penetrating my body. I was surprised music could have such physicality. Gabriel took my hand with a smile. He’d promised to show me wonders, hadn’t he? Wewatched violinists and flutists play solos, while a small group of drummers told a story only through their simple instruments.
As lovely and enchanting as the whole production was, my attention was constantly drawn to Gabriel. A soft smile was permanently arched across his face as the lights caught his eyes. My heart swelled with all sorts of happy things as I thought about our life together. He was everything I needed him to be kind, patient, affectionate, understanding, beautiful in every way and naughty to the core. I prayed I could be that for him too.
The event climaxed as the man introduced Matteo, the orchestra's highlighted musician. He bowed, took a seat at his piano and started playing. He led the collection of other musicians in a beautiful dance of sound and smooth movements that made me feel a deeper appreciation for the world.
“That’s my brat,” Sean whispered next to me. There were tears in his eyes and he was looking at Matteo the same way Gabriel looked at me.
I slid my hand into Gabriel’s, passing him a smile as we watched Matteo command the room. When the event ended, we were allowed to meet Matteo backstage.
“I’m so proud of you, amirite?” Sean said as he pulled him close.
“Yeah, that was beautiful,” Danny said and hugged him. “I’ve been passing your name around so don’t be shocked if you get some requests to play more weddings.”
Gabriel nudged me. “He played for their wedding. It was amazing.”
“You all are making me feel self-conscious. I’m not used to all the compliments and attention,” Matteo said, ruffling his mop of curls. “But I’d love to play more weddings.”
“Are you two getting married too?” I blurted and instantly regretted it as several sets of eyes turned on me. It was probablythe wrong thing to say and the wrong time, but I was a novice with social interactions.
Sean chuckled and glanced at his boyfriend. “Possibly. Don’t know. Maybe in the future…?”
“Yeah, we haven’t talked about marriage much, but I’m not opposed to spending the rest of my life with this ogre.”
“Ogre?” He huffed, narrowing his eyes on the man.
I looked at Gabriel with wide eyes, terrified I’d started a fight. He was smiling and before I knew it, everyone was joking and laughing. I accepted it would take some time for me to develop social interaction skills. We gathered in a cafe and had a light dinner as Matteo talked about his hope of getting into Curtis. Gabriel gave my thigh a reassuring squeeze every time I said something or asked a question.
“I just had the most amazing idea,” Danny cut in with a gasp. “We should all do a triple date one day.”
There was a sudden uproar of approval and ideas of where to go. By the time everyone parted ways, I was flying high, my confidence restored.
As Gabriel and I waited for our Uber, I said, “Do you think we can try the meeting the parents thing again?”
His brows reached for the sky. “If you think you’re ready, then yeah. My mom is going to be ecstatic, but I’ll make sure she behaves. My older brother mentioned coming home in March, and I’d love for him to meet you.”
“I want to. I’ll be nervous again, but I trust you to help me,” I said.
He kissed me sweetly. “You know I will, baby boy.”
Biting my lip, I pushed my arms into his jacket, seeking his warmth. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about. I was nervous about tonight, but I was able to relax after some time. I had an idea… Maybe we can do a meet the families type ofdinner. Maria and the kids are my family and I’d love to have everyone together. Does that sound silly?”
“Not at all. I think it’s a great idea. My mom loves hosting get-togethers. I’ll run it by her soon.”
Everything fell into place, and I couldn’t imagine how things could be even more perfect.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
GABRIEL
