The arousal had worn off and I was left with a wired restlessness. I rolled my head side to side and stretched my arms over my head.
He cleared his throat. “I’m just going to go take a quick shower.”
“Okay.” I nodded with an expectant look.
He shifted before scratching at his beard. He subtly tilted his head toward the pillow in his lap.
“Oh. Right. Well, I’ll just go get that coffee going.”
A smile crept on my face as I made my way down the hall.
Chapter 22
Practice is not an option.
KIM
Weeks passed. Spring melted into summer.
Devlin and I worked every available weekend. My courage increased. I spoke up more and more. He always listened to my suggestions. Our relationship matured. My attraction to him was ever present, yes, but I was beginning to long for more. My fingers itched to check in with him and ask about his day. We texted almost daily now. At first, it was about music or our schedule, but now we were just talking. Sharing stupid memes about platypuses and music jokes. I learned more about life with an older brother and a set of wonderfully typical parents. He knew my schedule and accommodated it. He snuck me snacks when my blood sugar dropped. I would give him coffee and a solid hour to fully wake.
We still didn’t talk about the mask. We never referenced a time after theSmokey Mountain Suitewould be complete.
I wanted so much more.
Now, June was passing in a blur. As I walked into the SOOK rehearsal on what I thought was just another Monday, I quickly realized something was up. Nobody was set up, and in fact, most of the musicians stood around whispering. Typically, strings would be plucked and tuned, horns would be tested, and drums thrummed.
I spotted Erin and made my way over. “What’s going on?” I asked.
Erin widened her eyes but kept her voice neutral. “We’re having guests.”
“Oh, no.” It was supposed to be a rehearsal. Nothing else was on the calendar. I purposely wore baggy boyfriend style jeans and a worn Death Cab for Cutie tee, hoping to avoid notice, per my usual plan.
I had been attracted to men before. It was easy to justify away pure physical attraction. But my feelings for Devlin were growing into something away from cotton candy closer to meat and potatoes.
“Where’s Devlin?” I asked Erin.
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Devlin, huh?”
“Maestro. Shut up.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
I glared. “Your tone said plenty.”
“How are those practices going? Anything I should know—”
“Attention.” Devlin chose that moment to walk in the room. Saved by the baller.
“Remind me to circle back to that,” Erin whispered before running back to her chair.
“I will not,” I responded under my breath.
I sat down and stared pointedly at back the of Barry’s head, focusing on how his ears protruded much like Mr. Potato Head’s. I continued to focus on my breathing even as Devlin brushed past me, squeezing through the rows of chairs so close that the back of his hand brushed against my arm. His scent filled my nose. His scent that night weeks ago still haunted me, thick with arousal … Chills prickled up my arm.
Ah, nuts, I had it bad.
“We aren’t having the usual practice today,” he said in a normal voice. The room was so quiet, I’m sure the percussion section heard just fine.
