“I might die.”
I cackled softly and slid my hand into his. “Be strong; you can do it.”
“Great job, Livy.” Jennifer beamed at her.
“Was she even listening to the same thing we were?” Gideon kept his voice low but something told me Jennifer had heard, because the glare she sent our way was evil.
“Now,” she continued, “I’ll see you in a few days. I want you to practice this every day.”
“Every day?” Gideon practically shouted, and he may have sounded unhinged.
“Yes, Mr. Hendrix.” Jennifer was curt.
He held up his hands. “Apologies.”
Jennifer talked to Livy a little while longer, and we walked her to the door. “I know it can be hard to listen to the repetition of a new musician, but your encouragement will be the thing that perfects her craft.”
She was so serious, and somehow she made me and Gideon feel chastised. “I meant nothing by it. I love my daughter and will make sure she practices.”
Jennifer’s blue eyes regarded Gideon, then me. “See that you do. Have a good day.”
We watched as she walked to a powder-blue Volkswagen bug.
“Babe, she wasn’t even the least bit intimidated by you,” I joked.
“I should see if she’d like to be on my security team.”
“Real.”
Gideon slow-panned to look at me. “Real? What the fuck is that?”
“Matteo says it.”
“What’s it mean?”
I shrugged. “It’s used when you agree with what someone says. I used a word the other day and got a lecture on the fact that no one says it anymore. So, he taught me some lingo.”
“Did he?” He went inside and I followed.
“Yeah.”
“Like?”
“Bet, no cap, real, deadass.” Gideon pressed his hand over my mouth.
“Stop. I changed my mind; I don’t want to know.”
I laughed and followed him into the living room where Olivia was practicing, much to Gideon’s and my distress.
“Maybe I can soundproof a room and make it the music room.” Gideon went to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of vodka from the freezer.
I took it out of his hand and put it back. “You can’t drink. We have that dinner with Victor in a couple of hours.”
He pointed to where Olivia was going to town on the G key. “That’s why I drink.”
I snickered and pressed my lips to his. “Go shower and relax. I’ll stay with her and ‘encourage her craft.’”
He kissed me more fiercely. “You’re a good person, Pennsylvania.” He then ran out of there faster than I’d ever seen him go.
