Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
GREG
Seeing Tony so soon after a night of amazing sex sent a shockwave through my system. That was followed closely by a spike of arousal as my mind took me back to my time in Tony’s bed. He looked up in surprise. “Hey, Greg. What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” I countered. “You’re a bit far from your apartment.”
He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “True.” I saw him glance toward the front counter, where the baristas were taking orders. “I’m doing a favor for a friend.” He turned his attention back to me, his gaze heating as his eyes roamed down my body. “Good to see you.”
I felt myself flush as I put my hand on the chair across from him. “Mind if I sit?”
He smiled. “Of course not.”
It was strange just casually sitting across from Tony after he had owned my body so thoroughly the night before. Usually, I never saw my hookups again. But here we were.
I suppose it was inevitable. Tony still did security work for Jeremy.
Plus, they were friends. I wouldn’t have been able to avoid him forever.
I leaned back in my seat. “I usually come here after I’m done practicing.
Jeremy used his status as an alumnus and teacher to get me access to the practice rooms at Juilliard because I only have a keyboard at my apartment.
No room for a piano, and besides, it costs a fortune to have them moved. ”
Tony nodded in agreement. “Yeah. I remember when we had to move my sister Gianna’s piano to her new apartment. It cost close to two grand.”
“Sounds about right,” I agreed.
“So, you were practicing?” he asked. “For anything in particular?”
I shook my head. “Just practicing. My ultimate goal is to be a Broadway musician. I need to be flexible and know many different playing styles. That’s why I love working with Jeremy.
For all that he’s known for being a classical pianist, he can rock with the best of them.
He’s very versatile. Plus, I teach once a week at his school in Asbury Park, so I need to know how to play music the kids will be interested in. ”
Tony’s brows rose. “I didn’t know you taught at Jeremy’s school. That’s great. He does a lot of good work there.”
“He does,” I agreed. “I wish a school like that had existed when I was a kid. I would have started playing piano a lot earlier.”
“So I’m guessing playing at City Lights on Saturday nights is a step toward your goal?”
I nodded. “A lot of Broadway professionals hang out there after shows. It’s a chance for someone to see and hear me. It’s also a chance to network and find out who I can talk to, which musical directors are looking for a pianist or keyboard player, even if it’s just to sub.”
Tony smirked. “I didn’t know you were into that.”
I stared at him in confusion until his meaning hit me. I rolled my eyes. “Ha-ha.”
He chuckled. “Sorry. It was low-hanging fruit.” He took a sip of his coffee, a frown creasing his brow when his gaze shifted to the service counter.
I looked behind me and saw what he was staring at. “Poor Brendan,” I said. “That asshole won’t leave him alone.”
“You know Brendan?” Tony asked in surprise.
I waggled my hand. “Not well. I’ve only been coming here since January. I talk to him when the place isn’t busy and the asshole’s not around. He’s an art student, and he works here to help pay for school.”
“So he’s there trying to make it through school, and that prick, Mark, is making his life miserable,” Tony growled.
“That’s about the size of it,” I said. “A few people have said something to Mark, and he stops for a little while. But then he starts back up again when he thinks no one is looking.”
Tony clenched his jaw. “Yeah, well, that’s gonna stop today.”
I was taken aback by the change in Tony’s voice. It sounded deeper, rougher. I looked at the dwindling line of customers and then back at the man across from me. “Is that the favor?” My mouth went dry and heat pooled in my gut. “You’re going to warn Mark off Brendan?”
He focused his attention back on me, his dark eyes glittering with intensity. “I am.”
There was an unspoken question: Is that a problem? “That’s great,” I said. “Hopefully it sticks this time.” I was not about to tell him it was turning me on.
“Oh, it’ll stick,” he replied. “He might even decide to get another job.”
My stomach took that moment to rumble in discontent. I patted my noisy belly. “Sorry. I haven’t eaten much today.”
He grinned. “You should get yourself something to eat. The line’s a lot shorter now.”
I couldn’t even argue as my stomach once again protested at being empty.
I rose and got behind the three people left in line, closely observing the two baristas.
Mark was being more subtle about his bullying, but it was clear Brendan was uncomfortable.
I ordered a sandwich and coffee and stood back to wait.
Mark handed an order to a customer, then took off his apron and said, “I’m taking a break.”
Brendan didn’t even have a chance to reply before Mark was around the counter and out the front door. I turned in time to see Tony get up and follow him out. I really, really wished I could hear what Tony was saying to him.
I heard Brendan say, “Hey, Greg. Here’s your order.”
I smiled at the younger man. “Thanks, Brendan. How’s school going?”
“Good,” he said with a bright smile. “I really like my courses this semester. My portfolio has gotten so much better.”
“That’s awesome. I hope I get to see your work someday.”
He smiled shyly. “There’s an exhibition at the end of the semester if you want to come.”
“I’d like that,” I replied. “Just let me know when it gets closer. I’m sure I’ll be here a lot before the end of your semester.”
I took my order back to the table I’d been sharing with Tony, wondering if he would return after he was done talking to Mark.
Like my thoughts had summoned them, Mark came hurrying through the door and practically ran back behind the counter.
Tony strolled in a minute later, a contented smile on his face.
He sat across from me and took a sip of his coffee. I was practically vibrating with curiosity. “So, how did it go?”
He took another sip before slowly setting his cup down. “Brendan won’t have any problems with him anymore.”
A shiver ran down my spine. Damn. Why did I find that so sexy? I smirked and asked playfully, “Did you make him an offer he couldn’t refuse?”
He met my gaze steadily. “In a manner of speaking.”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I cleared my throat. “I was just kidding, you know?”
“I know,” he replied. “Nobody’s gonna touch a hair on Mark’s head as long as he leaves Brendan alone.” He pointed at the sandwich on my plate. “Eat. Your stomach’s been complaining this whole time.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “You like taking care of people, don’t you?”
Tony’s mouth turned down in a frown. “I was being pushy. I apologize.”
I hastened to reassure him. “No, that’s not it at all. It’s nice. You don’t get that a lot when you live alone.”
He huffed a quiet laugh. “Unless you have nosy, interfering younger brothers.”
A wave of longing came over me. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d spoken to either of my siblings. “You’re lucky to have them,” I said. “I enjoy watching the three D’Angelo brothers get together. It’s easy to see how much you love each other.”
He smiled fondly. “Yeah, when they’re not driving me crazy.”
There were a few minutes of silence while I ate my sandwich and Tony finished his coffee. He set down his cup and tilted his head slightly. “What are we doing here, Greg?”
I’d been waiting for that question, and I had my answer all prepared. I hoped he would be on board with my suggestion. “I want us to be friends,” I began.
His brow furrowed. “I kinda thought we were.”
I took a moment to organize my thoughts.
“We are, but before now, we’ve only spent time together when there was some event that involved Jeremy or someone’s birthday.
Now that we live in the same city, I was hoping we could get together more often, like today’s happy accident.
Maybe grab a drink or a bite to eat. Just to hang out and talk. ”
“It seems to me we did a lot more than talk last night,” he said, his expression unreadable.
I squeezed my eyes shut. Dammit. I hated that I couldn’t get past my own fear. “We did. And I loved every minute of it.”
“But…?”
Best to rip off the Band-Aid. “But that’s all it can be for me.”
His brows drew together. “Meaning what?”
I couldn’t understand why this was so hard for me to say. It never had been before. “Meaning I’d like us to be friends with benefits. No strings. No commitments. We stop whenever it stops working for us. But we keep the friendship.”
Once again, his expression became unreadable as he processed what I’d said. Finally, he nodded, a slow smile curving his lips. “Okay. I can do that.”
Relief washed over me. “Really? That’s great.”
“Did you think I’d say no?” he asked.
I shrugged. “I wasn’t sure. You seem like the kind of man who wants marriage. A home. Maybe kids and a dog.”
For a brief moment, sadness flashed in his eyes so quickly I would have missed it if I hadn’t been looking right at him. “Yeah, well, for the time being, it’s not in the cards for me. If that changes, I’ll let you know.”
I grinned and held out my hand. “Deal?”
He chuckled and shook my hand. “Deal.”