Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
GREG
Cody ran to Nico and threw his arms around his waist. “Daddy! Mr. Greg is teaching me how to play the birthday song!”
Nico grinned as he picked up his son. “That’s great, buddy. Did you say thank you?”
Cody turned his head to look at me. “Thank you, Mr. Greg.”
“You’re very welcome, Cody.”
Nico tightened one arm around Cody while he held out his free hand to me. “Thanks, Greg. I really appreciate you teaching him.”
I shook his hand. “It’s my pleasure.”
“Daddy, can we get ice cream?” Cody asked.
Nico chuckled. “Sure thing, buddy.”
“Yay! Ice cream!”
I grinned as I watched the pair walk out of the classroom. I went back to the piano to look at the music I had prepared for the group class that would be arriving at four.
I was playing through one of the pieces when I heard someone knock on the doorframe. I looked up to find Jeremy standing in the doorway. “Hey, Jeremy. What’s up?”
He walked into the classroom and leaned on the piano. “I have been instructed by my brother-in-law to make sure you don’t slip out of the building after your last class.”
I huffed a laugh. “Fair. I have been known to disappear from time to time. I promise I won’t ghost you.”
He nodded. “Good. I really don’t want Liam to be upset with me. He’s looking forward to having dinner with you.” He rose and headed out of the room. When he got to the doorway, he turned around. “I almost forgot. What kind of wine do you like? Red, white, or rose?”
My eyes widened slightly in surprise. “Oh. You don’t have to go to any trouble for me,” I replied.
Jeremy shook his head. “It’s no trouble at all. Just tell me what you like, and Sean will grab a bottle from the hotel.”
I had forgotten that Jeremy’s husband, Sean O’Neil, owned the Moonlight Inn hotel. Getting a bottle of wine would be no problem at all for him. “Red is good. Thank you very much.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll be back up at seven.”
“See you then.” I went back to my piano, trying to quell the anxiety that arose at the thought of being in a group of people I didn’t know well.
I shook my head at the thought. I knew Jeremy.
I’d been working with him for more than a year.
And I’d gone to high school with Sean. We’d taken quite a few theater and music classes together.
I didn’t know Liam and Marco as well, but they weren’t strangers.
I sighed. My stupid social anxiety popped up at the weirdest times. I had no trouble teaching a class of a dozen students or playing in a crowded bar, but having dinner with four very nice people sent my head spinning.
I growled in frustration. “All right, brain. Let it go.” I pulled up the music for a later class on my tablet and began to play. As always, playing soothed and grounded me. My anxiety eased, and I was ready to be present for my students.
I barely noticed the time passing because I had so much fun teaching my classes.
I was so impressed with twelve-year-old Zari that I gave her some extra music to practice at her school since she didn’t have a piano or keyboard at home.
I was saying goodbye to her when Jeremy came back into the classroom.
Zari smiled broadly at him. “Mr. Greg said I did so well learning Clare de Lune that he gave me this one to do next.”
Jeremy took the pages from her and nodded in approval. “Very nice. Für Elise is a good piece for you.”
“Thanks, Mr. Jeremy. See you next week.” She ran out of the classroom with a broad smile on her face.
“Good work,” Jeremy said. “She’s excited about learning. That means you’re doing a good job.”
I felt my cheeks heat. “Thanks.”
“Ready for dinner?” he asked. “Sean is making chicken marsala and roasted potatoes.”
My stomach rumbled at the mere thought of food. “That sounds great. I had no idea Sean could cook.”
“He’s always been a decent cook,” Jeremy said with a smile. “But when he stepped back from working at the hotel so much, he decided to learn how to make a wider variety of meals. He’s gotten quite good at it.”
“I look forward to enjoying his cooking skills.” I gestured toward my piano. “I just have to pack up my tablet and make sure all the keyboards are off.”
“I can check the keyboards while you pack up,” he said.
Once the classroom was locked and the building secure, we headed out to Jeremy’s car. After I slid into the passenger seat of his Mercedes and buckled my seatbelt, he turned to face me and asked, “What’s bothering you?”
I opened my mouth to say I was fine, then sighed and shook my head.
Jeremy had been a good friend to me and had helped me in ways I could never fully repay.
I let out a soft sigh. “I have trouble making friends. I lost all my friends from high school and college when my ex-boyfriend started isolating me. After I finally got away from him, I just didn’t try again. ”
I smiled ruefully. “You helped me get used to playing in front of an audience, so that’s not a problem for me anymore.
But hanging out with people just chatting?
” I shook my head. “I feel awkward and out of place. I always think people are judging me, or they just won’t like me because I’m boring.
Lately, I’ve been trying more. It’s hard, but I’m making myself do it because I want a better life.
I’m tired of being alone all the time.” I blew out a slow breath.
“This dinner tonight is bringing up a lot of those insecure feelings.”
Jeremy nodded in understanding. “I get it. After my accident and subsequent breakdown, I had a very difficult time being around anyone but my best friend and his boyfriend. It took me a while to feel comfortable in groups of people, even after I was able to get back to performing in public. Give yourself time. People like you more than you realize. You just have to allow yourself to believe it.”
Warmth filled my chest. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
“You’re welcome,” he replied with a smile. He started the car and pulled out of the parking space. “You know you can talk to me any time. I may not understand your situation completely, but I know what it’s like to have to start over.”
“Thanks,” I murmured. My throat was constricted. I hadn’t had a real friend in so long. It felt good to have it again.
We spent the rest of the ten-minute drive talking about his school and my new substitute contract.
He asked me to work with him in another master class at Juilliard since the first one was so popular.
The date hadn’t been set yet, so we could work it around both our schedules.
My nerves came back in full force when he pulled into the driveway of a large home with a gorgeous wraparound front porch.
It was only when I got out of the car that I realized it was directly across from Moonlight Inn, the hotel Sean owned.
“Wow, this house is beautiful. You’re so lucky it’s right next to Sean’s hotel.”
Jermey smiled proudly. “I love it. It came up for sale last spring, so I jumped on it. The funny part is, Sean bid on it first, and I outbid him. We were both trying to surprise the other, so neither of us mentioned it.”
I chuckled. “That is pretty funny. It’s good you both liked the place.”
Jeremy walked toward the front porch. “Oh yes. We were both in love with the house long before it went on the market. I wouldn’t have done it otherwise.”
When Jeremy opened the front door, I was met with the delicious aroma of the meal Sean was preparing. I took a deep breath. “That smells wonderful.”
“Thank you,” Sean said from the doorway to the living room. He went over to Jeremy and kissed him tenderly. “Hey, baby. Did you have a good day?”
Jeremy melted into his arms. “I did.”
Sean up-nodded me. “Hey, Greg. How’s it going?”
“Very well, thank you,” I said and immediately wanted to kick myself for sounding so formal.
Sean stepped away from his husband and said, “Come on in. Liam and Marco are on their way.”
I followed them through the wide archway into the large living room, where a gorgeous ebony baby grand piano stood in pride of place by the front windows.
I had to stop myself from detouring to it to run my fingers over the keys.
Gleaming hardwood floors were dotted with strategically placed accent rugs that highlighted the room’s beauty while also giving it a cozy feel.
A comfortable-looking slate-blue sofa and two overstuffed armchairs were arranged in front of a red brick fireplace.
Sean kept walking through another room dominated by a huge sectional sofa and an impressively large flat-screen television.
Through the next archway was a dining room with a table that could seat ten people.
The room opened to a kitchen that would have any chef salivating.
A granite-topped island surrounded by six padded stools stood in the center.
Sean waved toward the island. “Have a seat. Can I pour you a glass of wine?”
“That would be great,” I replied.
Jeremy went to the refrigerator and pulled out a charcuterie tray. He set it on the island next to a plate of crackers. “Help yourself.”
I almost told them they shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble for me, but luckily, I stopped myself before the words left my mouth. Instead, I took a piece of cheese and a cracker. “Thank you.”
I heard the front door open, and Liam called out, “We’re here!”
“In the kitchen,” Sean responded.
My body tensed as Marco and Liam entered the room.
I’d seen him eyeing me speculatively the night he’d come to City Lights with Tony and the rest of his crew.
I didn’t know why it bothered me. The thing between Tony and me was friends with benefits.
But something in me desperately wanted his brother to like me.
Liam approached me first. “Greg, I’m so glad you came.”
“Me too,” I replied. “It’s nice to have new friends.” Or any friends at all, with the exception of Tony.
Marco gave me an up-nod. “Hey, Greg. Good to see you.” He glanced around the kitchen, his brow creased in a frown. “I thought you invited Tony.”
“We did,” Jeremy said. “He said he had too much work to do tonight. Something about a new client looking for a personal protection detail.”
Marco grunted in disapproval. “He works too much.”
Jeremy nodded in agreement. “He’s bad at delegating. You know this.”
“I’ll talk to him,” Marco grumbled.
“Dinner’s ready,” Sean called out.
As we all grabbed our wine glasses and headed into the dining room, I couldn’t help but wish Tony had come. It would have been better with him here. And that thought scared me.