Page 110 of Not Another Love Song

She stared at him in disgust as he turned to the audience and said, “Our own Xander Thorne had an incredible opportunity come his way. He’s touring with U2 right now!”

The audience applauded, and Gwen’s mouth felt dry.

“We’re hoping to have him back soon.” And with a little tilt of his head, he said teasingly, “Possibly around Valentine’s Day.”

The subscribers cooed. The kids in the balcony screamed. And Gwen watched as Nathan used her broken heart to make money. She was shaking.

“Keep an eye out for that!” he said with a playful point. “But it is very difficult to spend the holidays without your person, as Gwen’s beautiful performance just a second ago can attest. And our final song of act one is in the same vein.”

“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” was next. Gwen stared down at her sheet music and dragged herself through the motions. At the end, she let Nathan escort her offstage, feeling rage and despair swirling in her gut. He spun to her as the doors closed.

“Gwen, that song was gorgeous.”

She nodded and tried to move around him, knowing that if she allowed herself to speak she would say something she would regret.

Ava stood there in the hallway, twisting her hands and watching Gwen closely. She must have come down from the balcony after her solo.

“We need to get it recorded!”

Gwen paused, her violin hanging from her fingertips. Ava’s mouth opened, wordless and useless.

“Recorded,” Gwen repeated, turning to him.

“Yes, we can put it on the Pops’ album! It was stunning, and it will sell so well—”

“It’s not yours to sell.”

Nathan blinked at her. “Of course. Apologies. If you’re interested in producing it yourself, I’d be in full support. I’m just so taken with it.” He clapped his hands together and beamed at her. “I knew you could compose—”

“You did not.” Her words were clipped and sudden.

“Come again?”

“Alex knew I could compose. You knew I could sell tickets.”

His smile faltered. “I didn’t mean to imply—”

“You did. You did mean to imply. I’m not your protégé. I belong to Mabel Rodriguez as much as Ava’s violin solo in Washington, DC, did.”

She heard Ava gasp faintly.

Nathan’s brows were lifted in confusion. “I feel like I’ve offended you, so I’ll put a pin in this for now. Look,” he said, placing his hands on her shoulders. “It’s been a difficult week for all of us. I know you miss Alex, and I know how disappointing it was not to be able to see him.” He seemed to catch himself. “At this time of year. To not have him here.”

Gwen’s eyes narrowed. How disappointing it was not to be able to see him.

“Did you…” Her breath came to her in a quick rhythm. “Did you know about LA?”

She watched as Nathan took a pause before responding.

From behind her, Ava said, “LA?”

“I asked Mei how sick you were, and she told me enough to not worry. I can’t say I was glad to hear you were planning to be across the country just days before our performance.”

His expression was disapproving but kind. But something wasn’t sitting right with her.

“Because that would have lost you a bunch of money, wouldn’t it? If you hadn’t been able to use me as a marketing tool,” she said. “And if—god forbid—I’d decided to stay in LA, and join the U2 tour…Well, you’d never recover from that, right?”

Nathan tilted his head at her. “Yes, absolutely. That’s why I’m so glad you chose to stay with us and honor your contract.”

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