Page 2 of Not Another Love Song

Gwen smiled, looking around at the setup and then drinking deeply from her water canteen. The temperature was cool, but the sun sat right over them, making her glad she’d worn SPF today to keep from turning tomato red.

Playing weddings was like a holiday for Gwen. Not only did she get to play violin at beautiful venues, but she got paid really well to do it. And with Jacob, they supported each other and traded off playing lead—instead of being one of many in an ensemble. She loved that part too, of course. Her day job at the Manhattan Pops, the largest popular music orchestra in the United States, was something she wouldn’t trade for the world, but playing solo in front of an audience was like nothing else. She loved that rush. And weddings were low-pressure in a certain way. She wasn’t there to impress anyone. She could just play.

“Hey,” Jacob said. He nodded to where a trio of women stood, two of them in bridesmaid dresses. “The brunette bridesmaid? That’s Chelsea, the nosy one. And the shorter brown-haired girl that’s got that cool Boho witch thing going on? That’s the wedding planner. But the blond bridesmaid? You don’t recognize her, do you?”

Gwen shrugged.

“That’s Hazel Renee. She’s a model. Got her own makeup line and everything. And she just did a movie.”

Gwen glanced back at the blonde before saying, “That’s cool.”

“‘That’s cool’?” Jacob sighed. “Gwen, please get on my level. There could be anyone at this wedding. This is a really big deal!”

Her heartbeat picked up, but she didn’t let the nerves get to her. Before she could “get on his level,” she saw the wedding planner moving toward them.

“Hi, you must be Gwen,” the short woman said. “I’m Ama Torres.” She looked younger than Gwen, but couldn’t be. She had the carriage and confidence of someone who dealt with nuclear missiles all day.

Gwen shook her hand. “Sorry for being a few minutes late.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Ama said with a firm smile that told Gwen she probably shouldn’t do anything else wrong today. She checked her watch. “We have about twenty minutes until the first guests arrive, so feel free to use that time how you need. My assistants are running around, so if you need anything, please ask them.” Ama looked like she was about to pivot and go put out a fire when she stopped and looked around Gwen’s feet. “Do you need help getting your case out of the car?”

Gwen felt like she missed a step. “My case?”

Ama looked at Jacob, then her. “Where’s your cello?”

Gwen’s mouth opened, then closed. She heard Jacob stop tinkling the keys behind her.

“My what?” She craned her neck, hoping she would hear her differently that way.

“I asked for a piano and cello,” Ama said.

Jacob stood from the piano bench. “Your assistant’s email asked for this duo, and this duo is piano and violin.”

Ama took that in. “Ah.” She nodded a few times, staring at the ground. “Right. Okay. Right.” Her fingers went to her long necklace, twirling it absently, but Gwen could tell her mind was working at lightning speed. “We were so rushed to get a new duo that I don’t think I double-checked when my assistant found you…”

Gwen watched as Ama searched for an answer that didn’t exist.

Jacob cleared his throat. “I assure you, we’re very good.”

“No, I’m sure you are,” Ama said, her fingers rubbing her temples now. “Sonya specifically wanted a cello.”

Gwen exchanged a silent look with Jacob. They’d played this game before. People always thought they wanted cello when really, they wanted a string quartet.

“One moment,” Ama said, voice tight, and spun on her heel to march across the lawn to a tall guy with a man bun, fluffing up the flowers on the wedding arch. Gwen watched Ama gesture to them with panicked eyes before the guy dropped his hands to her shoulders, rubbing soothing circles.

Gwen blew out a tense breath. “I don’t know what to say about that,” she said, turning to Jacob. “I don’t know anyone who could get here by four.”

“Gwen,” Jacob said, shaking his head. “You were hired for this wedding. Even if we knew a cellist down the street, I don’t play without you.”

She was about to argue with that, feeling Ama’s stress wafting across the lawn to her, when she heard a cool voice from her left say, “Where’s your cello?”

Gwen turned back to find the brunette bridesmaid, Chelsea, with her hands on her hips and assessing eyes. She was actually familiar, but Jacob didn’t say he recognized her. There’s no way Gwen knew a celebrity that he didn’t.

Before Gwen could answer, Ama was back.

“Okay, okay, okay,” she rushed out. “Can you play cello?” Ama asked hopefully.

Gwen blinked. “I can play the imaginary cello about as well as the imaginary violin.”

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