Page 57 of Not Another Love Song

“I mean, technically Declan got you something because I am, how you say, le poor.”

“It’s just a little something,” Declan said with a squeeze to her elbow. “For your first concert as violin number one.”

“First violin, babe.”

“Whatever. Just open it.” Declan grabbed the box from Jacob and thrust it into her hands.

Gwen’s fingers trembled as she pulled the top off. Embedded in the velvet foam were two earrings, elegant studs. Diamonds sparkled up at her, shaped into the treble clef. She swallowed, against her throat closing with emotion.

“Guys, you didn’t have to—”

“Yes, we did.” Jacob kissed her temple. “This is such a big night.”

Gwen tried to keep her tears at bay while she traded out the fake diamond studs she had in for the Tiffany earrings.

After taking pictures with the boys and letting Declan help her choose a lipstick color, she took an Uber over to Carnegie Hall, and met Ms. Michaels and Ava at the office for the board members.

Ms. Michaels gasped, saying, “Oh, the Times will eat you up.” Her eyes traced Gwen’s outfit while she spun in a circle for them. “How was the interview today?”

“Good,” she said. “Al—Xander was in a mood, though. I don’t know if that will make it into the papers.”

Ava rolled her eyes. “Wonderful.”

“Thank you for sharing the feature with him,” Ms. Michaels said. “I knew we could guarantee a spot in tomorrow’s paper with both of you.”

“Of course.” Gwen smiled, forgetting the reflection of her confused eyes in a pair of Ray-Bans.

Mabel called her while she was with Ava, and she quickly stepped out of the office and answered it.

“Just wanted to say how proud I am.”

Tears welled in Gwen’s eyes, and she thanked her. “Any advice before I go on?”

“Not at all,” Mabel said, voice getting drowned out by the city street she was on. “You have everything you need.”

Mabel ended the call shortly after, even though Gwen could have talked to her forever. She hadn’t attended a single Pops concert since Gwen started there four years ago, but now that Gwen knew a bit more of her history with Nathan and Ava, she supposed she didn’t hold it against her anymore. It still hurt to know she wouldn’t be there in the crowd for as big a night as this. It was as if her own mother refused to attend. Gwen rolled her shoulders back and headed down to Stern Auditorium.

An hour later, she waited backstage with her violin. Squeaky. She smiled. She hadn’t called it Squeaky since she was a child. Hadn’t thought about that nickname until Alex asked her.

Xander. She was supposed to refer to him as Xander.

What a stupid fucking name.

“Places for act one,” the stage manager called out, walking the halls to knock on bathroom and changing room doors. “Onstage places for orchestra, standby for first violin, standby for conductor.”

“Thank you,” Gwen said as she passed.

She hadn’t seen Xander yet. It was common for the orchestra to tune up, wandering from stage to backstage until places, but she still felt the absence of him.

“Ready?” Nathan appeared at her side, looking dapper as always in his tux. She smiled at him, and he lifted her hand to spin her in a circle. “You look gorgeous, Gwen.”

She bit her lip and looked down at her too-tall heels. “Your wife got her hands on me.”

“She does that.” He chuckled. “I’m very proud of you.”

She looked up, finding his warm blue eyes on her.

“I don’t have expensive makeup on, you know,” she chastised him. “If you make me cry, it will be a mess.”

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