Page 7 of Not Another Love Song

“No,” she said quietly. “I memorized it.”

“You memorized the violin music…” His lips twitched, like he might smile. Had she ever seen him smile? She wasn’t sure. She thought he might ask her something else, but then nothing. Gwen shifted.

“Thanks again, Xander—” Oh lord. “Alex. Thank you.”

His eyes swept over her, and there was that almost smile again.

Well, fuck. Now he knew that she knew who he was. She looked down at a half-empty bottle of scotch and pined for a drink herself at this point. She needed to find Jacob and get out of New Jersey.

Lifting her violin case, she moved to the doorway he was still blocking. Good god, he was large. She’d seen him play shirtless—for promotional reasons, of course—and knew that under his tux he was unreasonably muscled and broad. This close, she could smell his aftershave mixed with the spring outdoors. When he didn’t move aside for her, she looked up, finding him still staring at her like he had questions stuck in his throat.

“Sorry, do you need get in here?” she said, nodding to the room.

“No.”

His response stopped her briefly. So he’d followed her up here. To…insult her? Interrogate her?

He stepped aside when she gave an awkward wave of her hand, and she squeezed past him, brushing his shoulder.

The air felt different in the hallway. Much more…breathable. She was just starting to stumble down the stairs, feeling him still watching her, when he said, “You shouldn’t be playing weddings.”

She stopped, foot hovering. A boiling anger began in her gut. She was a violinist, not a cellist. He knew she had been mentally transposing everything on an unfamiliar instrument, and he still had the gall to suggest that she wasn’t cut out for the gigs she played to supplement her income?

Glowering at him, she said, “I don’t, usually.” She lifted a cool brow. “Usually, I play across from you at the Manhattan Pops.”

She watched with a simmering satisfaction as his brow furrowed, his mind working furiously to place her. She swept down the stairs and out the front door before he could respond.

CHAPTER TWO

Jacob was waiting for her on the sidewalk when she stepped out of the house. After a deep breath to clear the irritation buzzing in her veins, she jogged to him. “What’s the verdict?” she asked. “Any tip?”

“Seventy-five for both of us! Ama said she was really grateful to you.”

“Nice!” Gwen heaved her tote onto her shoulder and walked with him to the bus stop. “You know what this means…”

“General Tso’s and potstickers.” He raised his hand, and Gwen slapped it. “You got the cello back to that douche?”

“So…‘that douche’ was actually Xander Thorne.” Jacob turned left at the corner, and Gwen followed.

“Thorne as in the band you like? With the naked guys—”

“They aren’t naked.” Gwen felt her cheeks warm. “They just sometimes play shirtless. Besides, if I remember correctly, you were okay with hanging that poster in the hallway.”

She’d taken it down the second she got home from her first Pops rehearsal with Xander last fall. Much to Jacob’s dismay.

“Did he seriously not recognize you? From the Pops?” His perfectly manicured eyebrow was lifted at her.

“I sit toward the back,” she said, shrugging. “It’s not a big deal. I’m not super noticeable.”

Jacob nudged her. “Well, he’s noticing you now, for sure.”

“You mean, after I botched ‘Jesu’? I’m sure he’s calling the board of directors to get me thrown out as we speak.”

“Um, no? Gwen, he was looking at you like I’m about to look at the Grubhub delivery guy. Ready. For. A. Meal.”

“Oh, whatever, Jacob.” She snorted and shoved his shoulder.

But the rest of their discussion was cut off as they rounded the corner and found their bus pulling up to the stop two blocks away. They took off like rockets. Jacob pulled ahead of her, waving his arms and yelling. He caught the door just as it was closing and held it open for her as she sprinted the remaining half block.

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