Page 5 of Feuds and Interludes
I put my hand on his back and waved to the crowd, loving the smile on his face. People didn’t recognize his genius as much as I’d like, but there were definitely adoring fans here.
Once we were inside the lobby, we were whisked away to our table and there were lots of well-wishers who stopped by and said their hellos. Grandpa and I gave plenty of hugs and backslaps. There were so many faces, I started to lose track.
Until I saw the one that made my blood boil.
Damnthat Boone Collins, looking like the devil he was in his navy-blue velvet tuxedo. He’d lost weight since the last time I’d seen him, and his long auburn hair curled handsomely around pronounced cheekbones under deep-set innocent-looking blue eyes. He wore his long hair parted in the middle from a widow’s peak and it was always so damn healthy looking, it was as if he’d stepped off a modeling shoot. Premature balding hadn’t affectedhim, no. I was the lucky one in that department. I finally started buzzing mine to the scalp about five years ago, which I got complimented on, but still. What did they say about plumageand the male of the species? It was our glory or some shit? It felt like I’d had my damned peacock feathers plucked out.
Oh well. Some people thought bald was beautiful. I’d have to go with that.
Vera Jean walked in on Boone’s arm looking like she was at the Oscars rather than the Rock Hall Induction Ceremony. She was a stunner, to say the least. But she’d always seemed like she was too good for the plebes in the music business. The sea of people parted to let them through to the table next to ours. I hated that I couldn’t take my eyes off of them and tried to force myself to remain sitting when my grandfather practically launched himself in her direction.
Here we go.
I hurried after Pops, though why, I don’t know. Did I think I’d keep him from embarrassing himself? That I’d save him from getting his feelings hurt? I’ve no clue what I hoped to accomplish, but I followed nonetheless and planted myself at his side with my hands clasped in front of me like some burly bodyguard. I even had my stupid sunglasses on still, why? To protect myself? To hide the eye rolling?
Whatever my reason, I was acting like the quintessential douchey rockstar, and I hated it. Boone Collins always seemed to bring it out in me.
“Vera Jean, you look lovely.”
Pops took her hand and kissed it as though he was a knight or some shit. But I saw what maybe no one else did. First, his sheer happiness at being near her…and her grand dame façade slip to a genuine smile. Her eyes watered. I’d never seen the glamorous woman let her guard down at all, and yet here she was, having a moment. With my grandfather.
And Boone saw it too. He moved to support her, placing an arm behind her back. He whispered something in her ear and she gave him a nod.
“It’s wonderful to see you, Bruce. It’s been too long.” She pulled him closer by the hand and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek.
And he blushed.
“How are you, Shane?”
I almost didn’t see Boone’s extended hand; I was so caught up in my grandfather’s reunion, I’d missed Boone’s attempt at a greeting. By the time I noticed, he’d pulled his hand back.
“Or not,” he said with an eye roll.
Shit.There was no recovering from that.
“Collins.” I kicked my chin out in his direction. “Hope you’ve been practicing. Sounded like there was some trouble in rehearsal,” I said. I couldn’t help myself. He needed to be taken down a peg.
“Shane.” I didn’t miss the warning in Pops’s tone.
Boone’s returning smile was so condescending, I wanted to slap it away.
“I can certainly handle my own. I was practically born playing this music.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t write it.”
Why did I have such animosity toward a guy who shouldn’t matter to me? Maybe because my whole life I’d heard how great he was, how successful he was, and damn if I wasn’t a little jealous.
“Shane, that was very thoughtful of you to donate your piano to the auction.” Vera Jean was irresistible, and she had impeccable timing. It was hard to accept her compliments, and yet she always had them. “You’ve always been so generous to the foundation.”
She held out her hand, and I shook it.
“It’s the least I could do.”
She gave my hand an extra squeeze before she turned her attention back to Pops.
“He’s so much like you,” she said, squeezing Pops’s biceps.
“He’s smarter, more handsome, and more talented…but similar, yes,” Pops said, and he winked at me.
