Page 28 of Things I Read About

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Nate sighs through his nostrils, his jaw clenched. Everyone else has moved to the side of the piano so they can watch.

“Thanks.” I look up at Nate, and he lets go. He pauses to make sure I’m really steady, then walks over to the opposite side of the piano.

It’s a beautiful matte black Steinway, a full grand. I take a seat on the bench and run my fingers over the cool white keys. A warmth fills me, the same one I find when I enter the hospital or open up a thick new book.

“All right, rock star.” Kat taps on the edge of the closed piano top. “Time to shut this barkeep’s mouth right up.”

Nate shoots a death glare at Evan.

Evan backs up a tiny bit, opening his arms in surrender. “All I said was everybody lies on vacation.”

Nate looks back at me and narrows his eyes. “That’s true.”

“So is the fact that she’s a piano prodigy. C’mon Sal.” Janie motions for me to get on with it. It’s after nine, so she’s probably ready to go to bed.

“Prodigy?” Cam crosses his arms, disbelieving.

Kat beams at her opportunity. “I’ll bet you fifty bucks she doesn’t make a mistake.”

Cam huffs. “You’re on.”

“Will we even be able to tell?” Evan asks. He is more intelligent than he looks.

“She’ll tell us,” Kat and Janie say in unison.

I look at Nate, unable to guess what he’s thinking. He barely lifts his eyebrows.

Okay, then. Challenge Accepted.How I Met Your Mother, 2006.I silently pose another challenge to myself: see if I can play that small smile back onto his face.

I take a deep breath and begin.

8

Silence.

That isn’t uncommon after I finish Chopin’sWaltz, in E minor. It’s a complicated song and I have it memorized. It’s also a big piece. I remember once my dad said, “Man, that’s a lot of piano coming from such a tiny person.”

I like that.

I like that Nate’s mouth is hanging open a little bit. No grin though. Bummer.

“Well damn,” Evan calls out, and everyone erupts in claps and praise, including onlookers who were passing by and bar patrons sipping wine. Some have gathered behind Kat and Janie and the guys.

“So?” Cam asks me.

I shake my head and can’t help but smile.

“Yes!” Kat throws her fist in the air. “Pay up, dude.”

“Can I pay in drinks?”

“Absolutely, you can.” She laughs as he goes over to the bar in the corner of the swanky lounge area. “Whose money am I taking next? Nate?” she asks.

I look back over at him, thrilled to find him still staring at me.

“All right,” he says.

“Really?” Kat is surprised. We all are. “Well, okay then Tinkles, again.”

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