Page 8 of Checking All Her Notes
He watches my hands, his eyes tracking the movement. Focusing.
The nextdinglands perfectly on four.
For a second, the room actually erupts. Finn starts whooping. Dax drums a victory roll. Zane gives him a solid thumbs up from across the room.
“Atta boy!” Finn yells. “That’s our guy!”
Jude rolls his eyes, but there’s color on his cheeks. The faintest hint of pink creeping up from his collar.
I pretend not to notice the flutter in my stomach. The way my pulse jumped when he finally got it right.
After about twenty minutes of practice, I call for a short break. “Five minutes. Stretch your legs. Don’t break anything.”
Most of the guys head for the water fountain in the hall. Jude stays put, but he shifts over to the piano bench when Finn vacates it.
The bench groans. Loudly.
Everyone stops.
Finn pauses in the doorway. Dax looks over from the water fountain. Even Zane glances up.
“Careful,” Zane says, grinning. “That thing’s seen better decades.”
Jude lifts his hands like he’s been accused of a crime. “If it breaks, it’s not my fault.”
I keep my face perfectly straight. “We’ll just call it modern art. Very avant-garde.”
He actually laughs. It’s low and rough, barely more than a breath, but it’s there.
It feels like victory.
We’re halfway through the second round of practice when Dad walks in. Perfect timing. As always.
“Blockton!” he calls cheerfully. “You look downright musical!”
Jude stiffens instantly, his shoulders going rigid. “Trying, Coach.”
Dad grins at me with way too much meaning in his eyes. “Told you my daughter could handle tough cases.”
Jude’s jaw ticks. His hands tighten on the triangle beater.
I shoot Dad a glare that very clearly saysplease stop talking right now.
He just winks and disappears back into the hallway.
As soon as the door closes, I clap my hands. “Break’s over! Let’s channel that defensive energy into joy.”
“Joy,” Jude mutters, picking up his triangle with the enthusiasm of a man facing a firing squad. “Right.”
“It’s character development,” I tell him brightly.
“That’s what people say when they’re torturing you.”
“Funny. That’s exactly what my students say about scales.”
His mouth twitches. Almost a smile.
By the end of the session, they’ve managed one complete rhythm without anyone getting off beat. It’s a minor miracle.
