Page 16 of Jingl
He snorts and shoves his phone back in his pocket. “You don’t have to do that.”
“But I want to.”
We go back to work and it’s like we’re two pieces of the same person. Had I kept going alone, it would have taken so much longer with me trying to be quiet. Shae keeps humming a few bars of a song I’ve never heard before.
“What is that?”
“Hmm? What’s what?” Shae’s brows scrunch as he examines the kitchen utensils he’s getting ready to put in a drawer.
“That song you’re humming? It’s pretty.”
I wish I could take pictures with my mind, my memory won’t keep the image this perfect forever. Shae’s cheeks go pink and he sucks on his bottom lip, not meeting my gaze. “As the lead pianist, I get a slot of time to feature a piece I composed. The piece I hope to use is something I’ve been working on for a couple of years and just can’t get the ending right. I really want to get it done for the concert, but I don’t know if it’s possible.” He lines the utensils into the drawer and goes into the box for more. “I try to think when I work on costumes. Those are easy compared to composing a piece of music to move the masses. A bit of fabric and sparkle and I can wow people. But music has a moving soul and sometimes it’s hard to tap into.”
When I don’t say anything he looks at me again. “What?”
“Nothing, you’re just. I love it when you talk about your music. I kept up with lessons until I graduated high school, but I haven’t touched a piano since.”
His eyes grow big. “I get itchy if I don’t touch a piano or any of my instruments for a day. Do you miss it?”
How the hell do I tell him I kept up with the lessons as a way to stay close to him? We took lessons together, our parents pooled their money together and convinced the high school music director to teach us. Shae latched on and, well, I latched on to watching Shae. “I missed you.” I shrug. “It was something we did together, but without you, it just wasn’t fun anymore.”
His fingers run over the edge of the box. “I missed you, too. That first lesson you weren’t there, I fumbled a lot. Mrs. Uptown got really upset with me. But I was made for music. It literally sings to me. I can feel every note vibrate in my heart. And that’s why I’m so frustrated with this piece. I’ve written several piano pieces and never had so much trouble.” He fists his hands. “It should have been easy.” The words come out soft.
I want to kiss him so badly it hurts, but I don’t think it’s the right time.
“What’s the theme of the piece?”
He nibbles his bottom lip and shakes his head. “I’m not ready to share that yet.”
“Very secretive.” I tap my lips with a finger, like I’m thinking. “I’ll assume it’s a theme song for an imaginary spy movie and you just haven’t decided if the spy lives or dies in the end. I vote lives and runs off with the sexy honey pot.”
Shae snorts a laugh and bumps me with his shoulder. “Definitely not a movie theme, spy or otherwise. But that ending could work.”
I lift a brow. “Curious. Why do you think you’ve been blocked?”
“Dunno, and it’s driving me crazy.” Shae throws his head back and groans.
“Well, two brains are better than one. We can figure it out together.”
“Maybe.” His shoulders drop.
I pull him into a hug. He just looks like he needs one. As he embraces me, his head goes to my shoulder and I rub his back, hoping to soothe his racing mind even a little bit.
“You can ask for help, ya know? You don’t have to do everything yourself all the time.”
“I… no, I can’t be a bother. I have to figure it all out because—”
My heart aches. “Shae.”
“Don’t look at me like that. All sad and stuff.” He steps back until he runs into the counter. “Everything is fine. I’ll get it squared away or I’ll pick a different piece to feature.”
“But you won’t be happy with it.”
Shae sighs out. “No.”
“Then.” I pick up a spatula and wave it in the air. “We’ll make sure you get a perfect ending before the concert, even if it’s seconds before you go on.” I drop my utensil in the drawer. “Sound good?”
He gives me a little half smile, which makes my heart flutter. “Sounds perfect.”
