Page 43 of To Believe In You
“Chris, have you met my friends?” Lina asked.
Still gaping, Chris shook his head.
John introduced himself. “You take lessons here?”
The boy started to shake his head to the negative, then caught himself and nodded.
John sat on the arm of one of the waiting room couches, putting himself at eye level. “You look like a drummer.”
Gannon moved in. “My money’s on guitar.”
The willingness to take time with fans was one more thing she appreciated about Awestruck. People mattered.
The boy peered from one to the other, but a glance at Matt, still oblivious in his practice room, seemed to solidify his allegiances. “Electric bass.”
“You’re learning from that guy?” John hiked his thumb toward Matt.
Chris nodded.
“He any good?” Gannon crossed his arms, focused as if Chris’s opinion was make or break for Matt.
“The best.” Chris’s head bobbed again. “Taught me everything I know.”
John appeared to barely restrain his laughter. He shot Gannon a look and pushed away from the chair. “In that case, we have some business with him. When’s your lesson start?”
“Four.”
Gannon patted Chris’s shoulder as he stepped past him. “We’ll make sure we don’t make him late.”
“Nice meeting you, Chris.” John shook his hand, then followed Gannon toward the practice room.
Chris stood in the space between Lina’s desk and the waiting room, holding his fingers open near his torso, as if touching anything would undo the effect of shaking John’s hand. He shuffled to a place on one of the couches, attention riveted on the practice room.
* * *
“What’re you working on?”
In a glass room, Matt’s expectations of privacy hadn’t been high, but he hadn’t anticipated hearing that unmistakable voice. He turned toward the question to find Gannon studying his notes and John easing the door shut again.
Matt had been hopeful about this song, but he braced for Gannon’s critique.
Instead, the lead singer focused on him with interest. “New song?”
“New ideas. Not all the way to song status yet.”
Gannon refocused on the notes, his fingers moving against his thigh as he ran through the piece. “Might be easier to write with a band.”
Nice of him to rub it in. “It’s hard enough to fit this in when I’ve only got my own schedule to worry about.”
Gannon tapped the paper thoughtfully. “Adeline says you’re coming to the wedding.”
“I appreciate the invite.” He might even let Tim introduce him around, but maybe Gannon wouldn’t appreciate him using the wedding to network and launch himself as a songwriter.
John eyed the drum kit in the next room. “You like teaching here?”
“Most days, yeah. A lot.” Maybe he ought to be upfront about his career plans. Word about conversations had at the wedding could spread. “I’m also thinking of getting into songwriting.”
“I’d be interested to hear what you come up with.” Gannon’s focus dipped to the guitar like he might want to hear now. That, or he and John were one invitation away from claiming instruments for an impromptu jam session.
