Page 19 of Substitute for Love

“I have a better idea.” She stood. “I have food in the choir room, plus there’s an actual piano.”

Wait a second. She was inviting him over? To her classroom? His neck tingled until it was warm.

They both approached the band room door, and he opened it for her. “So is this, like, a date?” he asked. Dang it. He didn’t mean to say that out loud. But he really did want to know. Because if it was, he’d know Avery liked him, but if it wasn’t, well good because he shouldn’t be developing feelings for someone right now. Why did being an adult have to be so complicated?

She scoffed lightly. “Um, no. We’re co-workers. And we’re at work. So, this is lunch.”

“Right,” he said. But something in the way she looked up at him—her eyes soft and curious—as she passed made him think this could be something more.

Chapter 6: Avery

Tuesday August 26, 11:15 AM

What was she doing? Inviting him to the choir room, just the two of them, to share her lunch? A date?

No. She was being nice. Plus, the band room smelled like teenage boys and hot air, and Avery really wanted to get her hands on the piano in the choir room.

Also, Avery wasn’t about to spend money on fast food when she had brought a ton of leftover fettuccine alfredo from last night’s dinner. She didn’t want to have to tell Gabe no if he offered to pay for her lunch, because then he really might think it was a date.

To be honest, she felt sorry for turning down his offer, because he seemed so excited about it, and she doubted he had brought lunch. Remembering him scarfing down one of Doreen’s muffins yesterday, he didn’t seem the plan ahead type.

What type was he?

She unlocked the choir door and he held it open for her—again—as she went in first. Gabe was quite the gentleman. Avery was not used to that, though she had to admit she really appreciated his consideration. She felt safe around him. Like she could be herself.

Avery headed toward the teacher’s desk. Behind it was a mini fridge and a microwave—seriously genius for a busy teacher. She pulled her pasta out of the fridge and nuked it, then grabbed water bottles and veggies from the fridge. Avery put everything onto two paper plates she had found on a shelf under the microwave, as well as two forks.

“Hungry?” she asked as she held up a plate and fork for him.

He nodded and grabbed it. “Thanks.” Like yesterday’s lunch, he wolfed it down in a few bites.

“Do you… not eat enough?” Avery raised her eyebrows, taking smaller, more appropriate human-sized bites.

He stifled a burp. “Sorry. I super duper love food.”

“Then why don’t you take a moment and enjoy it?” She shook her head. Gabe was so immature sometimes. Or maybe it wasn’t immaturity, it was passion for life.

Gabe wandered around the classroom, and she found herself watching him, noting how fidgety he was. He was like a lost puppy, looking for something. “Do you ever sit still?” she asked.

“Who, me? No. I mean, unless there’s a good reason to.” He winked and returned to sit with her.

She finished her food and made her way to the piano. A wave of confidence washed over her. Spreading her fingers on the keys again was like being home. Since her parents had split, she and her mom didn’t have room to take the piano with them. Plus, Avery had been so set on following Marshall to college, she hadn’t been concerned with continuing piano lessons.

Gabe sat next to her on the piano bench, his shoulder touching hers. Close. Maybe too close. She took a deep breath and tried to concentrate on the music.

“So, what song is that?” he asked.

Apparently her playing the piano made him sit still. “It’s fromThe Greatest Showman.”

“I thought I recognized it. Loved that show.” He started humming along. Then he started singing. Wow. His voice. Goosebumps formed on her arms. On pitch, great voice quality. But there was something more about it. His singing voice sounded so honest. He wasn’t trying to sound like anything. He didn’t seem worried about what anyone thought of him, ever. He was who he was. Avery found it refreshing.

She stopped playing and turned toward him, his face so close to hers. “You’re really good.”

He shrugged. “Thanks. I love music.”

“No, I mean it. You’re really good.”

He seemed like a once shy teen and clammed up. Huh. For once he wasn’t completely comfortable. So he wasn’t always superman. He shifted on the bench next to her and it creaked a bit. This was a new side of him. Less superman, and more vulnerable.

---