Page 130 of Finding the Forward: Part One
Excitement danced through me. An evening of music with Verity at my side? Perfect.
Was Professor Dublonski still conducting the orchestra? I’d like to see her. My music professors at BosTec believed in me as much as my hockey coaches.
Not that I always felt like I deserved the nicknameGriffin the Music Magician.
“Thanks for showing me your greenhouse. Are you weaponizing happiness?” Lowering my voice, I leaned in. I didn’t know what else you’d do with happy flowers but harness their essence and turn it into bombs to diffuse protests or wars or something.
“While I’ve thought about public space usage, it’s not my specific intention,” she replied. “I want to make people happy. Makehomeshappy.”
“Got it.” Because she grew up in a volatile home. It could be why she and Jonas resonated–his home was shitty, too.
“Dr. Winters believes in my research. Many people don’t. But he’s been encouraging me since I was eleven.” She took another bite and dabbed the corner of her mouth with a napkin.
“Really?” I took a bite of my dinner. I knew he meant a lot to her, considering she’d changed universities to continue working with him. Well, and to make sure Mercy got to live her dream.
“I used to sneak into his class when I was in middle school. I was around a lot given I have professors for parents. At first, Dr. Winters would kick me out of his class, so I’d sit under the window and listen. It was a class on plant mythology. The one I’m teaching next semester.” Her eyes danced with excitement as she took a drink of her soda. “Eventually, he let me sit in. When he found out I’d started growing things in one of the public campus greenhouses, he protected the space. He’d meet with me to discuss my projects and made me feel so grown up.”
“So, it was always plants?” I asked, fascinated by her passion as I twirled more pasta around my fork.
“I’ve been interested in genetically manipulating plants for a long time. At one point, I considered human genetics. Ultimately, plants won.” Her phone rang, and she frowned and answered it. “AJ, is everything okay?”
Why was he calling her? I looked at my phone and saw that I’d missed several calls from him. Whoops.
Them getting along made me happy.
“Oh, yeah. Dare’s concert is tonight. He wanted me to bring Grif anyway, so while it’s sad their game got canceled, it’s fun that it all worked out,” she told him.
Dean
You took her to Dimillo’s without me?
He added several sad emojis. Well, it was only a matter of time since we shared our locations with each other.
Me
We’re going to her brother’s concert and got hungry.
I wasn’t about to apologize for wanting her to myself.
“Here you go. It’s AJ.” Verity handed me her phone.
“Hi,” I said.
“You’re going to the concert where they’re playing your piece?” AJ asked.
I exhaled sharply. “Fuck. I forgot about that.”
While her brother had told me that, I’d just wanted to be with her. Also, Ienjoyedgoing to orchestra concerts. It wasn’t something the guys and I often did, unless it was a fundraiser or I dragged them to a concert in the park for a summer evening picnic.
Verity’s look went concerned.
It’s fine, I mouthed.
“Dean’s practically feral that you’re at BosTec without him. Would it be alright if I came? Not trying to crash your date, but I’ve never heard something you’d written.” Wistfulness colored AJ’s voice.
“I don’t even know which piece it is. Give me a sec to make sure it’s worth your time?” I muted the call. “He wants to know which of my pieces the orchestra is playing tonight.” Taking my phone, I looked up the program.
“That’s why Dare wanted me to bring you? Youcompose?” she breathed.
