Page 132 of Finding the Forward: Part One
“Hence the shrine.” She tugged my hand.
I turned to see a bunch of photos ofmeon the wall. Playing the marimba, the piano, conducting the orchestra. Underneath, someone had stenciledThe Griffin the Music Magician Room for Procrasticingdirectly on the wall and added doodles and sparkles.
It was quite pretty. The griffin on the wall almost matched my tattoo.
“Procrasticing?What’s that?” She laughed.
“When you’re practicing, but you’re not practicing what you need to, so you’re both practicing and procrastinating at the same time.” I smiled, remembering those days.
Dean had to memorize body parts. I had to memorize concertos.
“Will you play something for me? It’s amazing that you play. I didn’t see a piano at your place,” she told me, running her manicured hand over the piano.
“AJ helped me pick one out. It’s being delivered next week,” I told her. I’d gone shopping with AJ, not expecting him to buy it for me.
Her face lit up. “Aww, is that a courting gift? You filed your pack paperwork, didn’t you?”
“We did. And,” I considered this. “I... I think it just might be.”
Things between us were great. I made sure to carve out moments for him like I did for Dean and Verity.
“That’s so sweet.” Then her look turned pensive. “I... I’d maybe like to court you at some point. It would have to be after Mercy turns eighteen and signs a new contract with the Maimers. I don’t even know what courting entails.”
“You want to court me?” My heart exploded as I picked her up and set her on the piano, leaning her crutch against it. Wrapping my arms around her, I kissed her deeply.
“I... I can’t buy you a piano, but yes.” Her look went shy. “Griffin the Music Magician, I’m in love with you.”
My heart exploded. She loved me?
“Airplane Girl, I’ll take whatever you can give me. I’m in love with you, too,” I told her. “I’m easy. Keep putting cupcakes in my locker, make me fried chicken, and hold my hand and I’m one happy guy.”
“Done.” She kissed me.
The door burst open, then closed with a giggle and an, “Oops, sorry.”
She broke off our kiss. “We probably don’t have time to fuck because Dare is on the way to find us, but perhaps you could play something for me?”
“Absolutely.” Though a practice room fuck sounded great.
Leaving her on the piano, I sat down and started to play something that had been running through my head. A song that was sweetness and sparkles, cake pops and happy flowers, cozysweatshirts and cups of tea while sitting in the stands in the ice rink.
“That is fucking amazing. I haven’t heard that piece of yours. Most of what I’ve heard has been for a full orchestra.” Verity’s little brother, Dare, stood there in a suit. His eyeliner was green and matched the bar in his industrial piercing.
“It’s... in progress.” I looked up at Verity. That song was about her.
“You're so good.” She beamed.
“I can’t believe you’re here.” Dare looked giddy. “Come on, Professor Dublonski is waiting. She's so excited you’re here.”
Well, that explained everything. She’d been my biggest fan and even tried to petition the university to waive the math requirement for me after I’d failed three times.
“Dare, can we take you out for ice cream after?” I asked as we left the practice room.
“We’re all going ice skating in the square afterwards. They have a rink set up with lights and music and food. Come with us? You can buy me hot booze instead.” He grinned.
Oh, right. It was that time of year.
I looked at Verity. “Would you like to have some hot booze with me?”
