Page 91 of To Believe In You
Trying to read the deeper meaning—to make sure he understood correctly—Matt hadn’t answered.
Tim had filled the gap. “Next week.”
Gannon had clapped Matt’s shoulder. “Welcome back to Awestruck.”
In. He was in with Awestruck.
He’d expected to feel like he had a new lease on life.
And maybe for the two-minute phone call where he quit the janitorial job, it had.
But the high had faded quickly, leaving him feeling like he was half-way across a rotting rope bridge. He hadn’t had the heart to take another step along the path by breaking the news to Lina.
By the time he finished his lesson and made his notes, Tim had followed Lina home and circled back. Matt buckled himself into the passenger seat and tipped his head against the rest as the manager pulled into traffic, headed for the condo.
If Tim had expected a lighter mood from him, given the day’s developments, he didn’t comment. Instead, the quiet in the vehicle stretched. No radio.
Come to think of it, Tim’s mood ought to have improved with Matt’s offer from Awestruck too. Instead, Tim’s knuckles jutted up, his grip on the wheel tight.
He must’ve sensed Matt’s attention on him, because he drew a breath. “I found them. Nadia’s been married six years. They live in Texas with two kids, a four-year-old girl who’s theirs together, and one kid she brought with her into the relationship. An eight-year-old son. His name is Axel.”
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Lina smirked as she typed a reply to one of Awestruck’s diehard fans. The band might have a lot of those, but a few had been around long enough and commenting often so Lina knew them pretty well. She’d even met several in person, and bantering with them online was proving to be the highlight of her week so far—a sad fact for a Thursday evening.
“Can you arrange a sub for my lessons tomorrow and Monday?”
Lina startled at Matt’s voice. He had ended their relationship over a week ago, and he’d stuck by the decision so doggedly, he hadn’t chatted with her about how the audition went on Monday, much less whether he was still in the running for the role of bassist. Was the request related to the band? And why hadn’t he approached her during his teaching shift? He’d left Key of Hope just an hour ago. When she’d heard the door, she’d assumed it was one of the other teachers.
But there he stood on the opposite side of her desk, thumbs hooked in the back pockets of his jeans, expression drawn as though he worried she wouldn’t grant his request.
They did ask their teachers to plan further in advance, but giving Matt a hard time would force interaction neither of them wanted. “I’ll see if one of the others can cover for you.” She clicked on the scheduling app and watched it load, mostly to stay occupied. Adeline had stopped by the office yesterday and had actually seemed a little disappointed not much required her attention. She might not mind picking up a couple of shifts.
Matt’s shape, beyond her screen, didn’t budge.
This whole week, he had looked happy and confident. Now …
Now he was looking down at her, the picture of handsome concern.
She dropped her focus to the panther tattoo. Tendons played in his forearm, and her fingers could practically feel the texture of his skin. She diverted her focus to her computer screen. “If I can’t find someone, we can reschedule your lessons. I’ll let you know.”
The attempt to dismiss him failed.
He, his tattoos, blue eyes, and toned arms remained in the walkway on the other side of her desk. “Any news with Shane? Or an apology from your dad?”
She could talk for ages about the nothing that had happened since he’d ended things. But this polite inquiry he thought he owed her didn’t mean he missed her the way she missed him.
She gave what she hoped was the appropriate response—a shake of her head.
“I heard you called off Tim.”
She’d texted the manager that morning, canceling the escort home. He and Matt must’ve been together. Or did they talk about her? Hope flared that he cared enough to do so. “Dad did pay for Shane’s return ticket home. Presumably, he went. It’s been a couple weeks since the wedding, over a week since that supposed sighting. If Shane was going to show up, he would’ve by now. Besides, driving to and from work isn’t the only time I’m alone.”
She was alone almost all the time, even here.
I don’t see a future between us, he’d said.
She’d pictured having a family with him, but the vision hadn’t included solutions to logistical issues. What would their professional lives have looked like long-term? They both could’ve kept working at Key of Hope and for Awestruck, her as social media manager, him as a songwriter. They’d have spent their free time on each other and whatever hobbies or pursuits interested them. She would’ve enjoyed it all, but would any of that have satisfied a thrill-seeker like Matt?
