“Why not?” I shrug and climb on stage. I grab an acoustic guitar, plug it into the amp and sit on a stool in the middle of the stage.
There’s suddenly a spotlight on me, and one of the museum employees waves at me and speaks into a mic. “You’re ready to go, miss.”
I nod and strum the guitar, making sure it’s in tune, and speak to Will through the mic.
“What do you want to hear, sir?”
Will laughs. “Whatever you know.”
“I know a lot.” I search through the library in my head and settle on one. “Okay, this one is called I Never Told You.”
I strum the guitar and clear my throat and murmur, “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
Will laughs at me, his eyes happy and trained intently on me and I just smile and shake my head and continue playing the intro, and then start singing about a blue eyed boy whom I miss after all the things we’d been through. The song is sweet and a little sad, and reminds me a little of Leo, although I was never in love with Leo.
The song comes to an end. I open my eyes and look out at Will. His face is completely sober, his eyes unblinking and still trained on me. He’s leaned his elbows on his knees and isn’t moving.
Glancing around, it occurs to me that other patrons have filed in to listen to the song, and are now applauding, snapping me into the here and now. I smile and say thanks, put the guitar away and walk down the steps toward Will, who is now standing, waiting patiently for me.
“Come here,” he crooks his finger at me and I comply, walking to him.
He pulls me into his arms and off my feet, buries his face in my neck and holds on tight. I have no choice but to wrap my arms tightly around his neck.
“That was beautiful. Meg, why did you ever stop?” he asks as he sets me down, takes my hand and leads me out of the theater. If he hears the other patrons murmur about him being ‘Will Montgomery’ and snapping our photo with their cell phones, he pays them no mind.
“Leo left.” I shrug and feel a tug on my arm as Will stops dead in his tracks.
“Who the fuck is Leo?”
“He was my best friend since I was twelve, and band mate. He’s five years older.”
“And you were in a band together?” Will asks, his voice no softer and I sigh.
“Yes, through college. We got pretty good. He decided to pursue a career in music down in LA and I chose to stay here to pursue nursing.” Of course, I leave out the part about Leo signing with a band behind my back and that he’s now the lead singer of one of the hottest bands in the freaking world.
“Do you really prefer nursing? Honey, you’re a fantastic musician.”
“Thank you.” I kiss his cheek as he holds my door open for me to climb into his car. When he joins me in the car I continue. “I love being a nurse, Will. I’m a damn good one.”
“I know you are.” He takes my hand in his and kisses my fingers before linking them with his and lays our hands in his lap. “I’m just surprised. With a voice like yours, you could go really far.”
“I’m where I need to be,” I say softly.
“Okay.” He winks at me and grins. “Thank you for singing for me.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Are you hungry?” he asks. I check the time, and gasp.
“We spent all afternoon there! It’s almost dinner time. So, yeah, I’m hungry.”
“Wanna try burgers again?” he asks with a grin and I smirk.
“Not in downtown Seattle.”
“Nah, I know a place.”
*
“I want to show you something,” Will says out of the blue. We’re in his car, having finished our burgers at Red Mill, the same place where we first met that day when I ran into him and Jules.
“What?”
“Well, you shared a really important part of yourself with me today.”
It thrills me that he understands how important music is to me. I smile at him and wait for him to continue.
“So, I want to share something important to me with you.”
“I’m game,” I reply happily.
“Ironic choice of words.” Will chuckles and merges onto Interstate 5 heading south into the city center. I sit back into the plush leather seat and enjoy the ride in this sexy car of his. God, I love this car. It turns me on, big time.
I look over at Will and lick my lips.
He glances my way and then does a double take and gives me a confused smile.
“What?”
“Your car is sexy.”
“Are we back at this again?” he asks and laughs as he changes lanes.
“You look sexy as hell in this car.” I turn in my seat and face him.
His eyes find mine again. “This is only the second date.”
As if I need a reminder.
“Yep.”
“You keep fucking me with your eyes like that…”
“And what?” I interrupt him. “You had me naked and coming on my couch last night and didn’t break the rule. I doubt me eye-fucking you will make you break it either.”
“Jesus, keep talking like that, honey, and see how fast I break your rule. You have quite the dirty mouth you know.”
“I know.” I shrug and laugh. “I went to college with Jules and Natalie. Have you heard them talk lately?”