Breathe into Me

by Fawkes, Sara

  Andrew seemed to read my mind. “We’re a bit short staffed tonight, and I sent Clare to check in with her supervisor. We’ve a wedding this afternoon and three people have already called in sick.” He narrowed his shrewd gaze to me. “Your timing couldn’t have been better.”

  I tried not to let my giddiness at his words show. A job in a location like this had to pay better than the little sandwich shop. “That wasn’t my intention, Mr. Ford.”

  He winced a bit at the Mister. “You can call me Andrew for the moment since we’re only talking. My father is Mr. Ford, not me.” He indicated the piano with a jerk of his head. “Why don’t you play something for me?”

  I wasn’t sure what to say. My jaw worked for a moment, then I sat back down in the chair and stared at the keys. “It’s been a while since I played,” I repeated in a shaky voice, suddenly nervous again as Andrew came around to the side of the piano. “What do you want to hear?”

  “Surprise me.”

  Being given the choice of music, of course, made my mind go completely blank. To give myself time to think, I ran my fingers up the keys, playing an octave, then back down again to middle C. The dulcet sounds of the grand piano rang off the wood walls and I could tell immediately this piano was concert quality, far better than anything I’d played before.

  Not wanting to make a complete fool of myself, I started off with Beethoven’s Für Elise, one of the first classical songs I’d ever learned. My fingers danced across the keys, muscle memory still good even after years of neglect. The effort was flawless, and I was impressed despite myself.

  “Not bad,” Andrew said during a slower section. “How about something more lively?”

  Without missing a beat, I segued right into Mozart’s Turkish Rondo. As the decidedly upbeat tones reverberated through the small room, a smile tugged at my lips. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed this, how much I loved the feel of the keys beneath my fingers. I made a few errors this time as my hands, which had been dormant so long, warmed up to the memory of the music I’d once cherished. But the sound of the music, my music, echoing around me was beyond compare.

  “What about any modern tunes?”

  A second later I heard Andrew chuckle as Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” spilled from my fingers. I bit my lip, trying to hide my smile, and then segued into Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face.” Both songs were ones I’d taught myself as no sheet music had been available at the time, but they had been my favorite songs around the time I’d quit lessons.

  When I glanced up at Andrew, he gave me a bemused smile. “Impressive. What’s the toughest song you know?”

  I ended the song I was playing and paused in thought, then as clapping sounded around me I realized with a jolt that we’d attracted an audience. The ladies I’d seen earlier by the tennis courts were watching me, as well as an older couple who were dressed as fancy as anyone I’d ever seen. I froze, and gave Andrew an unsure look.

  “Too late now,” he said, reading my expression “They’re already here, might as well continue the show.”

  This certainly wasn’t the first time I’d played for an audience, but it had been a while. I suddenly remembered what I’d considered my toughest challenge on the piano. “It’s been a while since I played this,” I said, giving Andrew a rueful smile. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you if I botch it royally.”

  “Somehow, I doubt that’ll happen.”

  Wishing I had his confidence in my rusty abilities, I waggled my fingers theatrically, then launched into Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2. It was the last song I’d learned before my father—stepfather—had died. I expected to feel some pain for that reason since it brought back memories of him, but all I felt was the music spilling from my fingertips. The song wasn’t easy, and I skipped most of the prelude and dove right into the hard parts.

  Immediately I realized I’d forgotten more than I thought. Still, I managed to cobble it together enough so that few would realize it wasn’t the original music. I made quite a few errors this time but the smile never left my face. With an overly dramatic flourish at the end, I received a round of applause from the people around the piano.

  “I haven’t heard that since Bugs Bunny played it on the silver screen,” the older woman said, giving me a wink before wandering off with her husband. I bit my lip, trying to curb my enthusiasm and school my expression into something more stoic, but it proved too difficult.

  The rest of the guests filtered away and Andrew looked ready to say something else when an older gentleman stepped up to the piano. Drew straightened when he saw the man, but he was ignored. The gray-haired man stopped beside the bench and peered down at me. “Are you auditioning for the piano position?”

  “Um…” I look at Drew, not sure what to say. Piano position?

  “She is,” Andrew answered for me.

  The older gentlemen nodded, keeping his gaze on me. Uncomfortable with his stare, I looked away. “Next time, use one of the side rooms so as not to disturb the guests. But you’re hired.” He looked at Andrew. “The Bozeman-Gautier wedding is behind schedule, make sure everything comes together in time.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The whole exchange was just odd. I watched the older man disappear around the corner again. “If you don’t mind my asking,” I said as politely as I could, “who was that?”

  “My father.” Andrew didn’t look all that impressed by the fact. “He owns the club itself and leads the board that runs it. If he says you’re hired, then you’re in.”

  “I didn’t know I was trying out,” I murmured, trying not to let my pleasure show. “He must have really liked my playing.”

  “Don’t take it as a compliment, it probably wasn’t your playing that got you the job.”

  The flat way he said it ruined my mood completely. I dropped my arms from the keys and looked away, but not before I saw Andrew’s surprised look as he realized what he’d said. “I didn’t mean … Shit. We had some drama with the girl before and … You’re very talented, more so than the person you’re replacing.”

  An awkward silence ensued, and then he pushed some paperwork at me. “If you’re interested, fill these out and drop them off by tomorrow. My number is on the top, call me and we can set up a time for a tour.”

  I took the application paperwork and slid silently off the bench. I’d barely gone a step when Andrew’s voice called out to me. “You really are good.”

  I paused to look back at him. He scratched his neck, looking suitably abashed, but continued. “I didn’t think this little town would have anyone as good as you.”

  “I’m not from around here,” I said, before turning away. His comment still stung, although something told me it wasn’t personal, just leftover baggage from the previous piano player. He seemed nice enough however, and I knew I couldn’t turn down the job. I hadn’t even realized how much I wanted something like this until it was offered, and now I could barely contain my excitement.

  Andrew went back into the country club and I walked toward the entrance, still looking for Clare. I pulled my phone out of my purse to check for texts, and then pulled up my chat log with Everett. I was halfway through a text telling him about the job offer, when I stopped and stared at the words. It hadn’t occurred to me until that point how dependent I’d grown on him. That feeling unnerved me, underscoring my uncertainty on what exactly our relationship was. Was he just a friend or something more?

  Clare chose that moment to come racing around the corner, and I closed the clamshell phone, erasing the text. She was practically bouncing as she drew near, and spontaneously threw her arms around me. “Omigod, was that you playing the piano? That was so awesome!”

  I smiled a bit at her enthusiasm. “Looks like I won’t be working with you and the waitstaff.”

  “I guess! They told me when I went in that they’d already hired two other people this morning, so you wouldn’t have gotten that job anyway.”

  “Oh.” I’d gotten lucky then, really lucky. Tal
k about a change of pace.

  “But cheer up! Your job is way better, plus I think you get paid more. The last girl bragged about that part all the time.”

  “Thank you.” That didn’t seem like nearly enough words to express my gratitude. “Thank you so much.”

  She just grinned at me. “What are friends for?”

  “Are you working tonight?”

  Clare nodded. “But I have enough time to take you back to your truck.”

  “What time do you get done?”

  “About nine or so, why?”

  “How much do you like live bands?”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  McHenry’s was a relatively new bar in Oyster Cove, but very different from most of its ilk.

  For one, McHenry’s was on the north end of town, out toward some of the ritzier suburbs, not far from the country club. This seemed to give it permission to sell its drinks for double the price of other area bars, and what should have run it out of business made it the star attraction for area night life. The place was always packed on weekends, and this evening was no different, with the college kids looking to party.

  “I’ve never actually been here,” Clare shouted into my ear as we squeezed through to the bar along one cinderblock wall. “I’ve heard it’s one of the better bars in the area, though.”

  “The best in Harrison County,” I shouted back, snagging a seat as one old boy stepped away from the bar. “It’ll be fun!”

  I wished I shared my own enthusiasm, but to tell the truth I was nervous. Recognizing anybody in the sea of faces was difficult; there were people I very much didn’t want to run into tonight. I couldn’t see any of the construction boys, either, and tried to forget my anxiety by checking out Clare. “You look cute.”

  Clare was wearing probably one of the more conservative outfits in the club; her shirt was buttoned up to her neck and the breezy skirt sat just above her knees, but it still looked good. “Thanks, I don’t go out much.” She didn’t seem uncomfortable, however, staring with wide eyes around the packed bar.

  “Wait until the band starts, it can get wild.” I’d seen Twisted Melody, the band for tonight, play before and they were decent, but I had no idea how well Cole would lead them. The band hadn’t even started setting up on stage, but it was early yet. The DJ’s song selection was pretty good, however, and I nudged Clare with my shoulder. “Come on, show me your moves.”

  She laughed nervously. “I’m a terrible dancer.”

  “Hey, you gotta learn somehow.” Grabbing her free hand, I pulled her through the crowd toward an empty spot between dancers. When I hit the wooden dance floor, I realized suddenly just how much I missed this. There was a freedom in that place, lost in the crush of bodies around you. The music beat through me and I felt, if I closed my eyes, I could just dance my cares away.

  For the moment, however, I pushed back the feelings, and twirled a laughing Clare in a circle. “Show me how you can’t dance.”

  I found out quickly that she wasn’t lying about her dancing skills. Clare moved like a wooden doll, but by the time she hit the bottom of the first bottle she’d begun to loosen up. The DJ played decent dance music, catering to the younger crowd instead of the older rock other bars played, so we stayed on the floor through several songs.

  As she loosened up, so did I, allowing myself to feel the music and move my body to the beats. My eyes were closed as I rolled my body to the sounds, but when I felt someone move up on me from behind, it pulled me out of the moment. Opening my eyes, I turned to see a younger man in a ball cap staring down my shirt. He reached forward to pull me close but Clare grabbed my hand, pulling me away.

  “She’s mine,” Clare said, and I laughed at the boy’s wide eyes as Clare crushed me to her body. He looked like he’d died and gone to heaven so I gave him a little show, gyrating my backside against Clare’s pelvis. She took it in great humor, giving me a smack on the ass that had us both giggling.

  When I glanced at the stage and saw the band setting up, I knew Cole had to be nearby and, hopefully, Everett. The club was more crowded now and, even in heels, I couldn’t see above the sea of faces. I turned to Clare and said, “Come on, let’s get you a drink.”

  Clare cheered, obviously already feeling the effects of the alcohol, and followed me off the floor. “This is fun,” she shouted as we made our way through the crowd. “I’ve never gone out like this before.”

  “Seriously?” Clare was about my age, but it occurred to me that I didn’t know much about her. For all I knew, she’d been raised in a convent. Grinning, I handed her my water bottle. “Here, drink this first.” As she took a swig, I managed to catch the eye of the bartender. “Two tequila shots.”

  “Are you serious?” Clare stared at the amber liquid with wide eyes for several seconds before gingerly picking up the glass and lime slice.

  “All right, let me show you how it’s done first. Just remember: lick, salt, lick, drink, bite.”

  She stared at me with wide eyes. “You lost me.”

  Grinning, I grabbed the small saltshaker beside the drinks. I licked the back of my hand, sprinkled salt on the wet patch, licked it again, and then shot back the liquor. It burned going down, and I quickly bit into the lime slice. “Okay, your turn.”

  Clare looked apprehensive as she took the saltshaker from me, but it didn’t take much encouraging before she started. When it came to the alcohol, she fumbled with the lime, coughing hard before finally getting it into her mouth. “That was terrible,” she rasped, and I just grinned.

  “I’ll admit, it takes some getting used to.” Maybe I should have ordered a better tasting brand of tequila, but I laughed when she held up two fingers to the bartender. “I’m the designated driver tonight so you can do these two. C’mon, you’ve got this.”

  Clare had downed the second shot, her face a mixture of pain and distaste, when someone bumped hard into my shoulder. I wobbled on my heels, stepping away from the other person, only to feel something cold run down my side. Stunned, I spun around just as Ashley poured the last of her drink on me, and then gave me a smug smile.

  “Oops.”

  I gaped at her, completely at a loss on what to say. The wet material stuck to my skin, and I peeled the shirt off my belly.

  Ashley gave me a toothy grin, waggled her fingers, and blended in with the crowd. Beside me, Clare gasped, “That bitch!”

  “What happened?” Everett’s voice cut through the noise as he approached through the crowd.

  “Nothing.” I looked around to see people whispering and laughing. What fun I’d been having moments before evaporated. “I need to find some napkins,” I mumbled, wanting only to disappear.

  “Let me help.”

  I shook my head at Clare’s offer and made a beeline for the bathroom. The liquid was cold against my skin, and I could already tell it was going to be sticky when it dried. Fortunately, my green top didn’t show much of the stain and I hoped the evening would be salvageable.

  Everett was still outside the door when I exited, still dabbing at the wet mark. “Is that the same girl from the night we met?” he asked as I leaned against the wall.

  I nodded, not in the mood to talk. It felt like every eye in the room was on me and I just wanted to run. I turned to Everett, intent on making my excuses and leave, and stared. The deep blue shirt he wore was fitted to his torso, dark jeans slung low on his narrow hips. The memory of the body I’d seen beneath that shirt proved the perfect distraction, the words I’d intended to say flying from my mind.

  Two girls exited from the bathroom beside us, heads close together to be heard in the loud din. One of them with long dark hair and too much eye makeup looked Everett up and paused for a moment, trying to capture his attention. Her friend’s eyes grew wide as they both stared, whispering excitedly.

  Step off, bitches, he’s mine.

  The possessive thought startled me. Everett didn’t even seem to notice the girls, who were alternately staring at him and frowning at me.
I could see them psyching themselves up for introduction, and had the sudden urge to kick some ass.

  Oh boy.

  “I need to take a walk.” Not bothering to see if he heard me, I pushed my way through the crowd toward the front door. Behind me I could hear the DJ’s music die down as the band got ready to start their first number. I was only interested in getting out of that claustrophobic environment, and shoved my way through the newcomers and out the entrance.

  The night sky was cloudy and the humidity had increased, but I didn’t care. Storms were common this time of the year but it hadn’t yet grown windy so I wasn’t too worried. I walked around the front building and leaned against the wall, glad for the alone time. Footsteps crunched behind me, and Everett leaned up on the wall next to me. “I thought you were going to walk,” he said, flashing me a lopsided grin.

  “Oh, a funny guy.” I was antsy, but his presence helped calm me a bit. My shirt was plastered to my skin and I gave it a few good shakes trying to dry it out. “That was embarrassing.”

  “I don’t know, I’ve always been a fan of wet T-shirt contests.”

  His comment surprised a laugh out of me. “Down, boy.”

  He leaned over and nudged me with his shoulder. “So, is this what you do for fun around here?”

  “It’s not normally this dramatic,” I said, then smacked my forehead. “Oh yes it is. That’s the South for you, gossip and drama.”

  That came out more bitter than I meant, and I let out a shaky breath. Leaning my head back, I stared up at the sky. The nearby grove of pine trees was outlined in the sky above, the moon’s rays trying to penetrate the cloud layer. “Lately, the drama seems to always happen to me,” I said after a moment. “I’m like a magnet for this kind of thing.”

  “What’s that over there?”

  I looked over to see him pointing toward the nearby trees. Following his finger I couldn’t see anything moving. Just as I was getting ready to ask what he saw, a spark of light flickered then died, followed close behind by another. Understanding dawned. “They’re fireflies.”