Choosing the Right Man by Violet Duke

Author:Violet Duke [Duke, Violet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Violet Duke
Published: 2013-10-04T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

THIS WAS KILLING HIM.

Brian sat and listened to the poor kid playing the tuba next to Skylar attempt to find his place in the big concert finale number after missing what sounded like a few full beats in the song, much to the wincing sympathy of all his band mates. And the audience.

Okay, so two things were killing him.

What should have been a pleasant, albeit slightly off-tune evening enjoying Skylar’s first middle school band concert had turned into two torturous hours seeing—and doing his damndest to ignore—the obvious chemistry between Abby and Connor.

Abby had done the diplomatic thing and went to sit with a few of the English Department teachers she worked with, leaving him and Connor to sit together two rows behind her.

And somehow, Brian still felt like the third wheel.

“Hey man, you okay?” Connor nudged him in the shoulder, studying his face in concern.

Brian forced a half smile. “I just feel bad for that poor guy.” He nodded over at the dejected-looking tuba player who was packing up his instrument now. All his friends were patting him on the back and trying to make him feel better but it didn’t look like it was helping much.

He knew exactly how the kid felt. “It’s like he blinked and lost his place for a split second and couldn’t ever get back. After a while, he never even had a chance, really.”

Connor’s frown deepened. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then stopped.

Brian added quietly, “It wasn’t anyone’s fault. These things just happen. Still. It sucks for him, is all.”

They both knew he wasn’t talking about the tuba player at all.

“Brian—”

“Dad! Dad!”

He instantly pinned a smile on his face and swiveled around, dropping everything so he could catch his daughter in the flying hug she hurtled at him. “Hey, sweetie, you were amazing up there.” He gave her a genuine grin then when she beamed at him. “I can’t believe that clarinet is the same one that sounded like a dying animal just a few months ago.”

“I know, right?” She giggled and threw her arms around Connor as well. “Thanks for coming, Uncle Connor!” Turning around, she scanned the crowd. “Hey, where’s Abby?”

“Right here, kiddo.” Abby came up behind them and Skylar lit up, flinging the biggest hug of all over at Abby. “Did you hear? I didn’t make a single mistake! Thank you so much for practicing with me all month.” She blew out an adrenaline-rich breath. “I totally thought I was going to screw up.”

“I didn’t. I knew you were going to rock it.” Abby hooked her arm through Skylar’s and they gabbed in parallel speeds as they walked to the parking lot, both of them all but forgetting he and Connor were even trailing behind them. “Did you know you were grinning like a hyena at the end of the first song? You totally nailed that one really difficult part. It was perfect.”

Skylar hopped up and down, clapping excitedly.

“And I saw you give your tuba friend a hug at the end.

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