The Best Part by Penny Wilder

Author:Penny Wilder [Wilder, Penny]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Tags: M/M Romance, Love Has No Boundaries, contemporary, accounting, arts performance, assistant coach, friends to lovers, gay for you, men in suits, tattoos, musical theater
Publisher: M/M Romance Group @ goodreads
Published: 2013-10-07T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THREE

Stirred up like beef chow mein

Ben worked on the ledger for Reefer for the rest of rehearsal. Both he and Manny sat in the main floor seating area, a few seats away from each other. Ben was focused on his work, and wasn’t really paying attention to the sing-through. With about thirty minutes left in rehearsal, they stopped briefly because Keith, the actor playing the lead, had to leave to go do a radio interview to promote the show. Soraya instructed Jake to run through a solo number. As the keyboard began the intro to “Lonely Pew”, she headed over to Ben. That was when Ben realized that he was being set up.

“Ben?” she said, tapping on top of the screen on his laptop.

“Don’t touch my screen.” He tried to sound grumpy.

“Ben. Keith had to leave. The cast hasn’t had a chance to run ‘Tell ’Em the Truth’ yet with the pit.” It was a setup. She was asking him, sneaky minx, in public, in front of Manny, where he couldn’t say no without looking like a total jackass. “I was wondering, if you might be willing to sing Keith’s part so the cast could run it?” Ben looked at her, trying to decide if it was worth it to argue at all. He looked over at Manny, who was watching the conversation and looked amused.

“Don’t look at me. I sound like a tone-deaf Bob Dylan when I sing.” Manny grinned.

“You knew he was leaving early,” Ben accused.

Soraya nodded. “Of course. I hoped we’d get through everything, but we didn’t. I know you know the songs…”

“You know them too.”

“Benny, please?” She gave him her sad puppy look, which only worked because Ben knew she would keep making the face until he gave in.

Ben glared at her. He didn’t answer, but shut down his laptop, and started to put his things away. As he finished, Maize, the girl playing Mary Lane, sang the last few notes of “Lonely Pew”. He stood up and walked down onto the stage, then turned to look back at Soraya.

“One time.”

“Fine. Everyone, can I have your attention for a moment? Ben has kindly agreed to sing Keith’s part in ‘Tell ’Em the Truth’ so that we can run it. Thank you, Ben.” Ben could see the glint in Soraya’s eye. She was enjoying this far too much.

“Happy?” He growled, grabbing the binder Meghan held out to him.

“Fuck yes, I’m happy. Now all of you, sing it like you mean it! Jake? From the top, whenever you’re ready.” Soraya sat back in her chair, completely unperturbed. Which was just unfair, since she didn’t have to stand up and sing on the fly in front of a bunch of professionals. Ben closed his eyes. He was too tall to actually play the role, but he knew the song. He listened as Jake gave a couple notes to the cast about crescendos, and stood with the cast as Jake counted them in and played the piano part.

He took his cue from the girl playing Mae, and let go.

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