“Sweet dreams indeed,” I mutter under my breath before I take off down the street in search of a bar and a shot of something much stronger than tea.
***
“I thought you forgot about me, Alex.” Alvin shoves a book into my hands. “I saw this at the library today. We can look at it together.”
I catch Phoebe’s eye from where she’s standing next to her dining room table. Her bottom lip quivers. This is what she’s longed for. She wants there to be a connection between Alvin and me just as badly as I want it.
I’d say that that book I’m holding is a strong start.
I glance over at Alvin as he takes a seat next to me on the couch. “Does this mean you’re taking up the piano again?”
Looking back at his mom, he lowers his voice. “I want to learn how to play a song before mom’s birthday.”
I thumb through the tattered book of sheet music.
“Which song?”
He turns a page, and then another before he points at the book. “That one.”
“Dinner’s almost ready,” Phoebe calls from across the room. “I hope you’re both hungry.”
I was going to skip the meal to go back to Manhattan. I planned to surprise Olivia at her place with some take-out. I haven’t stopped thinking about her since we kissed last night.
When I dropped in here unannounced, Alvin was in his room working on his homework. Phoebe was grading papers, but she set that aside to talk to me about how much she misses Monte.
I wish to hell I could right her world.
She deserves everything she wants, including family dinners with her husband sitting next to her.
“Don’t tell mom.” Alvin slams the book shut.
I
nod. “What I can do to help?”
He opens his mouth to reveal a toothy grin. “Teach me. I want you to be my new piano teacher.”
I should tell him that I don’t have time for that, but I’ll make it work. If I have to give up a few hours of sleep and drag the orchestra down to the rehearsal hall at six a.m. I’ll do it.
“When do we start?”
He’s on his feet, bouncing in place. “You’ll do it?”
“Anything for you, Alvin.” I put a hand on his shoulder. “Whatever you need, I’m there for you.”
He takes off toward the table. That kid just gave me a gift. He doesn’t realize it, but I’ll leave this house a happier man than when I walked in.
Chapter 26
Olivia
I watch Kate as she takes a sip of the smoothie. Her eyelids flutter shut.
“It’s good, right?” I tuck my yoga mat under my arm. “I told you it was worth the subway ride.”
We came to Washington Square Park after our yoga class. We hadn’t been in weeks, but when I woke up this morning with a sharp pain in my shoulder, I knew that I needed a good workout.
I could have experienced that last night if I had invited Alexander up to my apartment.