you like this.” I laugh as he backs away from me. After a painful look, I point, “Bathroom’s that way.”
Justin grabs a bag and saunters over to the hallway, while I turn to stroll into the kitchen where my parents leave a pad of in case you don’t feel well notes for me to use. I grab one of the pre-signed notes and return to munching on my breakfast while waiting on Justin, who’s taking his dear, sweet time to get dressed. After what feels like a class period, he finally comes out of the hallway dressed in his usual black dress pants, but this time, he sports a light gray button down and loose, black tie.
“Ready?” he asks, tossing the bag over his shoulder as I slide the note in my purse to hand in tomorrow morning.
After a nod, the two of us leave my apartment and drive a few blocks over to his, where, from the moment I step across the threshold, I feel at home. Dropping my backpack, I admire the modern look mixed with vintage, framed art, while he dead-bolts the door and checks the windows.
With a smile, I attempt to slip myself onto the gray leather love seat that I’ve spent many afternoons and evenings on, when he grabs my hand and says, “This way.”
Justin leads us into his bedroom and locks the door, which makes me uncomfortable. I haven’t let him kiss me yet, so why would he assume I was going to let him sleep with me?
I stutter nervously, “U-u-u-m, w-w-what are we doing in here?”
Picking up on the vibes, he turns around and sneers, “What do you think?”
“I…well…I…um…well…you know I…”
“Did you think I brought you here to try to sleep with you?”
After a slight hesitation, I nod, and he shakes his head, disheartened. “You should know by now that I’m more of a gentleman than that. Sydney Barrows said, ‘The more you act like a lady, the more he’ll act like a gentleman.’ If more girls thought about it like that, they’d have all the romance they desire.”
“Like me?”
Justin winks.
“So, what are we doing back here?”
“Just watch.” He informs me before sliding his mattress and box spring off the frame. Justin slides the mystery key out of his pocket. “First answer, the key I carry around in my pocket is for this.” He sticks it into a small hole at the bottom of the frame and turns it. Suddenly, the top part springs open, revealing a set of piano keys, while the bottom part slides up and reveals a set of foot pedals.
“A piano?”
“Yeah.” He grins at it lovingly. With a wiggle, he pulls a collapsible bench from the footboard and slides it over. “Come sit with me.”
Doing as instructed, I watch him as he stares longingly at the keys with a distant look. After several minutes in silence, he sighs. “This was my first love.”
“A piano?”
“Yeah.” He stares at the keys. “See, my dad was a musician. His jazz band toured all across the world playing for those with millions of dollars and those who only dreamed of riches.”
“He played the piano. That’s why you know so much about it.”
“He believed that music, like love, was meant for everyone to enjoy. He taught me how to play.”
“Are you any good?”
“Hmm.” His soft hum is followed by a lick of the lips. “I was. I used to be great. In fact, before I became a Lost Boy, I convinced myself I wanted to follow in Dad’s footsteps. I had it all set up, too. Dad knew the right people to make that happen, but after the accident…”
“What accident?”
“My parents had been traveling so much that they booked us our own special family vacation. It was going to be to the beach, somewhere we didn’t get to go often. God, I was so excited that I counted down the days on the calendar, crossing them off one by one. The night before we were supposed to leave, my parents went out for a special dinner—you know, just the two of them— at their favorite restaurant. While they were out, a major storm hit. They were going to wait it out but decided to try and get
Justin grabs a bag and saunters over to the hallway, while I turn to stroll into the kitchen where my parents leave a pad of in case you don’t feel well notes for me to use. I grab one of the pre-signed notes and return to munching on my breakfast while waiting on Justin, who’s taking his dear, sweet time to get dressed. After what feels like a class period, he finally comes out of the hallway dressed in his usual black dress pants, but this time, he sports a light gray button down and loose, black tie.
“Ready?” he asks, tossing the bag over his shoulder as I slide the note in my purse to hand in tomorrow morning.
After a nod, the two of us leave my apartment and drive a few blocks over to his, where, from the moment I step across the threshold, I feel at home. Dropping my backpack, I admire the modern look mixed with vintage, framed art, while he dead-bolts the door and checks the windows.
With a smile, I attempt to slip myself onto the gray leather love seat that I’ve spent many afternoons and evenings on, when he grabs my hand and says, “This way.”
Justin leads us into his bedroom and locks the door, which makes me uncomfortable. I haven’t let him kiss me yet, so why would he assume I was going to let him sleep with me?
I stutter nervously, “U-u-u-m, w-w-what are we doing in here?”
Picking up on the vibes, he turns around and sneers, “What do you think?”
“I…well…I…um…well…you know I…”
“Did you think I brought you here to try to sleep with you?”
After a slight hesitation, I nod, and he shakes his head, disheartened. “You should know by now that I’m more of a gentleman than that. Sydney Barrows said, ‘The more you act like a lady, the more he’ll act like a gentleman.’ If more girls thought about it like that, they’d have all the romance they desire.”
“Like me?”
Justin winks.
“So, what are we doing back here?”
“Just watch.” He informs me before sliding his mattress and box spring off the frame. Justin slides the mystery key out of his pocket. “First answer, the key I carry around in my pocket is for this.” He sticks it into a small hole at the bottom of the frame and turns it. Suddenly, the top part springs open, revealing a set of piano keys, while the bottom part slides up and reveals a set of foot pedals.
“A piano?”
“Yeah.” He grins at it lovingly. With a wiggle, he pulls a collapsible bench from the footboard and slides it over. “Come sit with me.”
Doing as instructed, I watch him as he stares longingly at the keys with a distant look. After several minutes in silence, he sighs. “This was my first love.”
“A piano?”
“Yeah.” He stares at the keys. “See, my dad was a musician. His jazz band toured all across the world playing for those with millions of dollars and those who only dreamed of riches.”
“He played the piano. That’s why you know so much about it.”
“He believed that music, like love, was meant for everyone to enjoy. He taught me how to play.”
“Are you any good?”
“Hmm.” His soft hum is followed by a lick of the lips. “I was. I used to be great. In fact, before I became a Lost Boy, I convinced myself I wanted to follow in Dad’s footsteps. I had it all set up, too. Dad knew the right people to make that happen, but after the accident…”
“What accident?”
“My parents had been traveling so much that they booked us our own special family vacation. It was going to be to the beach, somewhere we didn’t get to go often. God, I was so excited that I counted down the days on the calendar, crossing them off one by one. The night before we were supposed to leave, my parents went out for a special dinner—you know, just the two of them— at their favorite restaurant. While they were out, a major storm hit. They were going to wait it out but decided to try and get
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