Backstage Romance: An Austen-Inspired Romantic Comedy Box Set by Gigi Blume (ebook reader with highlighter txt) 📕

Wyatt’s face was all wonder. “How is it I’m just finding out you play piano?”

“I guess I’m full of all sorts of surprises,” I replied.

“Know any Christmas tunes?”

Do I know any Christmas tunes?!

“Is Santa fat and jolly?” I wagged my brows. “Here’s one for you, Charlie Brown.”

I transitioned smoothly into Linus and Lucy, otherwise known as the Peanuts Theme Song. Wyatt scooped up Reeses and began dancing, bobbing up and down like the cartoon. People started to join in. It was crazy fun. I played one Christmas song after another. At one point, someone put an empty mason jar on the piano lid and stuffed a five-dollar bill inside. I started taking requests.

Silver Bells, Deck the Halls, Let it Snow. More cash tips filled the jar. Most of the songs were carols everyone joined in on but a few people requested stuff like Santa Baby or Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas which turned out to be more like Karaoke.

“I have a request,” said Wyatt. “Sing a duet with me?”

I waved him off. “I can’t sing.”

“Neither can I. We’ll be terrible together. Come on. For Reeses?” He squeezed Reeses to his cheek to play the cute card.

“Oh, okay. But I warned you. I’m not a great singer.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

The song he wanted was Baby It’s Cold Outside, so I started in, cringing as my voice left my mouth. Wyatt’s face brightened as if I had the most beautiful voice in the world. I was convinced he must have been deaf.

He joined in, playing up the comedy. He was making up his own words, giving everyone a good laugh. More money piled in our jar. He kicked it up a notch, inspired by the tips. We were on a roll, singing our little hearts out. He had a pretty good voice. I mean, he was no Pavarotti but I certainly didn’t hold a candle to the many fantastic vocalists at my school. But Wyatt was wonderful in his own Wyatt way. His eyes glistened as he leaned toward me, singing about how my lips looked delicious.

Gah.

I thanked my lucky stars he couldn’t see the bright red tinge on my cheeks in the candlelight. What would people think if he stole a kiss right then and there? How would I react? Would I kiss him back?

He really did have a dazzling smile. It wasn’t just because of his perfectly straight, gleaming white teeth, or how those kissable lips formed into a scrumptious crescent. Or even how his eyes flashed in such a way, they sent bolts of lightning to my belly button.

I discovered as I sat there playing piano, singing a duet with Wyatt, that his smile was stunning because it sprouted from deep within—from a place so pure and so real, it was almost blinding.

A flutter built inside of me, filling me to the brim. My heart thundered in my chest. So. Darn. Loud. So overwhelming. My fingers faltered, fumbling over the keys. Wyatt’s smile only grew wider.

I braced myself for another wave—the falling sensation that’s equal measures frightening and thrilling. Like a roller coaster—the kind that drops you down so your stomach leaps into your throat.

Was this what it was like to fall in love? This beautiful ache burning me to embers. The awareness in my entire body responding to Wyatt’s presence like static cling on socks.

No.

People didn’t fall in love overnight. That only happened in movies.

In a flash, the power blasted back on—the lights, the music, the donut machine all coming to life at once. Everyone cheered and applauded when the crew responsible for restoring the power ambled inside. Hannah ushered them to the bar to offer them food. Our heroes. We were saved.

A moment later, I felt Teresa’s hand on my shoulder.

“A little elf told me you two need a place to stay tonight,” she said.

Hmmm. I wondered who that might be.

Kevin came over and greeted us with a handshake. The only one in town not into hugs, it seemed.

“We want you to stay at our house tonight,” he said in his low baritone. “And we won’t take no for an answer.”

I’d never been more grateful for a hot shower in my life. Teresa lent me some pajamas that dragged on the floor when I walked so I ended up tying little knots at the hem of the pants. I slept on Joy’s trundle bed. She was under the impression we were having a slumber party and was all about the girl-talk late into the night. She asked so many questions. Was Wyatt my boyfriend? Was he a good kisser? What was my longest Snapchat streak?

We kinda bonded.

In the morning I found my clothes washed and folded. Was there no end to these people’s kindness? Wyatt greeted me in the kitchen bright-faced and clean-shaven. Apparently the sofa he slept on was even better than the backseat of that Mustang.

He’d already taken Reeses out to do his business and the little dog was nibbling on some chicken on a paper plate.

Wyatt gazed at me. “Last night was something else, wasn’t it?”

“Which part?”

“All of it. I feel...happy. You know what I mean?”

“Yeah. I think so.” I eyed the spread on the kitchen island. Pastries, fruit, coffee, and a note for us to help ourselves.

Wyatt poured a cup of coffee and handed it to me. “Where did you learn to play piano like that? Is music your major?”

“Yes.”

“That’s awesome.” He poured another cup and leaned next to me on the counter. “What school do you go to? NYU?”

“Juilliard.” I bit into a cheese danish.

“Of course you do.”

I winked at him as I chewed my danish. This all felt so natural, like we were playing house.

Silly.

“So, we should probably figure out a way to get to L.A. in the next twenty-four hours,” he said, running his fingers though his locks. Seriously, he could do that all day and I’d never tire of watching him. “Any ideas?”

“Hang on.” I padded to the coat