Off Broadway by Janna Watts Read Free Book Online Page B

say who were you doing?”
    She drew in a steadying breath. “That’s not your concern. We didn’t have rehearsal plans. I needed a day off.”
    “I think we should cut Material Girl ,” he said, flipping tactics.
    She moved closer to the piano and ignored the angry heat swirling around him. “Really? Your arrangement’s really good. Why would you want to cut it?”
    “It’s not right for that crowd. The audience at the Carmichael will be a lot older. They’ve probably never even heard the original song.”
    Avery frowned. “Why does that matter?”
    “It’s not funny if you don’t know the original song.”
    “Yes, it is,” Avery argued.
    “It’s not.”
    “Well, it’s my show and I want to keep it.”
    Dan raised his eyebrows. “That’s how it’s going to be now? Your show? I’m just the zany sidekick playing background music to the diva.”
    Avery’s breath caught. “Don’t call me a diva. I’ve never acted like that.”
    Dan stood up and placed his hands on the top of the piano. “You’re the definition of diva, Avery. You get everything your way. Everyone kneels before you and gives you just what you want.”
    Avery jerked back as if she’d been slapped. “Is that what you think?”
    Dan must have seen the hurt and anger in her eyes because he pulled himself back. “No. Sorry. Christ, that was out of line.”
    Avery brushed tears from her eyes. She inhaled, squared her shoulders and looked at Dan. “Let’s just get through this week. We’ll rehearse the Carmichael as the play list currently stands. I’ll consider if we should drop Material Girl later.”
    Dan stepped forward and squeezed Avery’s hand. “I’m sorry. I don’t think you’re a diva.”
    Avery blinked away tears. She nodded. “Let’s start from the top of the show.”
    ***
    Avery was relentless with rehearsals. Dan had never been so tired. He played six hours a day and went home to a pissed off dog and sleepless nights. Every time he closed his eyes, the image of Avery riding Nick’s hand assaulted him. Her moans and whimpers echoed in his head at night and her beautiful voice haunted his waking hours.
    She’d pulled away from him. She was professional, but the show wasn’t the same. The energy between the two of them was off. He’d messed things up by calling her a diva. Or maybe by ignoring the giant pink elephant in the room. He’d opened his mouth several times to talk to Avery about that night, but the guarded look on her face kept him from going through with it.
    He played the show over and over, and with every hour, he died a little, knowing that at the end of their Carmichael gig, she’d send him back to South Carolina.
    “I think we should have Nick play with us at the Carmichael,” she said on the Wednesday before the opening.
    “No.”
    “That’s it?” She arched a brow. “No discussion. Just no.”
    “That’s right. No.”
    She pursed her lips. “I think we should consider it. Hugo’s worked really well with the three of us. And everyone loves a bass player.”
    Dan groaned. “You’re killing me, Avery.”
    She looked at him and blinked. “What?”
    “Jesus Christ, how do you expect me to react to this? Yes, by all means, let’s have the guy whose fingers were in your pussy a week ago join us on stage. That won’t be a weird dynamic at all.”
    “Oh.” The air in the room stilled.
    Dan released a breath and looked into her wide blue eyes. “Everything’s off with us right now, and I don’t think bringing Nick into will make it any better.” A thought hit him like a punch to the gut. “Unless you just want to play with him?”
    Avery inhaled sharply. “What? Of course not. You’re my creative life partner. Why would I only want to play with him?”
    Dan’s heart squeezed. “Your creative life partner?”
    Avery’s cheeks reddened. “Yes,” she whispered.
    “You’re not sending me back to South Carolina?”
    She blinked at him. “Why would I?”
    His shoulders