The Low Notes by Kate Roth Read Free Book Online Page A

his lips against hers but he stopped his thoughts dead in their tracks. He nodded at her once more, careful to not coax any more information from her. He was back to his car promptly and, only to torture himself, he glanced back. Nina stood outside of her car door, watching him. Time was stopped, the two of them gazing at each other through the sea of people. Kevin’s eyes smoothed over the curves of her face, the one he’d been dreaming of. Her pink lips parted and her red tongue slipped out to wet them. Kevin knew the gravity of what was happening. He knew the depths of the consequences that could arise and yet he was blinded by attraction and let all rationale escape him. Things were going to get more complicated.
    “ What time?” he shouted out.

Chapter Ten
     
    Kevin glanced at the clock for the fourth time in twenty minutes then he looked at Jeff, sprawled out on the couch with his hand grasping the remote. He was staring at the television like a drone. He hadn’t said a word in close to an hour. Jeff and Kevin had taken the night to hang out, though Kevin was ready for him to leave so he could get to The Black Jewel.
    “ Well, man, maybe we should call it a night...” Kevin’s voice trailed off in effort to insinuate it was time for Jeff to go.
    Jeff stretched his arms above his head and sat up from the indent he'd left in Kevin’s sofa. “Yeah, the wife probably wants me home.”
    Kevin was glad it was going to be that easy to get rid of him. He still needed to shower and find something else to wear before heading down the block to see Nina perform. Every time Kevin thought of what he was doing, his stomach twisted into knots. He was changing his mind every few minutes. He would n't go because it was inappropriate and he didn't want to lead her on. He would go because he was only going to take in some live music, nothing more. He would n't go because he was still angry with her and there was no changing that. Yeah right, he thought.
    Jeff started slipping his shoes on near the front door.
    “ How did you know Jen was the one?” Kevin stumbled over his words.
    Jeff shot him a look. While the two had been so close growing up, like most men, they rarely made mention of the really serious stuff. Jeff had been the shoulder Kevin cried on when grappling with hospital and funeral decisions for his dad, but they hadn't talked about women in anything more than a joking manner since high school.
    “ Why?” Jeff asked, his eyes tight on Kevin.
    Kevin sighed. “That girl from the restaurant. She... things didn't work out. And I don't think they ever could. But I can't stop thinking about her.”
    “ I knew Jen was the one when I realized I cared more about what happened to her than I cared about myself,” Jeff said pointedly.
    Mulling over his cousin's statement, Kevin tried not to think about it in terms of Nina. It was too soon, too painful.
    “ You're not gonna go see her sing again are you?” Jeff asked.
    Kevin let out a laugh. All their years of scheming as teenagers had given them a somewhat psychic ability with one another.
    “ Come on man. If you wanna feel like shit, listen to the sappy love songs in the comfort of your own home. Preferably with scotch on hand,” Jeff chided.
    He was right. It would be torture to sit in the darkened restaurant and hear her sweet voice wrap around him. If she saw him there, she might think he was there to rekindle their romance and Kevin was forcing himself to believe that wasn’t what he wanted.
    Jeff grabbed his keys and clapped Kevin hard on the shoulder. “Resist the torture.”
    Kevin chuckled. “I will.”
    With that, Jeff was off into the street and on his way home.
    Alone with his thoughts, Kevin’s mind flipped through every image he had of Nina’s face. Burned into his brain was the picture of perfection he’d first glanced upon. Black dress, black hair, pink lips. That was the order in which he’d first seen her. And then there was the intangible