Persuaded (23 page)

I knew I looked good when Sydney came out of her room into the bathroom, where I was fixing my hair, took one look at my outfit, and harrumphed.

I had on a bluish green, floral summery dress with a wide blue belt around the waist and matching green peep-toe heels. It was one of the last outfits my stepmom had bought me at the beginning of the spring season, right before Dad had declared, “No more spending, period!” Of course, that must not have sunk into Sydney’s brain the same way it had stuck with mine, judging by her new slacks and lacey, vintage-inspired blouse. I realized she must’ve picked those up in Moab.

Sydney was in a bent mood and I wasn’t willing to open my mouth to get snapped at, so we got ready in silence. She looked gorgeous and extremely sophisticated when she finished her updo. My own hair was a wreck. After the third bobby pin fell out, I gave up and opted to let it lay in loose waves around my shoulders, with a headband in. At this point, I was so excited about the night ahead, it really didn’t matter what my hair looked like anyway.

Our family arrived just after the Wentworths, which saved my stepmom from the embarrassing social gaffe of showing up earlier than the host.

“Suzanne, how wonderful you look!” Hugs and air kisses were a particular specialty with Veronica.

I looked around and found a very striking Gregory, in a black suit and light blue tie. My heart stopped beating completely, just like it had the day he came to look at the house with his family again. I had never, ever seen him look so good before. Desperate to talk to him, I glanced repeatedly in his direction, but no matter how many times I did, or however long I stared, he never looked over—not once.

He smiled and talked to everyone except me. Clearly, he was ignoring me, and I couldn’t understand it.
Aren’t we past this? Are we really back to square one again?

He would’ve walked right past me to fetch a program if I hadn’t found the nerve to speak to him.

“Hello, Gregory.” It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

He paused, then hesitantly turned in my direction.

Before I lost my nerve, I smiled and blurted out, “So are you excited for tonight?”

“Tonight?”

My heart began to beat again. “Well, the symphony. I mean, I’m really excited.” It was true. I love classical music. Some of my enthusiasm must’ve shown on my face, because he turned and grinned.

“I bet you are happy.” He looked away briefly, across the room to the table with programs, before returning his attention to me. I thought for a moment he would leave, but then he seemed to change his mind. “When was the last time you were at a symphony?”

“Oh, years and years. Not since my real mom used to take me.”

“Do you know the pianist who is performing tonight?”

“No, do you?”

He walked across the room to the little table and returned with two programs in his hand. “Here’s one for you.”

“Thank you.” I smiled up at him and he froze.

“What? Is something wrong?”

He took a deep breath and shook his head. “I, uh, forgot how well you can read me.”

“Something is wrong. What?”

“No! No. Yes, but it—it’s not what you think.”

My eyes warily searched his.

“You make this hard for me, Andy.” And then before I could ask what he meant, Gregory ran his hand over his eyes. When he opened them again, they seared into my own. “I’m trying really hard not to notice, but you look beautiful. More beautiful than I have ever seen you.”

My jaw dropped.
Beautiful? Me?
I positively beamed at the compliment. Then the first part of what he had said hit me, and my smile dimmed. “Trying hard not to notice? I don’t understand.”

“I said that out loud, did I?” He nodded his head. “Look, don’t mind me tonight—I’m not myself, okay?”

“Greg?”

Just then the door opened and I was stunned to see Sean and Lilly walk through.
Oh, of course. They’re Gregory’s cousins.
His mom would’ve invited them, too. I looked back towards Gregory, but he had already begun to pull away from me.

“Well, Sean’s here, so I’ll let you go.”

“Amanda! You’re here!” Sean’s bright smile and voice surprised the whole waiting room. Everyone turned to stare as he walked up to me and kissed my cheek.

Oh dear!
I pulled away.

“Sorry. Did I embarrass you?” Sean looked concerned, and I couldn’t bring myself to be mad at him.

I’d begun to wonder about his dreadful timing, though. “I—I’m okay.”

“I really didn’t think first. I just didn’t want your sister to get the wrong idea about who I’m with tonight.”

“Oh.” I glanced back at Gregory, but he was greeting an older woman who had just walked in.

Just then Lilly appeared in front of me. “Did you tell her, Sean? You told her she has to sit next to us, didn’t you?” Lilly looked so happy that I couldn’t protest without sounding rude. “I told Sean how amazing you play and that you were the perfect person to sit next to during a concert, because you’ll know exactly what is going on the whole time.”

“Oh.” I smiled weakly.

Twenty-One: Three’s a Crowd

Within a few minutes, we were all ushered into the large auditorium. Since this was a community college, I was impressed by the size and elegance of the room. There were so many seats. Sean kept his hand possessively on the small of my back as we followed the usher down to the preferred seating area. To my surprise, I found myself nearly in the center of the row, in the very best seats.

I turned around and saw Gregory sitting at the end of the row behind me. There were about six seats separating us. Lilly sat next to Sean, and Sydney had found a spot by Mr. and Mrs. Wentworth in my row. There were many other people the Wentworths knew scattered around us. At times I found it a bit overwhelming to hear so many conversations going on at once.

Lilly and Sean kept up an easygoing chatter and commentary on everyone as they found their spots, but it was Gregory I found myself turning toward. There were a few times when I had just missed his gaze as I glanced back at him.

It soon became evident that Gregory was watching slash borderline staring at me. That small fact gave me hope, more hope than I had allowed myself since Sean walked into the lobby.

A couple of minutes before the lights went down, someone called my name behind me. I turned and recognized an old friend of the family. She was sitting just two seats down from Gregory. It was cool to actually watch, out of the corner of my eye, as Gregory looked right at me. I smiled and laughed with the woman, only comprehending half of what she was saying because my mind was preoccupied on how I must look to him, turned in my seat as I was and grinning. It was only as the lights began to dim that I shifted my eyes to focus on his. With that quick and unexpected movement, I caught him, and our gaze held each other’s until the lights went down.

The symphony was incredible. Several times, I wished I was sitting next to someone who appreciated the music as much as I did. Even though Sean made an effort, he insisted on knowing what every instrument was and what movement the orchestra was playing. It was nice to be able to help him, but I had to grudgingly admit it would’ve been better to enjoy the music without interruption.

When the lights came up for intermission, I stood but stayed in my row, while just about everyone else, including Lilly and Sean, left to wander and mingle, I looked over at Gregory and saw that he remained seated. My heart sped up. A few older women entered my row to talk to the Wentworths, so I happily moved closer to Gregory to let them in. For several seconds, I waited for him to say something. I could feel his eyes on me.
Why won’t he talk to me?

Just when I was about to give up, he asked, “So, do you miss Moab?”

Huh?
“Moab? Yes.”

“Really? I thought for sure you’d never want to go back.”

“No, I loved it there. Well, the last little bit was really hard. But I would totally go back.”

He stood up and walked over to me. “Really? Even after all that had happened?”

“Just because something terrible happens somewhere, doesn’t make it a bad place. Yes, I would love to go back. Besides, once I was away and distanced myself from everything, I was able to remember the experiences that had made the trip so awesome.”

“When I was there the last couple of weeks, I was able to see more of it,” he said. “To clear my mind, I took a lot of four-wheeling trails and hiked everywhere. I have to say that Moab is probably one of my most favorite places on earth.” He smiled at me and then shook his head slightly. “Well, at least one good thing came out of our trip. Who knew when you asked Collin to stay and help Kylie that he would be the one to hook up with her?”

“Were you surprised when they—?”

“Oh yeah! Very. You have no idea.”

“Did it—were you upset?”

“At Kylie and Collin? No. They’re in love. Why should I be upset? I was actually more relieved than anything.”

I looked up at Gregory, but he was staring into the audience. I willed my heart to find a steady beat and stick with it, but it wouldn’t listen.

“You know, the only thing I don’t get.” He turned toward me again, and his eyes gleamed into mine. “How could he? I mean, how could he just fall in love again so quickly? I don’t get it. Madison was a cool girl. She was smart and intuitive and down-to-earth. But Kylie? How could a guy who lost such a girl bounce back so quickly, in a matter of weeks, and to someone like Kylie? She’s a nice girl, but she’s not . . . she doesn’t—” He looked away. “It’s just I could never—I mean, I would never—” Gregory seemed to catch himself. Then he turned back to me and shook his head. “Sorry. Never mind. As I said earlier, don’t listen to me tonight.”

I couldn’t even speak if I wanted to. My breathing had become much shallower, and all at once I wanted the night—the intermission—to go on forever.

“Excuse us, dear.”

I turned to see the women I had let in the row earlier. “Oh, sorry. Did you want out?” Gregory and I both scooted out of the row to let them by. Once they had moved and said thank you, Sean and Lilly were back, and the lights flickered to announce that intermission was almost over. I smiled at Gregory and followed Sean and Lilly back to my seat.

Either by luck or by Gregory’s charm, when I looked back to see him again he was much closer to my seat than before. Then, just prior to the curtain opening, the person beside me asked if anyone taller in the row behind would mind swapping seats, because she was just a bit short to see above the stage as close as she was. Before I knew it, the curtain was up and Gregory was sitting right next to me! I looked over and smiled when the first song began, but was interrupted almost immediately by Sean wanting to know more about the music. So the second act began, much as the first had—with me as music teacher.

At least Gregory was next to me. Of course, that happy thought didn’t last long. It was partway through the second half of the concert when I began to wish sincerely that Gregory was anywhere other than beside me. Preferably twenty rows away from the two ladies whispering behind us.

“So, who is that girl with Sean Benally tonight? Isn’t she pretty?”

“It’s Amanda Ellis—you know, Roger Ellis’s daughter?”