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My phone vibrated in my pocket, but I ignored it, watching as Den, the tiniest of the group, waddled to the front. His little arms struggled to hold the guitar and I helped him sit down so he could rest the guitar on the ground. Even the smallest guitar was still too big for him. His hand smacked against the frets, the sounds jangled and disjointed, but his giggles weaved between the crying frets and it was adorable.

My phone vibrated again and I pulled it out, checking to make sure it wasn’t Dad or Vee, before sliding it back into my back pocket.

Once every child had enjoyed their temporary spotlight I called for their attention to pack up.

“Teacher, we didn’t hear you play!”

I glanced at my watch. “We still have a few minutes before your moms and dads come get you,” I conceded, lifting my guitar and settling it on my lap. As easily as a jigsaw piece, it fit between my upper thigh and underarm.

I didn’t have anything I wanted to play in particular, so I let my fingers lead me into a simple melody, soft, soothing. Exactly what I needed to hear.

The group of kids sat in silence, their bright eyes wide as they watched me. I didn’t mind. Playing for kids has always been easier. They were awed by the simplest tune, by just a few plucked strings. Granted, their attention span was… volatile at best. But that meant that I didn’t have to think about impressing them or holding their attention.

A jingling bell signaled that someone had opened the door and I figured it was one of the parents. I didn’t stop playing, not while all the kids were still enraptured. I’d been around kids long enough to know that if they were sitting still, the goal was keeping them that way.

When none of the kids moved I looked up to see if maybe a customer had walked in.

And froze.

Standing just inside the door, near the cashier’s till, stood Hayden.

Watching me with a soft smile on her face.

Blood rushed to my face and I put the guitar down, clearing my throat and turning back to the kids. “Okay, let’s get all our instruments put away,” I told them, watching as they jumped to their feet and set about putting their instruments back on the various stands.

I tried to ignore Hayden, to ignore the prickling realization that no one outside my immediate family had ever heard me play. Much less the woman I was sure I was falling for.

One by one, the kids left with their parents, and I waved them out as they went.

Keenly aware of Hayden’s attention.

By the time the last kid left, Hayden had paced further into the store. Closer to me. There was no way I could keep pretending I hadn’t noticed her.

“I’m surprised to see you here,” I said, wiping down the acoustic guitar I’d been using. “Are you following me around now?”

Hayden chuckled, her hair pulled into a low ponytail. Her finery had also vanished, replaced by a simple pair of black jeans and an oversized button down shirt. And sneakers.

“I just fancied a walk,” she said flippantly, her green eyes sparkling. “And I ended up here.”

I didn’t allow myself to remember what had happened the last time she’d ‘gone for a walk’.

“That’s quite a walk,” I noted, keeping my eyes on the guitar.

“I had a lot on my mind.”

I hummed, the absurdity of the situation a little too much to grasp.

“How long have you been playing?” she asked.

“Oh, shit.” I pondered, my brows pulling together. “More than twenty years, I guess?”

“Did you ever think about pursuing it?”

I laughed. “You mean, professionally?”

“Yeah, why is that so funny?”

I shook my head, the heat of her gaze burning into the side of my face. “I never had the time to get any better at it,” I explained. It couldn’t hurt to be honest. “And when my parents started getting too old to run the store alone I wanted to help. It’s just a hobby.”