Page 33 of Hard Rock Love

He nodded, looking miserable. I hadn’t thought me kissing him would affect him this much. I’d hated the thought that I’d completely ruined our friendship and now my worst fears were coming true.

“It sounds like we’re both going to be volunteering here for a while,” I said. “Don’t tell me you’re tutoring English, too?”

Seth’s lips lifted at my attempt at a joke.

“I’m teaching the music classes,” he replied. “Natalie and Morris are traveling for a tour, so I’m filling in.”

“Who?” I asked.

“Morris is one of my musician friends,” he explained. “Natalie’s his fiancée and she’s going with him while his band is on tour.”

“Does anyone in my life ever have normal friends?” I asked out loud. “Don’t you know any accountants or nurses or something?”

“The music industry keeps us pretty isolated from the outside world,” Seth admitted. “But I’m friends with you, aren't I?”

“We’re still friends?” I asked.

“Of course,” Seth said. “We can’t let one drunken mistake come between us.”

“Right.” I tried not to let my heart fall too far into my stomach. “It was just a mistake.”

“I’ve got the paperwork,” Jessie said, returning to the foyer with a folder in hand. “Fill these out and we’re good to go.”

The wording was standard, explaining our roles and letting the center off the hook if we ended up hurting ourselves.

“Does that happen often?” Seth asked. “People getting hurt, I mean?”

“Some of those kids have a mean bite,” Jessie replied.

Seth looked aghast. She laughed.

“Kidding,” she said. “No one’s been bitten.”

Relief crossed his face.

“…In a few years, at least,” she continued.

Seth groaned.

“What did I get myself into?” he asked.

“I’m sure it will be fun,” I said. “You’ll probably get along great with the kids.”

Jessie nodded. “You’ll have enough energy to keep up with them. Watch out for Kaylee, though,” she warned. “She’s a little spitfire, just like you.”

“I look forward to meeting them all,” Seth said.

“Let me give you a tour of the place,” Jessie said.

She led us down a hallway, poking her head into room after room, explaining what each one was for. Some were dedicated to specific subjects, just like in schools with a math room, a science room and an arts room. Some were quiet study halls where kids did their homework under supervision. One room was a large gymnasium with various equipment for the kids to play on. That room had much shrieking and laughter echoing through the doors.

Some of the kids were young, around eight or nine. Others were older, early to mid-teens.

“We have all sorts of kids coming in here,” Jessie explained. “Most of our services are like after-school programs, a place to keep the kids busy so they’re not running around getting into trouble. But we also have counselors on call for some more serious cases, and provide things like morning breakfasts. Not all of these kids come from stable homes, you know?”

“This place is amazing.” Seth sounded awed. The soft smile on his lips made my heart flutter.

“It is, isn’t it?” Jessie said brightly. “I love being here, knowing I can make a difference.”