Da Capo

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Kyle was thankful he didn't have to teach today, though he had to admit just sitting around at home killing time was pretty boring. He decided to finally get some groceries delivered so he didn't have to order takeout again, and he also did a load of laundry while organizing some of his sheet music. It was all pretty dull, and Kyle couldn't help but feel that being with Stephanie was a lot more fun: the memory of this past weekend made his arousal spike and a happy smile instinctively spread across his face. Being with Stephanie felt so effortless, and he couldn't help but wish she could stay with him every evening from now on. He wondered how much convincing it would take for her to come over to stay the night with him again tonight.

It was late in the afternoon now, and Kyle, after having finished all his other errands, was currently sitting at his piano practicing a tricky Schumann piece. His phone suddenly buzzed with an incoming text, and after glancing at who had sent it, couldn't help but grin widely before picking it up and texting back:

Stephanie: Are you at your place right now?

Kyle: Yup, why?

Stephanie: Can I come over? I need to vent >:( 

Kyle: Uh oh. Not about me i hope?

Stephanie: No not u. Can I come over?

Kyle: Of course. Ill be ur punching bag ;)

Stephanie: Thx. Be over in a few.

Kyle set his phone aside and got up from his piano, figuring he should tidy up a bit before Stephanie got here. He whistled happily to himself as he cleaned his house – despite the fact Stephanie sounded like she was upset about something, he couldn't help but feel happy he was seeing her again. He had just been thinking about ways he could get her to come over, and just like that, she had asked to see him.

Sometimes fate really could be on his side.

About fifteen minutes later, Kyle heard someone knock on his front door before letting themselves inside.

"Hey," Stephanie appeared in the main room from the foyer, setting her violin case down in a nearby chair. The scowl on her face was apparent even from the kitchen, where Kyle was busy setting out two wine glasses and a bottle of pinot grigio for them to share. Stephanie saw the wine and grimaced.

"Thanks. I definitely need that," she said with a sigh, walking over to his kitchen island and taking a seat.

"I guessed as much," Kyle said with amusement, uncorking the bottle before pouring her a glass. "Tell me what happened."

"I don't even know where to start," Stephanie ground out, taking the glass of wine Kyle handed her and taking a large gulp. She set the glass down and wiped her lower lip. "Well, actually, I do know... I got a callback this morning from Professor Lyndon about the string quartet."

Kyle's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really? That's great! But why would that make you upset?"

"I wasn't upset, at least at first. I was actually really excited," Stephanie explained, staring down at the countertop. "Lydia helped me prepare with a Bach violin solo to play, and I thought I did really well."

Kyle felt a swell of pride in his chest, but still knit his eyebrows in confusion. "So what was the problem? Did Lyndon cut you?"

"Nope," Stephanie stated, taking another drink of her wine. "She said that she wanted to help me reach my full potential, and she actually offered me the spot on the string quartet, right then and there."