Play!

CXXXII

“I love him.”

Cole’s head whipped around, almost spilling the coffee in his hand as they were walking to the con. 
“What?”
His big eyes and comically open mouth showed surprise. Or was it shock?
Brett said those words again. Words which had accompanied him to their room yesterday, had echoed in his mind when he’d given Cole a short, absentminded summary of the awesomest date he’d ever had until he’d fallen asleep with a small smile shortly after, had greeted him as his first thought in the morning and had finally decided to spill over just like the brew in Cole’s paper cup almost had. 
“I love him.”
“Dude, hold on! I know you have it bad, but this… how can you know already?”
Brett shrugged. “Why not? I just know.” 
It had gotten even clearer when he’d said it outloud yesterday, even more real.
“Wow…”
“I know”, he said and took a sip of his coffee, slightly burning the tip of his tongue in the process.
“Damn! Really need to get inside info from this guy on how to sway people.”
“We had a blast”, Brett agreed, “But it’s not just that…”
“I know! You guys are soulmates, basically cut from the same tree with your heritage and stuff, bla bla blah!”
Brett's brows creased over the out of character way his friend was speaking. “Bro, you okay?”
“Yeah, nah. Just want to find what you have too.”
“No one in this camp who caught your interest?”
“Who knows?” Cole’s grin was lopsided. “But back to you! Have you told him?”
“I told him I’d like to say it.”
“What?”
“Well, that. The l-word.”
Cole’s eyes widened even more. “Dude… that’s basically a love confession right there! And what did he say? Why didn’t you say it in the first place?”
“We were wondering about the same. But it’s kinda too early. Too serious maybe? We’re not even officially a thing and if I say it… it kinda makes it official then, doesn’t it? Anyway, we said we gonna enjoy our time like you told us to and not worry about when and how. It’ll happen when it happens.”
The blond violinist let out a whistling sound. “Real mature, I have to say.”
“Right?” Brett took another sip, more carefully this time.
“Do you think he loves you back?”
Brett tilted his head. “He said he wanted to be with me even more after yesterday. Guess that’s something, isn’t it?”
“It’s great!”, Cole exclaimed. The castle-like building of the Sydney con was in their sight now, getting bigger with every step. 
“Who would have thought, Eddy Chen pulling a date like this.” Cole shook his head, sniggering.
“He’s a real romantic I tell ya! That freaking dinner up there?” Brett pointed to the skies somewhere north-east of them. 
“Yeah, just gotta find myself a suitable busking partner then so I can afford a date like this.”
“French horn?”, Brett winked. Even with all the drama and, more recently, honeymooning going on, it hadn’t escaped his attention that Cole and a certain section principle from the Sydney con orchestra had been engaged in cheerful chatter more often than not. Maybe he could return the favour, pull out his wingman suit or something.
Cole rolled his eyes, a tad too exaggerated in Brett’s opinion for the gesture to only show annoyance. “Dude, she’s just a friend.”
“She’s smart though, pretty too.”
“That she is.”
“So you have been eyeing her?”
“Like you have Katie a while back, remember?”
“Please don’t mention her”, Brett groaned and Cole laughed, a mischievous undertone detectable. 
“I think she caught up on something.”
“Seriously?”, Brett jolted around. Wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen. Like this, his cowardice ass wouldn’t have to say anything to her. Not that he owed her anything, but still…
“Yeah, has looked at you guys bantering from time to time during rehearsals with that knowing expression…”
“You reckon many people have noticed something’s going on between us?” 
They hadn’t been discreet at all. And Mr. Thames and very likely Mr. Jones knew for sure already.
“Probably”, Cole’s shoulder went up and down once, “But whatever, right? It’s not like you guys are hiding, are you?”
“Nah, not really”, Brett agreed and took a big gulp of his coffee before they entered the building.

Eddy was sitting there already, first desk, his back and dark hair drawing Brett in magically like he was the only shining star in the emptiness of deep space. 
Cole gave him a pat. “Off you go!”, he grinned and Brett didn’t need a second call to action. 
“Hi!”, he breathed, eyes falling on that beautiful face framed by tousled, still damp hair. 
A smile worth going to hell and back for. Oh, what he would give to just lean in and bring his lips to meet Eddy’s. Lips that wanted to scream those words he’d told Cole for the whole concert hall to hear.
“Hi, my love”, Eddy whispered to Brett’s reddening ears. Brett let his buckling knees give in as he sat down next to the concertmaster and took out his violin with slightly trembling fingers. 
“Did you sleep well?”
“Mhm”, Brett hummed and clumsily tuned his instrument, unable to tear his gaze away from Eddy, “You? You’re early.”
“Been sleeping weirdly well the past few days. You’re A-string’s a bit sharp by the way”, Eddy noted, his hand brushing against the side of Brett’s upper leg for a split second only. It was enough to let the hair at Brett’s neck stand up and didn’t help with getting his violin in tune at all.
He took a deep breath. “Hmm, wondering what’s been helping your insomnia.”
Eddy winked. “You know what.”
“Glad I can help then, I guess”, he smiled, finally feeling like he got a hold of himself a tiny bit and not a second too early. 
Mr. Thames stepped on the conductor’s stand and called, “Good morning everyone. We hope you had a restful Sunday.”
Was Brett imagining things or did he just flash a wink at Brett and Eddy? Surely he wouldn’t dare in front of the whole orchestra? Eddy’s chuckle however pointed in exactly that direction and Brett wasn’t sure if he wanted to join in the giggle or sink through the floor of the stage while their conductor continued as if he’d done nothing suspicious. 
“We’ll be playing Mozart today and Korngold and Mahler in the afternoon. There are still a few days left, but the concert’s approaching, as I’m sure you all know. We expect nothing but your top notch playing and I’m certain we’ll have a blast.”
Scattered applause and screeching sounds as the orchestra went into position. Eddy sat up straight, propped up his violin and beamed at Brett before looking at Mr. Thames for the starting cue. Brett inhaled deeply, closed his eyes and pressed his lips together which had real difficulties holding back those words again. Mozart. Mozart was on. He opened his eyes and soon enough, the epic melody of Mozart’s 25th symphony filled the hall.