Theo

Chapter 35: Theo

“This feels weird.” Klein’s hand tightened on mine as I guided him across the empty stage, making sure he didn’t bump into any of the chairs set up, or any of the instruments scattered about from what appeared to be some kind of practice.

He clutched his guitar case in his other hand, and I could tell he was nervous, even though I couldn’t see his eyes. Unsurprisingly, Mac had a blindfold he liked to use on occasion, so I’d asked to borrow it to take the first step in actually helping Klein work through his stage fright. I’d covered his eyes when we got to the stage and told him to follow me.

“You have no problem playing in the middle of the night when it’s dark, when you think no one is watching you or listening to you. Just pretend the stage is our bedroom.” I squeezed the hand I held reassuringly and helped him find the single chair at the front of the stage.