I was caught off guard when Derek suddenly called me on stage.

"What are we playing?" I asked.

Derek leaned in and whispered a song title in my ear.

I knew how to play a little, but I was rusty from not practicing for so long.

"Will you guide me?" I asked nervously.

Derek's eyes softened with affection. "Of course," he said.

Still confused, I just followed his rhythm. Suddenly, Derek stopped playing, and I lost focus, hitting a wrong note.

Before I ...