Throughout the first half of the show, Alan pays more attention to Jim than to the opera. Every time the music swells or the mezzo-soprano sings, he glances over at his date, trying to gauge Jim’s thoughts.
Date. Just thinking the word brings a smile to Alan’s face. He raises his free hand to hide it. His other hand still covers Jim’s.
But every time Alan looks his way, Jim is staring at the stage, brow bunched in…what, exactly? Confusion? Consternation? Distaste? Alan can’t tell; Jim is a hard man to read. Maybe the high notes have put him off. Maybe he isn’t following the storyline.
God, maybe he hates it.
Please don’t let him hate it.
Alan wasn’t this nervous the first time he took Brooks to the opera. Even though that was The Magic Flute and the audience swelled with children, Ala
