Page 56 of April

“Jazz or blues or something like that. I don’t know. He wasn’t really involved in the wedding planning. Left that to the bride. But he gave me the tickets, so I thought we could go.”

“Why don’t you invite sure thing from last night?”

Linden laughed and said, “Because I don’t want to go with her.”

“You just want to sleep with her?”

Linden sobered and replied, “Actually, I don’t.Iturnedherdown, remember? Twice.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. You just mentioned her in the car this morning.”

“That she wanted to get together tonight, yeah. But I didn’t say yes.”

Asher nodded and said, “I’m not sure I’m really up for a standing-room-only concert tonight.”

“Come on. It’ll be fun. It’s balcony seats, not standing room. Backstage access.”

“To a band I don’t even know?”

“Great. I’m picking you up at seven. We’re grabbing burgers before.”

“Wait.” Asher laughed. “I didn’t say yes.”

“Oh. Weird. I heard you say that you couldn’t wait to hear this new band you’ve never heard of.” Linden stood and added, “Cheeseburgers, Asher. Extra grease.”

“Linden, I’m not eating a greasy cheeseburger.” She laughed.

“You wanttwogreasy cheeseburgers? Is that what I heard you say?” Linden winked at her as she started walking toward the open door. “Withchili cheese fries.”

Asher rolled her eyes and said, “None of the above.”

“Hey, maybe wear jeans tonight and an old band T-shirt or something.”

“I don’t own any band T-shirts,” Asher replied. “And wouldn’t it be wrong to wear a different band’s T-shirt to someone else’s show anyway?”

“I will bring you an old R.E.M. shirt. Just be ready at seven.”

???

They had arrived at the venue around eight-thirty after Asher had watched Linden eat a cheeseburger and fries while she’d chosen a plain hamburger and removed the bun. Linden had laughed but hadn’t given her a hard time about it. The balcony was open for standing, but there was a VIP area with sofas and seats. Linden’s tickets had gotten them into that section, which also came with a waiter, who had brought them drinks. Asher had to admit that she wasn’t much of a jazz or blues fan, which meant she knew nothing about it or the band that was playing below them.

“That’s it?” she asked around nine-fifteen after the band played their last song and left the stage.

“That’s the opening act,” Linden explained as she leaned over, delivering it straight into Asher’s ear.

“What? It’s after nine.”

“I swear, you say these things purposefully to sound like an old person,” Linden said, laughing before she took a drink of her Abita.

“We have work tomorrow, and I’ve been up late every night this week already. I’m tired, Linden.”

“Come here,” Linden told her, wrapping an arm around Asher’s shoulders and pulling her against her side. “Take a nap.It’ll take them at least fifteen minutes to change out everything for the main act.”

“What?!” Asher said. “Fifteen minutes?!”

When Linden laughed, Asher felt it against her side, and she couldn’t help herself. She moved in closer, trying not to snuggle into Linden exactly but still let Linden hold her in a way they never really had before. Twenty minutes later, Linden was pulling away because she was applauding. The main act was onstage now, and Linden was ordering another beer. Asher had only had one and was drinking water. She was exhausted. By ten, she was more than ready to head home, so she pulled out her phone to call a car to take her there.

“What’s wrong?” Linden asked into her ear.

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