Page 46 of Falling for the Guy Next Door

“Well, anyhow, I have no mythical light to shine, and I will be there mostly in spirit. I didn’t get much sleep last night, and I’d planned to nap today but never got to it. One glass of wine and I’ll be having trouble holding these eyes open.”

“Uh-oh, why didn’t you get any sleep? I’ve been so exhausted after work I’ve been falling into bed right after dinner.”

I’d stepped in it, and now it seemed I’d have to lie and that was how it began, the snowball of lies that usually formed once one lie had been tossed out. “I don’t know. Too much coffee in the afternoon, I think.” And now I was getting smooth at lying. I looked up toward the top of the car and silently asked Nonna for forgiveness.

“At least we both have the day off tomorrow,” she said. “I was thinking, maybe we should go for a swim down at the beach.”

“You hate swimming in the ocean.” I knew exactly why she’d suggested it but wanted to make her admit it out loud.

“I don’t mind it that much. As long as there are no jellyfish.”

I nodded. “That’s right. I forgot about your jellyfish trauma when you were little. Well, I’m very connected to our strip of the cove, but I have no control over the jellyfish.”

“I can just put my feet in. I need a reason to show off my new bathing suit.”

“I was thinking about a bike ride,” I suggested.

She looked over at me with a pronounced pout. “You’re trying to keep me from seeing your new neighbor. That’s pretty selfish of you, bestie.”

“I’m not. If you want to go down to the beach and stroll back and forth all day in your new swimsuit, go right ahead. I’ve hardly gotten any exercise since I started at the bakery, so I’m going to go on a bike ride.”

“Exercise? I thought you were walking your neighbor’s dog, or is that over?” she asked with a little too much glee.

“I’m still walking Rocky,” I said curtly to let her know there was nothing more to say. I didn’t need to add to my lie tally because the current one was already making my stomach feel gurgle-y.

“Lucky you,” she said wryly.

We sat in silence for the remainder of the trip, which didn’t bode well for the rest of the evening. I was regretting saying yes. I should have let her go with Kelly the whiner.

The parking lot was already half-filled when we pulled in, and a line snaked around the bar. That worsened Emily’s mood. “Great, now I’m not going to get my favorite spot. We should have left way earlier.” She had the nerve to shoot an admonishing glare my direction as if I’d made us late.

“What are you looking at me for?” I asked. “I was ready when you arrived—ten minutes earlier than you said you would, I might add.”

“Whatever. Let’s just hurry and get in line.” She pulled into the first open parking spot, and we climbed out of the car, both of us grumpy and tense from the exchange in the car.

The doors opened just as we reached the line, so we didn’t have to wait outside too long. The line did give me a clear view of the patrons who were waiting to go inside, and I didn’t see Dustin amongst them. That would have been the cherry on top of an already tense evening.

Emily had her arms crossed, and she was wearing the grumpiest face I’d ever seen.

“I didn’t make us late,” I said again in my defense.

She stared forward at first, ignoring me, then dropped her arms with a sigh. “I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t expect there to be such a big crowd already. I guess the band just keeps growing in popularity. Who knows? Maybe they’ll get that big record deal soon and then I’ll have my own special room on the tour bus as I travel around the country as Mrs. Ledger.”

I laughed. “Wow, that is the biggest mood transition I’ve ever seen, and I witnessed it in real time.”

“Sorry I was grouchy.” Emily wrapped her arm around mine. “I’ve decided we can just push our way up to that prime spot. I’m not above using my bony elbows.” She demonstrated with her free arm.

“You’re on your own with that, Emi. I agreed to join you tonight, but engaging in elbow combat was not part of the plan. I think we’ll be fine a little farther back. It gets hot up near the stage, and all the bodies always end up pressing forward, which was probably the main source for your near panic attack at their first show.”

“Yes, but it was worth it. I got to stand right up front just feet away from Nash, and don’t forget, there was that wink.”

Emily was still thinking about the wink that may or may not have happened and that may or may not have been directed at her.

We finally got inside. We were on a break from the heat wave outside, and that relief transferred indoors. The barroom was much cooler than the first night.

“Thank goodness, the air conditioners are working well tonight. It won’t be nearly as suffocating in here,” I said, but Emily wasn’t listening. She was on her toes trying to get a look over the crowd, planning out her strategy to elbow her way to her spot up front. It looked like an impossible task. There was already a group of people standing in our old spot. The maze of people standing between us and her chosen spot didn’t stop her. Determination was Emily’s middle name … unfortunately.

“I’m going in. Are you with me?” she asked.

---