Page 132 of Mine

For once in my life,I left work early on a Friday so I could ride with Salt to Nancy and Beth’s for dinner. He picked me up and the moment I got into his car, I felt a weight lift.

“Sorry, it’s not the nicest car,” he said, wincing as his ancient Honda hit a pothole on the road.

“I don’t care,” I said. “I don’t even have a car. I never drive anywhere.”

“How?” he snorted. “You’re the ultimate passenger princess.”

I smiled as I looked out the window. “I’ll wear that badge with honor. One, I hate driving. It makes me anxious. Two, after my divorce, I moved into my apartment and it’s just a few blocks from work. And Ellen lives just a couple blocks away, too. Everything I need is within walking distance.”

“So you just walk around?”

“Yeah.”

He shook his head. “What about when it rains?”

“Have you heard of umbrellas?”

Salt chuckled. The scenery changed from concrete and steel to trees and land, the sky turning a hazy purple as the sun dipped down. He reached over, his hand settling on my knee for a moment, giving me a gentle squeeze.

“Are you nervous?” I asked him.

“A little. Nancy and Beth mean the world to me. I think you’ll like them.”

“I’m more worried about them liking me,” I said.

Another squeeze. “They’ll like you. Nancy is a little intimidating at times, but I don’t think I have any worries about that with you.”

“No, I like powerful women,” I said.

“Me too.”

This weekend was going to be a change of pace for the two of us. Instead of staying at my apartment, we were going to stay at his house tonight and tomorrow. He didn't have any shows planned either, so it would be quiet.

It would be a nice break before the chaos of next week. My eyes widened as I dawned on me that I hadn’t told him about my trip. I’d almost forgotten about it between everything that’d been happening.

“I forgot to tell you,” I said. “I’m going on a trip next week. It’s for The Guild of Music Supervisors Awards show in LA.”

“Oh yeah,” he said. “That asshole mentioned it. I meant to ask you about it, too. When do you leave?”

“Friday,” I sighed. “I still need to pick out a dress. And it’s too late to make any appointments, although maybe I can squeeze in a facial on Monday…”

“You look beautiful as you are,” Salt said. “They’ll worship the ground you walk on.”

I laughed. “Baby, you’ve been to LA. Everyone is beautiful there. I’ll look like a frog.”

He brought my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles before adjusting in his seat, his eyes on the road. “I think that’s the first time you’ve called me baby.”

My cheeks warmed. “Do you like being called baby?”

“Yeah, coming from you.”

Part of me wanted to ask him to come to LA with me. But I knew if I did that, it would cause problems. Especially since I told Jeff he couldn't bring Ally. And because our relationship was still a secret.

Hopefully, by the end of next week, the contracts would be signed. Salt had sent them over to a lawyer earlier today, and I hoped they would move fast.

I just wanted ink on paper so I could finally tell everyone about the two of us.

Maybe it was a little shady. Maybe I was making bad decisions, but I was long past backpedaling at this point. I was committed to being with him.

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