Page 33 of One More Time
The sweet sounds of Dave Grohl’s rhythmic guitar spilled from the speaker, just as Lucy became desperate for a change in conversation.
‘Oh, God,’ she said. ‘I love this song.’
Nicky’s eyes brightened. He swung his legs off the table and ticked the volume up on ‘Everlong.’
‘Some people say it’s the greatest rock love song of all time,’ Nicky said, feigning nonchalance like a champ.
Shit. Shitshitshitshit.Alarm bells went off in Lucy’s head.Retreat! Abort!She’d just opened the door on a whole line of conversation she’d been trying to avoid. Namely another, very specific, rock love song that people sometimes called the greatest of all time.
‘I agree,’ said Lucy. It was honest. But it was also a deflection. The best she could hope for in the moment.
‘Really?’ Nicky drawled devilishly.
‘Yep,’ Lucy said, practically licking the last drops from her champagne flute.
‘What are some others?’
Fuck.She knew what he was getting at. She could sense it in the expectation in his tone, in the sudden avid lean of his body toward her.
‘Mmmm, okay. Are we talking rock only, no ballads?’ she stalled.
‘No ballads.’
‘“Maps,”’ Lucy said.
‘Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs?’
Lucy nodded.
‘I can get behind that, and …’
Lucy went on, ‘“Lovesong,” “Friday, I’m In Love.”’
‘I think we can safely just add the entire catalog of pop-era Cure,’ Nicky said, pointedly.
Aaaandshe’d just accidentally waded into deeper water. Memories of their night a million years ago came swelling to the surface. They were memories he clearly also had judging by the pointed flash of triumph in his eyes.
‘More?’ he asked.
‘Okay, but I’m going to need my phone for this,’ Lucy tried.
‘Be my guest.’
Lucy picked up her phone, willing her hands not to shake. She flicked open Spotify and scrolled through her playlists.
‘“Such Great Heights,”’ Lucy said, her eyes still on the phone.
‘Yeah, okay,’ Nicky replied.
‘“Supernova,”’ Lucy added.
‘Hold up,’ Nicky exclaimed. ‘You mean Liz Phair’s “Supernova”?’
‘Yeah,’ Lucy said, now more defensive than anxious.
‘“Supernova” is a sex song not a love song, Lucy,’ he said firmly.
‘It is not. There’s sex. But clearly, she loves him.’
