Rafael brought Penny her drink. Jake grinned at them as they launched into a heated discussion about a recent play they’dseen.
“Let’s get closer to the stage,” Jake said to Audrey. “The lovebirds won’t even notice we’ve left. The set is about to start.” He took her hand and pulled her through the crowd. His hand felt sure about hers, and she was buzzing with hope and excitement, despite Penny’s warning. The lights dimmed, andpink-flamedstrobe lights sparked around the venue. It had been years since she had been to a show. “Lolly’s pop but a little subversive.”
The stage lit up, and out came Lolly, dressed in a white fluffy fake fur coat. With cat ears. She belted out a ballad about longing, and it was as if that yearning reverberated through Audrey’s whole body. She wanted so much more. She didn’t want to miss out on livingherlife.
Jake glanced over to see her reaction, and he nodded. “You feel it, she’s brilliant.”
“Wow. I feel like her voice filled me up and then left me wanting when she stopped,” she whispered back into hisear.
“I hope she signs with us. The competition is here.” He nodded at a guy dressed in a black suit over in the corner. Lolly sang an upbeat pop song next, and they both swayed to the music. Jake was singing the words. The crowd was moving back and forth as they followed Lolly prancing acrossthe stage.
Her work phone buzzed. It was most likely Malaburn. She took a photo of Lolly on stage and surreptitiously checked her email. When Jake glanced at her, she clicked her phone off before she could read the message.
Devon squeezed through the crowd to join them, and Audrey saw him gesture towards their competition.
“Can I refill your drink?” Audrey asked.
“Now?” Jake asked.
“While you talk,”shesaid.
“We’re done. I told him I saw him already,” Jake said. “Stay for the next song.” It was a slow love ballad. Couples around them startedslow-dancing. Jake asked her for a dance, and it was so easy to say yes. As he pulled her into his arms, she wanted to pinch herself that this was happening. He was so solid and smelled so good. Her pulsequickened.
Her phone buzzed, right next to his hand ather waist.
“Is that work?” he asked, pulling back to look ather.
“It could be.” She bit her lip. It was always work. Her shoulders tightened and she forced them to relax before he could sense that she was frustrated.
“That’s the problem with lawyers. No boundaries. People shouldn’t email you at 11 p.m. at night unless it’s a work crisis.”
“There’s no work crisis. He’s probably emailing because he’s thought of something and doesn’t want to forget it in the morning.” She leaned againsthis chest.
“That’s why they have the scheduled deliveryfunction.”
She nodded against his hard chest, but the earlier mood had changed. She wasn’t as relaxed, worried instead that her phone would buzz again. And Penny’s warning sounded inherhead.
The slow ballad ended, and Lolly sang another pop song. They danced, their glances meeting in the sparkle of the disco ball. The fizzing feeling returned, and his light touches—at her waist, her elbow—teased and made her think he felt thatsparktoo.
At the break in the set, she excused herself to go to the bathroom so she could check her email in the bathroom stall. It was a lengthy email from Malaburn with more suggested angles to research along with darts of criticism. She shook her head. He couldn’t bring her down now. She was having too much fun. She sent him a reply that she’d be on it first thing in the morning. She shouldn’t stay out too much later.
The next set went quickly. Rafael and Penny were dancing close. Like dancing with a cute guy was something Penny did regularly. Dating seemed so easy for everyoneelse.
“Do you want to come to the afterparty?” Jake asked. “I’ll introduce you to Lolly. We hope to sign hertonight.”
An afterparty with a pop star. That was another life. And she’d just been invited to peek inside. She darted a glance at Jake. He looked expectant, waiting for her answer.
She sighed. She wished she could stay out longer, but as Eve had said, it didn’t have to beall-nighters. She just had to take a balanced approach. “I better go home. I have a lot of worktomorrow.”
“Understood.” He didn’t look surprised that she said no. He kissed her goodbye on the cheek. “It’s going to be a late night for me.”
Empty city streets with darkened store windows passed by the Uber driving her home. She was buzzing; it seemed like Jakelikedher. Their heated glances, his touch, that warm buttery feeling when he’d held her in his arms. She hugged herself happily. If only she could have stayed out longer, but after all, Jake was working too, and it seemed like he understood. She was going to have a hard time falling asleep. But if she couldn’t sleep, she could always start addressing Malaburn’s latest email. Not likely.
Chapter Twelve
Her phone was ringing. Half asleep, as it was Saturday morning, she fumbled for the phone, only finding it after it ceased. It was her mom with a message to call her back before dinnertimein Paris.
If only she was having dinner in Paris. She had visited her mom in Paris for a week in June in her exchange apartment there. Suddenly, being a romance literature professor able to take a sabbatical in France seemed like a very good career option. With French doors opening onto a balcony, croissants and fresh bread every morning, she’d been tempted to stay herself. Her question of the year was: would the French lifestyle mellow her workaholic mother?