Page 12 of Love Rescheduled

“You’re so red. Do you want to go to the ladies’ room and splash some water on your cheeks?”

“Uh, no. Do you know how long it took me to get the contouring right? Besides, we don’t want anyone to steal our seats.”

That was a good idea. I pulled my phone out and kept my head down in case anyone I knew came in and recognized me. “I’m not being rude,” I said out of the side of my mouth. “I’m just trying to be invisible.”

“Good idea,” Tara said, to my surprise.

My head popped up.

Tara flashed me an innocent smile. “I just want you to feel comfortable. Keep that gorgeous head of yours as far down as you would like. Heck, pull up a book on your phone. You do you.”

I looked around at the great swelling of people clamoring to get a table or a seat. I started feeling itchy. “Are you sure you don’t mind? I’m all on board when Jolene hits the stage.”

“Not. At. All. We’re just proud you rearranged your schedule and showed up.”

I was pretty proud of that, too. So proud, I put a figurative star on my chart. I was supposed to be starting a new book for a client today, and I had to move up my wax, polish, and shine day. But I’d made it work, even if it gave me heartburn. Admittedly, it was a little freeing to live on the wild side. Or you know, wild for me.

“Thanks for being my emotional support extrovert.” I pulled up the latest book I was reading on my phone. I was reliving my childhood. Nana would read to me from the Noel Streatfeild books she had borrowed from the library. I was currently rereading Skating Shoes. Those books made me know I wanted to do something in the literary arts. Editing was a natural fit for me. Believe me, I was meticulous.

“Anytime.” Tara started tapping her leg. I assumed she was nervous for Jolene, but I had no doubt our best friend would pull off tonight in a grand fashion.

The minutes ticked away as I read about Harriet Johnson and her family. Thankfully, not one person from the past had shown up, at least not that I could see. I was sure there were some, as Jolene and Josh had mutual friends and acquaintances. As long as they stayed away from me, I would survive. Hopefully.

The blaring country music faded, as did the house lights. The spotlight hit the stage as Mikey came out to play emcee. He loved that part of the job.

“Welcome to Laugh on Tap!” he shouted into the mic, and the crowd cheered. “We have an amazing show in store for you tonight. First things first, though: in honor of our headliner, Miss Jolene, it’s ladies’ night, so every drink on tap is half off for the fairer sex.”

Tara and I cheered when he mentioned Jolene’s name. By cheered, I mean Tara screamed her name, and I clapped, yelling her name in my head.

Mikey went over a few house rules, including no recording or flash photography, before getting ready to introduce the opening act. “Like I said, tonight is going to be amazing. We have a surprise guest all the way from LA.”

Tara slinked down in her chair.

Meanwhile, I perked right up—or rather, felt like I might have a heart attack—when I heard “LA.” Surely he did not mean—

“That’s right, ladies and gents, our hometown boy has returned. Give it up for Josh Keller!” He put the mic back into the stand.

My worst nightmare came to life as I sat frozen. I didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t sure I could do anything, as I felt paralyzed.

Tara reached across the table for me.

I remained motionless.

“I’m so sorry,” she mouthed.

That breathed a bit of life back into me. “Did you know?” I cried, trying to keep my voice down, though the crowd’s uproar was deafening. Everyone was on their feet, except for Tara and me.

“I swear we didn’t know until tonight. He showed up unexpectedly.”

All the hurrying and table situation made sense now. Why didn’t Tara just tell me? I could have just left. Of course, that’s why she didn’t tell me. She wanted me to stay to support Jolene. Which I absolutely wanted to do, but I couldn’t see Josh. I was never even supposed to be in the same zip code as him. “What do I do?” I begged to know.

It was too late to do anything. Josh ran out on the stage in his signature fit-me-to-a-T jeans and Rod Stewart shirt. Josh showed his affinity for seventies artists and rock bands by wearing a concert tee anytime he was onstage. Of course, I was his polar opposite and loved jazz and classical music. Tragically, Josh was just as cute as ever with his boyish charm. Dang him.

I grabbed a menu and held it in front of my face while slouching in my seat. Thoughts of army crawling across the club to the exit filled my head to the point I had moved beyond envisioning it to the actual planning phase. Alec’s training was coming in handy. Except I could hear him say, “Off the record, this is a terrible idea.”

“He’s still doing the ridiculous dance moves when he comes on the stage,” Tara commented.

I had to press my lips together. I could picture every cheesy move as the crowd went even more wild. He used to practice them in the bathroom mirror as he got ready. How many times had I heard him sing “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” by the man on his T-shirt? It was part of his daily routine.

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