Page 120 of Fangirl Down

Tallulah very discreetly sipped her wine while checking out Burgess’s biceps.

Wells and Josephine turned to stare at each other.

What the hell had just happened?

Any why was... Josephine suddenly rocking in her seat?

Not just rocking, but kind of... shimmying.

Dancing.

She wasdancing.

Spine snapping straight, Wells desperately tried to dig through the restaurant din to unearth the song that was playing. “California Girls.” But not the one by Katy Perry.

Tallulah let out a hoot. “Oh, they knew you were coming, Joey!”

“Holy shit.” Wells fell back in his chair. “TheBeach Boys?”

“My grandparents used to play this on vinyl when I was little and went to visit. It’s in my bones,” Josephine said, wincing, but still dancing. “I’m sorry for what you’re about to witness.”

Wells grinned. “I’m not.”

Tallulah grabbed Josephine by the wrist and hauled her toward a space between tables that was decidedlynota floor designated for dancing, but they were obviously determined to make it one. Both of the women gestured enthusiastically for Lissa to join them. When the eleven-year-old responded by bounding out to turn the duo into a trio, Burgess couldn’t seem to hide his shock. In no time, Lissa was stepping side to side between Josephine and Tallulah, if a little self-consciously.

The Beach Boys.

A little old-fashioned, uplifting, positive, revolutionary, warm.

It fit Josephine so well, he should have guessed it before.

“Wow. Look at you. You’re a goner,” Burgess remarked into his beer.

“I’m well past gone, man.” Wells managed to tear his eyes off a joyful Josephine long enough to spear the hockey player with a look. “Looks like you’re headed in the same direction. Enjoy the trip.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“The only part of your new nanny you’re supposed to check out are her references.”

Burgess seemed to realize he was staring at Josephine’s friend and ripped his gaze downward, growling into his beer. “She’s too young for me. Probably... eight? Ten years?”

“Yup.”

“Look, I play hockey, I raise Lissa, I stay home. I don’t people watch. Idefinitelydon’t party,” he spat, like the very idea was laughable. “She’ll probably have a boyfriend—her age—before she’s fully moved into my place.”

“Okay.”

Burgess bared his teeth. “Stop giving me one-word responses.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“I don’t know what the redhead sees in you.”

Wells laughed. Just let the happiness escape him in the form of a sound without trying to smother or temper it and Josephine met his eyes, her own softening at the sight of him enjoying himself. “Me either, man, but I’m not questioning it.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

They finished in eighth place at Torrey Pines with five under par.

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