StringTheory27:Oh ...I can see why you say that.Umm.Okay, let me think about it and I’ll get back to you.Song of the day?
DeadStrings:“Waiting in Vain” —Bob Marley
Because sometimes you wait not because you have to, but because you want the person to know you’re still here.
DeadStrings:Let me know when you're ready to meet in the middle.See you soon (wink)
ChapterOne Hundred Eight
Kit
October 4th, 1997
“You ready for lunch?”
Roderick steps into the shop like he owns the air.
Lola straightens so fast she nearly topples a vase.Her fingers fly to her hair, fluffing it like she’s on set for a music video.Then she leans in and whispers through a breathy sigh, “Do you know who he is?”
I nod once, slowly.No need to fan the flames.
“Please tell me he’s gonna sign records for the store.”
“I could if you need me to,” Roderick answers before I can, his voice right in my ear.I hadn’t even realized he’d closed the distance.That’s the thing with him—he moves like sound.Suddenly he’s there, close enough to stir the air around me, close enough that if I turned my head just slightly, my mouth would graze the rough edge of his jaw.
“Roderick Wilder.”He extends his hand toward Lola, but his eyes are on me.“You must be Lola.Cleo talks a lot about you.”
Lola frowns, caught between starstruck and confused.“You know Cleo?”
I try to shut this down before it snowballs.“They’re acquainted.”
“She’s my little sister,” Roderick says, correcting me gently, but there’s amusement in the corner of his mouth.
He thinks he’s funny but doesn’t understand that Lola gets starstruck easily.
“What?She’s your—” Lola gasps.Her hands go to her chest, and I brace myself.This is precisely why we don’t tell Lola anything classified.She’s a professional fangirl, a one-woman PR crisis waiting to happen.
“You mean she’s like the sister of the Wilder brothers?”
“We’re not a band,” Roderick deadpans, like she’s insulted his soul.
“Of course not, but ...is it true Alfie is going to marry Duchess?”Lola fans herself.“Oh my god, it’ll be the wedding of the century, and they might invite you.”
Those are ...I hope that’s not what happens because Cleo will be heartbroken if her brother gets married without even telling his family.That’s not the point right now.
“Lola,” I say firmly.
She blinks at me, still stuck on the fantasy guest list.
“I need you to take a deep breath.This”—I gesture between Roderick and the swirling cloud of confusion around him—“the fact that you met him?It has to stay between us.You understand?”
“But—”
“I really need you to keep it quiet,” I press, voice low but clear.“He doesn’t do well with crowds.”
“Okay,” she relents with a dramatic sigh.“But can I at least get your autograph?”
“I’ll even bring my camera so Kit can take a picture of us,” Roderick offers with a wink, fully aware he’s pouring gasoline on her excitement.
