I sigh. “You’ve never had to meet the sister of a guy you’ve only been on one date with but who left you with the most amazing kiss ever by performing in front of her and who knows how many other strangers.”
“No, I haven’t because I don’t have the natural talent you do, so shut up, drink your wine, put on the cutout dress with your Ariat boots with the pink stitching, and sit down, so I can do your hair.” She blows me a kiss after her little diatribe, making me laugh out loud.
“Fine. But only because you said you’d do my hair.” I fake being mad.
“You know I will.” She walks to the closet mirror, where I just slipped my dress over my head, and lifts her hands to my hair. “Should we do it half up, like this?” She holds it for me to see. “Or all the way up, so Mr. Fire Hottie can kiss your neck when he sneaks up on you from behind after the set?”
The thought of Silas doing exactly that sends visible chills across my body, which even Nikki notices.
“Okay then, updo it is,” she teases. “Tell me more about this kiss.”
I close my eyes, remembering just exactly how his lips felt on mine. “The guy can kiss,” I say when I open my eyes. “He walked me to my car, and for a second, I didn’t think he would kiss me, but when he asked if he could?—”
“Wait. He asked first?”
I nod slowly. “He did. And when I gave him my approval, I kid you not, he said, ‘Fuck yeah,’ and kissed me like I’d never been kissed before.”
“Oh, a gentleman and a potty mouth. I’m digging it.”
“Right?” I say in amazement. “I about died when, afterward, he said, ‘Oh, yeah, this is going to be good.’”
Her eyes open wide. “Seriously?”
“Yep.”
She steps behind me. “Yeah, we’re getting you more than just a good-night kiss. With this spaghetti-strap dress and your hair up like this, he’ll be thinking about getting you naked during your entire set onstage.”
“Nikki! I just met the guy,” I admonish.
“And you’ll be doing the dirty with him by the end of the weekend. There is no way I’m allowing you to let a guy like that go by without snagging him up.” She eyes me in the mirror. “Am I right, or am I right?” When I don’t answer, she just laughs. “That’s what I thought.”
I’ve only lived here for six months, but Nikki has lived here her whole life. We’ve talked about how hard it is to find a good guy many times before, so I can’t really deny anything she’s saying. I just hate getting my hopes up. Yeah, our first date was good, and that kiss was unforgettable, but we’ll see. I don’t want to jump in feetfirst until I know the bottom is clear of anything that could end up drowning me in the end.
We arrive at Ruby’s a half hour before I go on, and now, I’m wishing we had stayed home a little longer. When we had trouble finding parking, I tried not to overthink it, but now that we are approaching the door, I’m in full-blown panic mode.
Not only is the place absolutely packed, but there is also a line to get in the door.
“Excuse me. Excuse me,” Nikki announces to everyone as we try to get by. “I need to get the musical act you all are here to see tonight through the door, please.”
People turn and look at me, obviously recognizing me from my picture.
“Hey, it is her!” some guy yells. “Darlin’, you’re even prettier in person. Here, let me help you get through this line.”
He guides us through to where Joey’s brother Cooper is standing at the door.
“There’s the lady of the hour. We were getting a little worried you might not show up,” he says as he opens the door.
“This is crazy!” I say, still shocked at the turnout.
He leans in and says, “This, sweet girl, is all Fed. Don’t know what you did to him, but I am not complaining one bit.” He opens the door, letting us inside. “Good luck tonight.”
Nikki squeals my way as she does a little jump of excitement with her hands on my shoulders, walking through the door with me.
I head straight to the back room, where Joey had me go the first time I performed, keeping my head down on purpose. One, I don’t want anyone else to recognize me, and two, I’m too nervous to see Silas just yet.
All of this is a little overwhelming, and I’m afraid seeing him will ruin my focus. First, I need to get settled in my mind for tonight before I think about anything—or rather anyone—else.
Nikki joins me as we walk to the back room, where I am going to enter the little stage area they have set up on the side. Thankfully, no one is back here, so it gives me a chance to breathe and take everything in.
