Cole’s smile could’ve powered the entire Blue Ridge Parkway. “Thank you.”
“I didn’t say yes to dinner.”
“Not yet, but you will.” He typed something on his phone. My phone immediately buzzed in my pocket.
The confidence should’ve been annoying. It didn’t come across as cocky, though. Was it presumptuous? Yes. Was it hot? Definitely.
Which was a problem. A big problem.
Jess touched my elbow, her voice gentle. “We should go. Let Cole get some rest before his next show.”
She knew me too well. Could see me spiraling into panic.
“Yeah.” I stepped back, putting distance between us. “Thanks for, um, the invite. Backstage.”
Cole’s eyes held mine. “Thanks for coming. I’ll text you. If that’s okay.”
“Okay.”
It was not okay. Nothing about this was okay, but I nodded anyway. Let my friends pull me out of the green room, down the hallway, into the cool night air where I could finally breathe.
“What just happened?”
Brynn grabbed my shoulders. “You met your future husband.”
“Absolutely not,” I said.
“I’m calling it now. You’re going to marry that man.”
“He’s twenty-four.” I glared at her.
“Twenty-five next month! Just like me,” she sing-songed.
“I am not equipped for this.”
Eli draped an arm around my shoulders. “Honey, nobody’s equipped for a meet-cute with a hot musician. That’s why they call it falling in love. You don’t climb into it with proper safety gear.”
“I’m not falling in love.”
Jess smiled. “Sure. You keep telling yourself that.”
My phone buzzed. I pulled it out.
Unknown number:This is Cole. Just making sure you didn’t give me a fake number.
Another buzz.
Unknown number:Also, you look beautiful tonight. I forgot to say that. Sweet dreams.
I stared at the screen until Brynn grabbed my phone and shrieked.
“He texted you twice already! TWICE! Do you know what this means?”
“That he’s clingy?” I asked.
“That he’s INTERESTED, you walnut!” She shoved my phone back at me. “Text him back!”
“And say what?”
