“That seems rude to the band,” she said.
Russ laughed. “I think they’ll manage.”
She’d stopped clapping.
“If we left now...” Russ said, his eyes gleaming, “...we couldleavenow.”
“Oh,” Cherry said, understanding.
She felt a sharp and immediate slice of guilt—even before she felt the thrill.
(The absolute fuckingthrill. Like someone had dumped a shot of adrenaline down her spine. Russell Sutton, as she lived andbreathed.)
But the guilt hit first... Why guilt...?
Because ofStacia?
Because Cherry had spent a whole year of her life stewing in guilt, knowing she was lusting after her best friend’s boyfriend? Knowing she was looking too long and laughing too much, and cracking too many jokes that were meant for him, not for the room...
Stacia had never seemed jealous. Even when Russ and Cherry were dancing together or bantering like vaudeville professionals right under her nose—Stacia never seemed to mind.
She must have suspected how Cherry felt about her boyfriend...
And she must have known that it didn’t matter.
Itdidn’tmatter. Stacia and Russ broke up after a year because Stacia wanted to date someone else, and Russ didn’t fall into Cherry’s arms for comfort. He moved on. She—Cherry—didn’t see him again after that.
That was a dozen years ago. More. It was old news. What did Cherry have to feel guilty about tonight?
Was itTom?
Tom was gone.
“Cherry...” Russ said, still looking for something in her eyes.
Cherry nodded. “Let’s go.”
Russ closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against hers, smiling so wide.
Goldenrod started playing a song from their second—more sophisticated, but less iconic—album.
Chapter 6
They agreed to take separate cars.
Russ looked conflicted about it, standing on the sidewalk outside the club. “Don’t sober up and change your mind.”
“I’m already completely sober,” Cherry said.
“This is a really good idea,” he said. Firmly.
“Are you trying to hypnotize me?”
He took hold of both her hips and leaned in close. He hadn’t kissed her yet. (Cherry was pretty sure that was an operative “yet,” that the kiss was near at hand.) “Don’t change your mind,” he said again.
“I’ll change my mind if I want to.” Cherry pulled away a bit, so she could really look in his eyes. “But I won’t want to.”
Russ bumped his forehead against hers. He groaned. “I’ll meet you there.”
