I claim a seat at a table as far from Bowen’s as possible, but still facing his table so I can steal glances. He looks as comfortable as a trout in a tuxedo and I love that about him. He’s not all about this stuffy, formal, political bullshit and neither am I. I just pretend better than he does.
The rest of the night is uneventful, thankfully Bennie left right after the food and Colin right after the auction winners were announced. He won the ski passes. I won the weekend at the bed and breakfast. As I’m driving home, I realize I never did get a straight answer as to why Colin was there, so I call him. He picks up but there’s a shit ton of noise in the background. He must be at a bar.
“Hey. What?”
“You never told me why you were at a political fundraiser in Vermont when you live in Rhode Island,” I find myself shouting in my car.
His laugh comes out of the hands-free speaker. “Chase Ashton, you’re a nosey little fuck. I’m in town for a meeting with Iris regarding my investments. Gotta free up some cash for my election run.”
“Oh. Okay,” I say lamely. “Well, still doesn’t explain why you were at a political fundraiser.”
“A mutual friend asked me to check it out,” Colin says vaguely but obviously he’s talking about Lacey. “The bigger question is why were you there when you’re dating the opponent?”
“I’m not dating Lacey.”
“That’s not what people think,” Colin counters. “And that’s not what Dad thinks. He told me that you were spending a lot of time with her lately.”
“I was. Friends spend time together, Colin. Do you not have any, so you don’t know that?” I’m being exceptionally bitchy but I don’t care. “And I was helping her. Sort of. But I’m an undecided voter and a member of the Chamber of Commerce so I attend all political events.”
“Whatever. I don’t care. Want to join me for a night cap? I’m at the Biscuit in the Basket,” he explains. “The college hockey team just won and the place is packed with happy, horny college girls.”
“You’re thirty.”
“And rich and good looking,” Colin adds with a chuckle. “And I don’t look a day over twenty-six, according to History major Brittany and her friend Environmental Biology major Chelsea. Night, little bro.”
He ends the call and I growl in annoyance. I don’t expect to hear from him again, so when my text message pings four consecutive times as I’m getting ready for bed, and all the messages are from him, I’m surprised. The more I read the further my heart sinks.
Colin:Reported back to Lacey about the Whitlock fundraiser.
Colin:She said her own event was a bust. No one liked the music.
Colin:I volunteered your band for her next one.
Colin:See? I support your lame ass hobbies. Aren’t I a good bro?
What the fuck? Imposter Syndrome can’t perform at Lacey’s fundraiser. At least not with Bowen on drums. I’m so pissed, but there’s nothing I can do about it at this hour. And now I’m too worked up to sleep. So, I head back down to the living room, grab a guitar and my song journal, and play.
I don’t want to play at Lacey’s next fundraiser. I’m sure the pay will be stellar but I know it would hurt Bowen. That idea more than anything feels unbearable. I think of him and how well he seems to handle everything, except maybe working at Vino and Veritas. I know if I tell him, he’ll encourage us to do it, and he’ll easily step aside but I don’t want to perform without him. I don’t want to do anything without him. That realization is both scary and exciting.
16
BOWEN
I’m the last to show up at Chase’s place. I’m not late but nearly. And I have to be dropped off by my sister, like a toddler going on a field trip, because we share a car and I can’t just abscond with it for over twenty-four hours. I jump out of the passenger seat almost before she’s come to a stop at the curb. Grant, Joe and Chase all turn to greet me. “Sorry. Had to help with some farm stuff before I left. Hard to ask for a weekend off when we’re gearing up to seed soon.”
“It’s not a whole weekend,” Grant argues. “We’ll be back by noon tomorrow.”
“It just made more sense to spend the night,” Chase adds.
I nod. I know. It does make sense. The drive to Old Orchard Beach, Maine, is almost four hours. The wedding will likely go late into the night and driving home after midnight and a long gig is stupid. Besides, secretly, I’m excited to spend a night away with Chase, even if it’s not technically for romantic reasons. As I’m reaching back in to grab my overnight bag off the back seat, Autumn lowers the passenger window and cranes herself toward it. “Hi boys! You all have fun!”
They all wave and nod. “Bye Autumn.”
“Bye Bowen. Love you. Hope you packed your toothbrush. Stay safe and make good choices!” she bellows like a helicopter parent and it gets the effect she wanted, the guys all snicker.
“Love you too but bite me. And drive safe!”
She laughs as she pulls away from the curb. Grant grins. “I have a sister too, Bo. I get it.”
