Chapter twenty-six
Jenna
I don’t know howit’s happened again, but Bridie’s is even busier than it was the last time Olive played a show. Security at the door even had to knock people back.
Word must’ve gotten out that her songs could be on the soundtrack of the film, because there are people here that are definitely not locals, wearing t-shirts with Olive’s name and face plastered all over them.
“Seriously, where are all these people coming from?” Lizzie asks the group of us who sit around the table, knowing damn well that we know as much as she does.
“Your guess is as good as ours, Liz. Don’t question it. Olive is in her element right now. She deserves every bit of it.” Cassandra nods her head toward their sister on stage, guitar in front of her like a shield of armor to keep her safe. She carries it everywhere she goes, and at this point, it would be like a telltale sign that something was wrong.
“Oh my God, is Olive your sister? Could we please get a photo? I can’t believe you guys knowtheOlive Herring!” A group of young girls squeal, fishing their phones out of their pockets while lunging in front of Cassandra and Lizzie to snap pictures.
Bea is probably kicking herself that she made this an all ages show, but the turnout speaks for itself. The amount of people here isinsane.
I zone out of the fan girl conversation beside me the moment my phone lights up on the table for everyone to see. Thankfully, they’re all too preoccupied to see that Cole Green is texting me.
Yes, I bit the bullet and finally saved his number in my phone.
I had the damn thing memorized, for God's sake.
Saving it was the right thing to do.
Cole:S.O.S
I leap out of my seat when I read those three letters in his text.
Me:What’s wrong?? Is everything OK? Where are you?
Don’t panic,I remind myself.He’s probably fine.
Cole:Everything’s all good. Security won’t let me in, though, so I guess that’s an issue.
Cole:Know anyone who could help?
My hand flies to my chest as relief floods over me. I canfeelmy heartbeat colliding with my fingertips, but then I realize what just happened.
I panicked.
Because I thought there was something wrong with Cole, and that he neededmeto fix whatever it was.
And he did. Only, it didn’t warrant any sort of internal reaction from me.
Instead of replying, I place my phone back on the table—face down this time—and slowly rise from my seat.
Three little letters sent me into a fucking spiral.
Who am I?
In my world, we never send an S.O.S for minor inconveniences. Whatever it is, has to be major. World changing.
But Cole wouldn’t know that, because he isn’t a part of my world. Or at least, he’s new to it.
And he’s temporary.
A blip in time. One that will be a distant memory when I’m sitting on my porch swing, living next door to my best friend when we’re old and gray, watching her kids and grandkids run rampant while I ponder over a deck of cards and a bottle of wine.
But I think a small part of me will always want to remember the time I let a man into my life for longer than a twenty-four-hour period.
