The music Lilian had heard from outside now came in clear as bells.It was an eclectic playlist, jumping from early 2000s girl ballads one minute to Irish pub music the next.
Alex handed Lilian an icy bottle of Boulevard Brews.As Margo and David fell into a conversation about the variety of veterinarian jobs, Lilian turned to Alex.“Am I seeing things, or did I see Logan in here a second ago?”
Her friend’s face flushed in annoyance.“No, you saw him all right.I invite all the faire actors, but he usually doesn’t come.”
“Then why’d he come tonight?”
“Don’t know.”She took a deep swig of her beer.When the glass pulled away with a quiet pop, she added, “He said one of my crew begged him, but they all know better.He’s a douche, and if any of them were really interested, I would sit them down immediately for therapy.”
“Dang.”She’d never heard Alex use such heat when it came to Logan.They annoyed each other, sure, but this was something closer to actual hate.It reminded her of how she used to talk about Hawk.
Used to, but not anymore.
She looked around the small kitchen.Searching the crowd for a familiar polo shirt or dark hair.
“He’s not here.”
“What?”She turned to Alex, eyes wide.Busted.“Who’s not here?”
“The guy you’re looking for,” Alex said knowingly.“I invited him, but he doesn’t do parties anymore, I guess.Didn’t even text me back.”
“Oh yeah?”She wasn’t surprised, but it didn’t make her feel better that he treated everyone else like that.“He can be a jerk sometimes.Even when he doesn’t know it.”
“Tell me about it,” Alex huffed.
“What did Logan do that got you so fired up?”Lilian asked, swiftly changing the topic.
“Nothing,” Alex muttered.“He keeps trying to hit on my girls and steal them for his crew.But it's not going to work.”She shouted the last part, throwing the words at the open porch doorway where the pirate king had disappeared.Her eyes suddenly widened in realization.“Shit.Courtney’s out there now.I bet he’s going to try to recruit her now that she’s five drinks in.Well, not on my watch.”
“Alex—”
Before Lilian could say anything more, Alex ran outside, determined to make sure Logan had a miserable night.
Shaking her head, she looked around the party again.There were a few faces she recognized even outside of faire garb.But no one she gravitated toward.She stayed close to Margo and David, nursing her beer quietly.
Why did you even come, if you weren’t going to socialize?ahe chastised herself, feeling stupid.Faire actors were some of the nicest, most accepting people she’d ever met.Everyone had greeted her like family when she came in.But there was one face that wasn’t there.
At the thought of Hawk though she couldn’t help but reach for her phone to check if there were any text messages from him.
There were none, of course.His name blinked at the top of her screen, reminding her of her last embarrassing question.
It would have been easy to be mad at the lack of response.Instead, she felt like something was missing.A strong sense of yearning pulled at her fingers.Without a second thought, she typed out a message.
I got the most beautiful business cards today.I'm official.
She added a picture she had taken from her shop.She’d just barely shoved the phone back into the pocket of her joggers when it vibrated.
Hawk
What are you still doing up?Are you still at the bookstore?
Nope, but I was there earlier.I’m at Alex’s place now.She’s having a party.
Hawk
Alex?Like Alex Carerra?
Is that her last name?I always thought it was Alex Dread of the Seas.
