She rolled her eyes, even as her cheeks flushed. “Well, I didn’t really have a choice. I had to return your—” Her voice stalled with the realization. “Oh my God. I left your hoodie at the motel. I’m sorry. I can go back and grab it—”
“Another time.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
He stepped to the side, enough that she could walk past him into the foyer, then closed the door behind her. But instead of leading her into the house, he just stood there for a moment. It was like he was debating something, like the words were there on the tip of his tongue. Before he could find a way to utter them, though, a woman rounded the corner.
“You realize it’s polite to actually invite your guests into your house, don’t you, Will?” the woman said, shooting him a sharp glare. Her dark hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail and her pink sweater fit impeccably, even as it was casually tucked into the front of her cream-colored skirt.
Oh God, Lizzy thought. She had been right. Her outfit was way too casual.
Then the woman’s expression melted into a warm smile as she turned to Lizzy. “You must be Elizabeth.”
Lizzy donned a smile, too—the one she reserved for customers that she hoped would buy the day-old scones at the bakery—and replied, “It’s Lizzy.”
“Lizzy! It’s so lovely to meet you,” the woman said, coming forward as if she was about to embrace her. “I’m Emma. I’ve heard—” Then she stopped short. “Is that an original Appetite for Destruction Tour T-shirt?”
Lizzy blinked, then looked down at her old, threadbare shirt. “Yeah. It was my mom’s, actually.”
Emma brought a perfectly manicured hand to her chest, as if she needed a moment to fully appreciate this information. “You’re already one of my favorite people.”
Lizzy’s smile became genuine. This was not how she was expecting this conversation to go. “Are you a GNR fan?”
“Of course,” Emma said, linking her arm with Lizzy’s, leading her further into the house. “?‘Paradise City’ is one of my go-to karaoke songs.”
As Emma marched forward, Lizzy looked over her shoulder to see Will following, a slight grin still on his lips.
The interior of Will’s home was like the inverse of Marv’s Lament. Instead of modern and stark, everything about this house felt warm and inviting. The beadboard walls of the entryway were lined with mementos and framed photos. Along the hallway there were paintings of seascapes and gold-rimmed mirrors. Emma was still talking about the legacy of LA’s ’80s music scene as she led Lizzy past what looked like a library—complete with a ladder and so many books, they were spilling out of the navy blue built-in shelves—and into the kitchen.
George was standing at the massive island in the middle of the room, pulling takeout containers from a large paper bag. He paused as they entered, cocking an eyebrow at Emma. “Please tell me I didn’t just hear a reference to Whisky a Go Go.”
“Okay,” Emma said, with a shrug. “You didn’t just hear a reference to Whisky a Go Go.”
He chuckled as he turned to Lizzy.
“Nice to see you again, Lizzy,” he said. “I hope Emma’s not forcing you to do karaoke with her yet.”
Lizzy smiled. “Not yet.”
“But the night is still young,” Emma added sweetly, coming around the island to finish taking the food from the bag.
Lizzy laughed, but it was cut short as Will came up behind her.His arm brushed against hers as he reached forward and pulled out a counter stool, sending a wave of goose bumps across her skin.
“Sit down,” he said. “Can I get you a drink?”
“I’ll just have a water,” Lizzy said, working hard to keep her tone nonchalant. The last thing she needed right now was alcohol dulling her senses.
Will nodded and turned to the refrigerator. George made his way to Emma’s side, whispering something in her ear, and she laughed. It felt intimate and sweet, and Lizzy darted her eyes away, letting herself look over the spread in front of her: a half dozen takeout containers brimming with calamari, lobster salad, crab cakes, french fries… and then something in her brain clicked.
“Is this from Mike’s?” she blurted out.
Will appeared at her side again, nodding as he placed a glass of ice water in front of her. “You don’t mind having it twice in one day, do you?”
Lizzy opened her mouth, but no words came out. Will was watching her, a look of amusement in his eyes, as if waiting for her to admit to her lie.
“Nope,” she said, trying to make it sound nonchalant.
