I tried so hard before coming here to file it away, but he keeps tugging it back into focus with a memory disguised as a joke. Iremind myself it doesn’t mean anything, however, the way my heart rate is spiking indicates otherwise.
I arch an eyebrow, ignoring it. “Are you trying to get me drunk so I forget how much you annoy me?”
He smiles.That smile again.The one that needs a warning label. “You make it really hard to remember why I’m supposed to be keeping my distance outside of our…arrangement.”
I take a long sip of my drink, swallowing it down. “Who says you’re supposed to?”
He tilts his head to the side, eyes flicking down to my lips and back up again. I can’t breathe all of a sudden. I can’t think from one simple look on his face.
“You did, remember?” He winks.
Ugh, this man is infuriating.
And infuriating looks really, really good under these lights.
I try to look anywhere but at him, but the truth is written in every heartbeat. I think…no, I know I was mad because he didn’t stay. For one night, he saw past the performance and still chose to leave. And maybe that’s the bruise that hasn’t healed. The part that always comes back to not feeling like enough. Tucker might not even realize it yet, but he’s the first person to look at me like I’m not pretending.
When I don’t answer, he clears his throat. “I didn’t think you were the going out type.”
“Lily is very persuasive. Besides, when she said karaoke night, I couldn’t miss the small town chaos.”
“If it involves Nan, it’s most definitely chaos.”
“Not so fast,” Nan interrupts, showing up out of nowhere, forcing me to turn my head to face her. “I’m not the only one around here who brings the crazy wherever I go.”
Tucker raises an eyebrow. “You sure about that?”
She huffs in annoyance and crosses her arms. “Tucker, you live and breathe chaos.”
“I guess that is kind of my specialty, huh?”
I laugh. “You? But you’re all about control, Mr. Blueprint.”
He raises an eyebrow. “And you’re not?”
Well, he’s got me there.
I don’t even bother trying to deny it because control over this project is the only thing that’s ever been mine. When you grow up with a mom like mine who tried like hell to choreograph every step I took and every choice I made, it’s what you do. So when it comes to this show, I’m holding it tight. Maybe even a little too tight, but at least I know it’s mine.
When I don’t answer, Tucker tends to another guest at the bar who needs to order a drink. I take another sip of my drink, but when I turn my head to the side, Nan is still standing there with her eyes on me.
“There’s something there,” she finally says.
“Huh?”
“You can’t fool me, girl.” She grins. “I now seeexactlywhat those little producers were talking about with the chemistry. It’s…electrifying!” She emphasizes with her whole body like she’s part ofGreasethe musical and ready to break out in song. “Oh, I should sing that one tonight.”
“I don’t know what you see, but that’s not it.”
She stands from the stool. “Like I said, you can’t fool me. Besides, I see the way he looks at you.”
I open my mouth to ask more, but the song someone was singing ends. “Hold that thought,” Nan says and she walks away.
I’m still looking where she was standing, when a man who was sitting on the opposite side of her moves one stool over to get closer to me.
“Hey there.” He flashes me a grin. “You from out of town?”
I smile politely. “Something like that.”
