Glory watched that extraordinary reaction with a certain unworthy satisfaction.
And more than a little uneasiness.
Bethany looked startled.
Then she spun and all but loped after Eli, her hair bright in the dark light. “Bye, Glory. Wonderful show,” she called.
Glenn and Giorgio and Sherrie were swooping about, gathering bottles and re-arranging tables like pros. The place would be spotless again by morning.
Glory dropped her hair. Once again, her eyes were on the door.
“You’re a star, Glory,” Franco said. “And at this point in my career, I know a star when I see one.”
“Kind of you to say so,” she said to Franco. Uncharacteristically humble. But she now realized she was tired.
She studied Franco. And thought about Eli taking Bethany home in his big truck. And anarchy stirred in her soul. She wondered if she ought to just make out with Franco in the dark in his fancy car. The way she once made out with guys at parties in high school until she and Mick Macklemore had become a thing. And then maybe she ought to shut off her brain and let her body decide for her if she wanted more.
Because Eli had been right: sex was a great way to make yourself feel better. It was a little like alcohol, though, in that it had the power to make you feel pretty horrible if you did the wrong kind of imbibing.
She looked at Franco and thought all of this.
Trouble was, it seemed inconceivable that she had ever kissed anyone casually. Or without consequence.
Now, thanks to Eli, she knew what a kiss could be. What it could mean. How it could make and ruin a life in just a few moments.
“Need a ride home?” Franco said softly.
Giorgio loped onto the stage and started briskly breaking down the mics. He paused and intercepted a glance from her. He went still. And he must have read something in her face.
“I’m parked out front. You still need a ride home, Glory?”
She was surprised. They’d of course never discussed any kind of ride.
“Yeah, thanks, Giorgio.” She turned to Franco. “Thanks for the offer, but I told Giorgio I’d catch a ride with him. He’s scared of the dark.”
She couldn’t resist that one.
Giorgio muttered something that sounded like “Piglet panties” under his breath and shook his head as he stalked off with the mic stand.
But people could surprise you.
In the half light of the Misty Cat, up here on stage, Franco sure looked like he ought to be the romantic hero in her story.
But then, that’s why he was paid to be on TV.
The real thing.Those words came back to her.
Franco was reading her face while she was reading his, apparently, because he leaned toward her and said softly, as if confiding a secret, “You should give me a chance, Glory. You won’t regret it.” He gave her a quick cheek kiss, more a mischievous peck than anything, then gracefully made his exit with a flap-of-his-hand farewell. Out the back, like a star.
Glenn hollered from across the Misty Cat, “You’re exempt from the mopping tonight, kiddo. See you in the morning!”
Chapter15
“Bye, Glory! Thank you! I mean, Thank you, Hellcat Canyon! Goodnight!” Annelise paused in the doorway of the Misty Cat with a hand planted saucily on one hip and blew her a kiss.
Glory laughed and blew one back.
Eden Harwood, whether she wanted it or not, was going to have her hands full with that little girl. She was blazing smart and quirky, and the lucky little thing was surrounded by people who loved her.
