“Elinor . . . I . . .”
Before Edward has a chance to finish what might have been a potentially interesting sentence, we are interrupted.
“I knew it!” squeals Jenn Juarez, marching right up to our table, pointing at the two of us like she has caught us doing something scandalous. I whip my hand out of Edward’s and hide it under the table. There’s no chance J.J. didn’t notice us holding hands. She has a sixth sense for stuff like that. But I’ve already decided what my tactic will be: deny, deny, deny.
“You should thank me, Elinor.” She points at Edward. “The first day we met, I told him to go for you. And look at you two now. Good job, tiger!” She winks at Edward. I am so embarrassed I can’t look at him.
“J.J., we’re not a couple,” I say coolly.
“Maybe it’s not official, but anyone can see where things are going.”
J.J. teases Annie all the time about imagined romances. And I’m sorry to say that I have always thought Annie was a bit dramatic when she complained about J.J.’s wisecracks. “Justbe a good sport,” I’d tell her. “Don’t worry! No one takes J.J. seriously.” I need to officially file an apology with my sister. Right after I file my complaint with her for setting me up like this.
I’m doing my best to remain calm and cool, but inside, I’m dying of mortification. My eyes flick to Edward to see how he’s handling it. He appears completely unbothered and thoroughly amused. I can’t match his emotions. The delicate shoots of tenderness unfurling in my heart a few minutes ago wilt under the glaring sun of J.J.’s relentless teasing.
“Don’t try to fool me,” she continues. “I have a knack for this stuff. Your sister says she and Brandon are just friends. But I know better. He’s obviously head over heels for her.”
“Really?” I ask momentarily, distracted from my own predicament. Truthfully, I have been amazed by Brandon’s indifference to my sister. From what I’ve seen, he treats Annie more like a nanny than a love interest. He’s polite and seems to tolerate her joining their father-daughter outings. But he doesn’t look like a man in love. Then again, she finagled him into inviting Edward here tonight for this nacho setup. So she must have some sway with him.
“That one plays his cards close to his chest,” says J.J. knowingly. “But I see him. Every afternoon he goes to the lobby to listen to her play piano—every single day.”
“But that’s for Pepper! She worships Annie,” I say.
“Pepper writes in her notebook during the performance. Brandon listens. Word on the street is her park ranger boyfriend is moving soon. You two could have a double wedding.”
And now I want the ground to swallow me up.
“It’s been great, J.J.” I stand up. “I’ve really got to get going now. Thanks for the nachos,” I say to Edward.
“I’m coming with you.” He stands up.
“Good to see you again,” he says to J.J., who hugs him likethey are old friends.
“I expect I’ll be seeing more of you,” she says to Edward before also giving me a big hug. And I really can’t complain—J.J. gives the best hugs.
Everyone in the bar watches as Edward and I leave together. In this town the news will spread like wildfire. Sure enough, my phone buzzes as soon as I’m outside
Annie: Is it true?
Are you and Edward dating?
I heard you two were cozy at the taproom
“So it begins,” I mutter to myself.
“What begins?” asks Edward, who has just caught up to me.
“Annie just asked if we’re dating. We sit together in a booth for a few minutes, and the whole town jumps to crazy conclusions.”
“It’s not that crazy,” he says.
I take fast strides across the tiny parking lot, but he easily keeps up.
“Did you walk here?” he asks, when it’s obvious I’m leaving the lot and headed for the road.
“Yep, Annie took the car to the aquarium. Just another step in her meddling. It’s not far. I won’t give her the satisfaction of knowing you drove me home.”
“Umm... I respect that, but I don’t like the idea of you walking a couple of miles at night without a good shoulder.” He points down the tree-lined road. He’s right. The shoulder’s fine in the daylight, but at night it’s really not safe.
