He laughs out loud this time. “Of course they fucking are. And I’ll bet Sophie and your girl are there too.”
“She’s not—” I start, then shrug. “Yeah, of course.”
“The real question is, where’s Dottie?”
He raises a good point, but just then Ann’s mobile phone rings. It nearly echoes through the coffee shop, because almost everyone inside has stopped talking aside from George, who’s still going on about the highlights of his career.
“I’ve got to get that, baby,” Ann says, patting his hand. “I always answer my friend Dot’s calls. We have an agreement.”
He trails off as she answers her phone.
We can’t hear the other end, obviously, but Ann is speakingloudly, as if she wants us to listen. “You don’t say.” She pauses. “So it’s an emergency?”
Liam starts silently laughing again.
I glance over and see that Nora and her friends all have their faces pressed directly to the glass. I send off a quick text:
I think Dottie just called Ann to give her an excuse to leave.
I watch as Nora reads the message, does a double take, and then turns to share the news with her friends.
“I’ll be right there, honey,” Ann says. “Don’t you worry about a thing. He’ll understand.”
She sets her phone down and gives George an apologetic look as she pats his hand across the table. “I’ve got to leave you early. My friend called me in a state.”
“What’s wrong?” he asks, seeming flustered.
She hesitates before saying, “She’s feeling lonely, is all.”
His features tighten. “You’re ditching me forthat? I flew all the way from California to see you. We were supposed to spend the whole weekend together.”
She pats his hand again. “And I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful weekend. You can go visit the Biltmore. Maybe catch a few shows.” She points to our table. “Their band has a performance tonight at the Asheville Concert Hall. I’m sure they’d be thrilled if you went.”
He arcs his neck to glance at us, and I give him an awkward wave. He looks about as happy to see me as he was to see the Russian spies at the end of hisSoviet Summermovie.
“Willyoube going?” he mutters to Ann, his tone full of resentment.
“No, baby.”
“I can’t fucking believe this. What did I do?”
“I’ve got to go check on my friend, like I said. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
He grips her arm to keep her seated. “You can’t just leave. I won’t let you walk out on me like that.”
Mick smiles as he springs to his feet. “Finally.”
“Action time?” Liam asks, getting up from the table.
“Action time.”
I stand up too, my gaze skating to the window.
Nora’s watching with wide eyes. She looks worried—aboutme.
I don’t know what possesses me, but I blow her a kiss.
Mick’s already halfway to George and Ann’s table.
