I guess I am.
Stealing a glance at me as we walk, she adds, “This idea is about Ann.”
“Do you have any other bad celebrities to set her up with?”
Her smiles spreads wider, flashing a hint of white teeth. “No, we’re going to set her up withNathaniel.”
I take a moment to consider this as we turn the corner and find ourselves at the front of the building. There’s a buzz of activity out here. People smoking and hanging out with their drinks, which are allowed within a certain radius of the front doors. Other people getting into their cars to leave.
“Nathaniel talks a lot,” I point out. “She didn’t seem to be a fan of loquaciousness.”
She nods her head playfully. “Yes, but consider this.” She lifts one finger. “He has an incredibly lush beard. Ann said she only wants a bearded guy. No one else is a real man.”
I run a hand across my own stubbled jaw. I shave every morning because I don’t like the feeling of having a beard, but what if Nora likes it?
“Do you?—”
“I like you just the way you are.”
It was a throwaway remark, but warmth blossoms inside of me as we leave the parking area. I see Nora’s little Fiat parked a couple of blocks away on the grassy side of the road, as if it was abandoned by people fleeing a zombie takeover.
A few cars drive past as we walk toward it, and I shift our positions so Nora has the inside position, farther away from possible death-by-vehicle.
I’m worried she’s going to comment on it, but she just gives me a probing glance and then continues with our discussion. “He may talk too much, but he wouldn’t mind if she switched off her hearing aid. Besides, he doesn’t really talk about himself, he talks about animals. That’s not nearly as annoying. He also seems very interested in other people’s problems. He wanted to know all about our fake relationship.”
I never thought I could dislike two words in the English language as much as I’m coming to dislikefake relationship.
“Okay,” I agree. “We’ll introduce them. We’ll have to actquickly, though. I’m leaving for San Francisco in a week. Right after our second disastrous double date.”
“I forgot your trip was coming up so soon,” she says, looking downcast. “How long will you be gone?”
“Almost three weeks.”
The thought makes me uncomfortable. I don’t want to leave right now, when everything is in medias res. It’ll feel wrong, being away from home. Being away fromher.
She gasps. “What about Cookie?”
Her concern for my difficult dog makes me grin. “I’m bringing her with me. Kenji made the travel arrangements. I’m flying out of Charlotte.”
“And the band?”
“I can’t take them with me. I’ve been told there’s a weight limit on carrying crates.”
We reach the car. Standing by the driver’s side, Nora lays one hand on the roof and observes me.
“The band’s aware of my travel plans,” I continue. “We planned our performance schedule around it.”
“Do I have permission to send you annoying text messages?”
“Since when do you ask for permission?”
She smiles. “It was a rhetorical question.”
“I hope you make me sorry I ever heard of a cell phone.” I stuff my hands in my pockets, then admit, “I’m going to miss you. A lot. But look, I know Ann’s love life is important to you. We can introduce them before I go.”
She’s already shaking her head, her hair flying outward with the motion. “We can’t just introduce them.”
This seems like a wild conclusion to me, because introducing them should be the logical next step in her plan.
