CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“Just give me the biggest cup of coffee you have,” Levi told the barista at Juniper Café. “It’s less about the caffeine than about doubling for a hand warmer.”
The woman, a fifty-something named Marcia who had seen Levi many days at this point, grinned.
“I thought you were getting more acclimated!” she protested.
He pulled a hangdog expression, which made her laugh. “I’m going on a hike. People around here don’t know that winter is forinside.”
She laughed again and rang up his order. Levi stepped away from the counter with a wave, enjoying the fact that he had established banter with his local coffee provider. It made Magnolia Shore feel that much homier.
Not that he was struggling to feel at home here. Although he’d pretended to be put out about the hike, and though he did anticipate that he would suffer from the cold more than his companions, he wasn’t really disappointed to be going.
Because he’d been invited by June’s friends’ partners.
A guy named Shane had called a few days prior.
“Hey, sorry to call you out of the blue like this,” the friendly voice had come from across the phone line. “I got your numberfrom June. My name is Shane Ridley. My sister, Eleanor, and my girlfriend, Winnie, are in book club with June.”
He’d gone on to explain that while the women had their book club, the men they loved had come together to make a more informal group. They didn’t meet quite as regularly as the book club did, and their activities varied, but this weekend they were going on a hike, and did Levi want to join?
Levi did. He’d confessed his limited experience with hiking, but Shane had reassured him that their group’s level was varied, and that the whole thing was really an excuse for them to hang out and grab some beers afterward.
Andthatwas a plan that Levi could get behind.
Really though, he would have accepted even if they’d told him that it would be a twenty-mile hike, uphill both ways, in the rain. He would have still enjoyed himself too, he was sure. He loved the welcoming atmosphere of Magnolia Shore and adored how everyone here treated him like a person, rather than a celebrity. He also figured that the men who loved the women of June’s club, which was full of great people, would be good friends for him too.
He was just about to head over to the diner to say hello to June quickly before meeting the men, as she had a shift waiting tables that day. He hadn’t quite made it to the door with his comically large coffee when his phone buzzed insistently in his pocket.
He looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Veronica, one of the reps from his record label. Normally, Levi would let them leave a message, since he was hurrying out the door, but he’d sent the single that he and June had recorded, and he was eager to hear their feedback.
“Ronnie, hi,” he said, picking up the phone.
“Levi,” the representative purred affectionately. Veronica was a total character who always dressed in eclectic vintagefashion and hairstyles and talked as though she was a gangster’s moll out of an old movie, but she was incredible at her job and nothing but professional. “If it isn’t my favorite client!”
“You say that to everyone,” he pointed out.
“I do,” she admitted, totally unashamed to be caught out. “But it’s only because I love you all equally and could never choose. Anyway, doll, I was just calling because I received that single file you send over to me. The one with that new singer along with you.”
“June Caldwell, yes,” he said, feeling breathless with anticipation.
“Well, honey,” she said, “I have to tell you, I’m not so sure about this as a single.”
Disappointment surged in Levi’s chest, but the heat of determination was stronger.
“Listen, Veronica,” he said, “I know it’s a little rough. We just recorded in my kitchen, for goodness’ sake, on my laptop. We barely had any equipment, let alone a real recording booth. But listen beyond the quality to the song itself. Listen to hervoice. She’s a real talent, and writing with her was a dream, and?—”
“No, no, Levi, honey,” Ronnie interrupted, laughter in her tone. “You’re not understanding me. I want to releasea whole albumwith you two. Maybe this will end up being our single, but I want to see what else the two of you are capable of before deciding. Do you think this June of yours would be willing to do more songs together?”
“I—I would have to ask her,” Levi stammered, caught aback by this sudden turn in the conversation.
“Well, you do that, sweetheart,” Veronica said, sounding amused. “This girl is good, and if somebody else discovers her, I’m going to be mighty displeased.”
Levi hung up, feeling light as air. This was beyond his wildest hopes. Singing with June had been a dream, and the option to do more made him feel as though he had won the lottery.
He glanced at his watch. He had to hurry if he still wanted to talk to June before he met up with the men.
And with news as exciting as this, he didn’t want to wait, not one more moment longer than necessary.
