As he is putting his number into my phone, I look up at him. “The town is going to love the theater. People love things with character.”
“I sure hope so,” he says, handing my phone back.
Everett is already halfway to the door when I speak without thinking.
“I’m going out tomorrow night,” I blurt.
Everett pauses and turns around to look at me.
“With Lily and my other sisters. If you don’t have plans, you could meet us…if you want?”
As soon as I said it, I wanted to take it back, not because I didn’t want him to come, I did, but I didn’t want to seem too excited.
“Yeah, I’d like that. I’ll bring Henry.”
Half panic, half anticipation, my chest tightens, and I hold back a smile.
“Great, see you tomorrow night, well, I’ll be bringing you your coffee in the afternoon, like always.”
He grins and walks out the door.
I head over to my couch and sit down, pulling my favorite throw blanket on top of me. I shouldn’t have invited him, but I also can’t remember the last time I was this thrilled.
9
Everett
I’ve been standing in front of this mirror forever. It’s not like I care how I look; going out means being seen, which means being remembered, and it’s much easier for me to stay in hiding.
Last night in her apartment keeps replaying in my head. We were comfortable around each other. There was no awkwardness. Everything just flowed.
I was not expecting her to invite me out tonight.
“You could meet us. If you want.”
Of course, I fucking want to. I want to spend all the time I can with her. She’s unlike any woman I’ve ever met. She’s free, beats to her own drum, and doesn’t seem to care what others think of her. Violet has this confidence about her that makes her even more attractive. Not only is she beautiful on the outside but, from what I’ve learned about her, on the inside, too.
Deciding on my usual uniform: jeans, a belt, a gray t-shirt, and brown cowboy boots, I head to Henry’s. We’ll take a cab into town together.
The Red Barn is the local bar. It’s the only one in town. Friday nights turn into karaoke night, and around 11 p.m., it turns intoa dance floor. It has country music posters on the walls and whiskey barrels as tables. It’s your typical country bar.
It was already loud when I walked inside. Someone was singing a horrible version ofShot Through the Heartby Bon Jovi.
A few people turn their heads to look at me as I walk in, but my focus is on finding Violet, my Firefly.
Violet’s hiding in the shadows, at a table off to the side in front of the stage. She is laughing with Lily. Her head tips back, showing off her neck that I would give anything to taste, her hand curled around a glass.
She looks happy, free. Maybe I made a mistake coming here. I don’t want to disrupt a fun, easy-going night for her.
But then her eyes lock on mine, like she senses I am here. She smiles at me. It isn’t a polite smile. It is real. She is happy I am here. That smile is everything.
Approaching her table, I slow down, aware of how many eyes are on me. I’m getting used to it. I know not everyone here trusts me; I can’t fault them for that.
It’s something I’ll continue working on. I am hoping that, with me fixing up the theater and making an effort to be part of this town again, people will change their minds. But only one pair of eyes matters more than the rest, and she invited me out tonight.
She is my focus.
Violet looks up at me. “Hey, you came,” she says, still smiling.
