Page 77 of The Other Room

I would give her no excuse. No reason to question my commitment to her. Not one slip-up to shake her trust in me. And that meant even something as small as keeping my promise to save her a stool.

“Is this seat taken?” a woman asked.

“It is. Sorry,” I answered, guarding that stool with my life.

Not one reason.

While I sipped on my old fashioned, I checked my phone again.

Any minute now.

“Hey, dude!” Aaron said, and I turned to see him standing behind me. “I didn’t know you were going out tonight!” He hopped into the stool, and I opened my mouth to protest, but then closed it. It would be easier to save a stool if I had a body sitting in it for the next few minutes.

“Hey, man. You back out in Sister Bay tonight?”

“Yeah, the Mullet Hunters are having their reunion show here tonight, so we thought we’d make the trek. Remember how much fun we used to have when they’d play?” He leaned back in his stool and played his air guitar.

“Oh, I remember.” I laughed. “I’m hungover just thinking about it.”

“Good times! Tony is in the parking lot trying to convince his girlfriend to come out and be our DD so he and I can both get lit.”

Snorting, I shook my head. “I wish him luck with that.”

“Yeah. Not likely, but he’s trying anyway. You out alone? Ready to par-tay? Get your Mullet Hunter jam on?” Rubbing his hands together, he gave me that mischievous smile he’d been sporting since we were kids.

“Nah. Not tonight.”

“Why not? Come on, man! It’s the reunion show! They never play anymore so everyone who’s anyone is coming. It’s gonna be awesome. And summer will be over before we know it. Let’s do some dancing, drink some beers, find some hot girls... it’ll be epic!”

I already had a hot girl. An amazing girl. The perfect girl.

A girl I didn’t know if I should tell him about yet. Knowing how easily Jo spooked, I wanted her to be in charge of telling people about us. On her schedule.

“I’m good, man. But you guys should rip it up for sure.”

“Oh, come on! What else do you have planned tonight? Nothing. That’s what. So you’re partying with us. It’s a done deal.”

Laughing, I shook my head. “Not tonight, Aaron. I’ve got... plans.”

His orange eyebrows rose. “Oh yeah? Like, plans with a girl?”

“Plans I’m not talking about.”

“Masturbating doesn’t count as plans.”

Almost spitting out my drink, I choked down my laugh. “That’s not the plan!”

“So, it’s a girl.” His smile grew. “Who is she? Do I know her?” He looked down at the drink in front of him and his face lit up. “Is she here?

While Aaron searched the growing crowd, I just shook my head. “Who she is isn’t important. But yes, it’s a girl. And it’s really, really new and I don’t want to jinx it and tell you yet. So, just order a drink and get out of here before she shows up.”

“A secret girl.” He waggled his eyebrows. “I love a good mystery. Is she hot?”

“Very.”

“Do I know her?”

“Not answering.”