Page 25 of Safe With You

The event officially started in five minutes, and despite spending the last three weeks planning every detail, I still felt like I was putting out one small fire after another.

One thing at a time.

“Luna?”

I turned to find Denise, tonight’s featured poet, smoothing invisible wrinkles from the front of her blouse.

“You nervous?” I asked.

She laughed softly. “I’ve been doing this for almost ten years.”

“That didn’t answer my question.”

“It never goes away.”

I smiled.

“Good.”

She tilted her head.

“Why is that good?”

“Because I think if it ever stops mattering, it’s probably time to stop doing it.”

For a second, she just looked at me before letting out another laugh.

“I like that.”

“I’m stealing that from someone wiser than me.”

“I won’t tell.”

She glanced toward the stage.

“What time do you want me up there?”

“As soon as I finish the welcome.”

She nodded once.

“I’ll be ready.”

“I know you will.”

She reached over and squeezed my hand before making her way toward the reserved chair beside the stage.

One less thing.

My phone buzzed in my back pocket.

Naomi.

WHERE ARE YOU?

I looked up.

She stood beside the microphone with one hand on her hip, staring directly at me.