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“Absolutely. I can’t take a romantic comedy tonight. I’m living it as we speak.”
“Just remember. Be close, but not too close. Smile, but not too much. And don’t trip or fall or anything like that.” Nina was full of advice tonight.
“Yes, mom.” I rolled my eyes and grabbed the jacket from my bed. Ready or not, it was time to meet Beau.
Date Seven: Down in the Bayou
There was a long line snaking the entrance to the concert. My
outfit was carefully planned for tonight, but I didn’t think about standing outside in the cool spring air when I choose the black skirt. I stood on my toes, searching for Beau. The guy in front of me was too tall to see past.
“London. Hey.” Beau tapped me on the shoulder while I strained to examine the crowd.
Caught off guard by the contact, I stammered, “Hey.” I wanted his arms around me or a kiss, but shoulder tapping was the only touch I felt.
“Come on. My friend works the door. We can go on in.” He walked toward the door. Of course he had a connection at Cat’s Cradle. He knew everyone.
I heard a few snarky comments as we breezed past the anxious concertgoers. Thankful to be inside, I smiled at Beau.
“I’ll be right back. I see someone I know.” Before I could even respond, Beau dashed through the throng gathered in front of the stage and disappeared.
Alone, I looked around the quaint concert hall. It was dark. The roadies were on stage completing the final sound tests before the Bayou Brothers took the stage. I knew things were not the same between us, but I couldn’t believe Beau took off like that. We were supposed to be on a fake date. A real fake date.
Not wanting to look like a wallflower, I walked to the bar to get a bottled water. I sipped the water and waited. I had lost Beau in the growing crowd. I tipped the bottle back and felt a hand graze my butt. I whipped around to see who had touched me.
“Derek? What are you doing here?”
“Hey, London. Didn’t think I’d see you here either.” He had a mischievous smile on his face that made me squirm. “I thought you knew how much I liked the Bayou Brothers. I’ve seen them at least six times.”
I had never paid attention to what kind of music Derek liked. I probably wouldn’t have guessed bluegrass-Cajun-funk.
“Yeah. I’m here with someone.” I looked over my shoulder, hoping that my someone would walk up any second.
“Don’t tell me it’s that blog guy again.” His eyes narrowed. “I get that you are committed to your class project, but did you have to quit Encore?”
The water bottle was my only distraction tactic. I took another swallow and avoided Derek’s question.
“I wrote Betray Me with you in mind. Come back to Encore. There’s time for you to rehearse. We’ll pretend none of this other stuff ever happened.” His hand landed on my hip and was resting on my waist.
“Derek? What are you doing?” I took a step back. He had invaded my personal space one too many times.
“Come on, London. I know why you left.” He stepped closer.
“I left because I wanted to spend my last months at Carolina doing something else besides being stuck in the basement.” I raised my hand to his chest. “And whatever it is you think you’re doing, you need to stop.”
The lights flickered on the stage and everyone around us started cheering.
“You don’t mean that.” He leaned toward me and I recognized a lustful look in his eye. One that I never wanted to see from him.
I didn’t have much space to move. The room was packed, and I was shoulder to shoulder with Bayou Brothers fans.
“Nina is my best friend. Please, just go, Derek. Leave me alone.”
“This doesn’t have anything to do with Nina.” He reached for my waist again, but I was wedged next to a tall man, oblivious to my problem.
“Derek, seriously, back off.” I was starting to panic. Derek was acting deranged and deaf. I had never seen him like this.
“Man. You heard her. Back off.” Beau emerged from the sea of fans. I don’t know how much of the conversation he overheard between Derek and me, but it was enough.
