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Savannah
“Can everyone hear me?” I cup my hands over my mouth and shout over a crowd of children dressed as the characters from Wizard of Oz. “If you still need part of your costume, please see Bev. Bev, wave your hand please.”
Bev smooths her oversized white cardigan, and stands up straight. “Right here!”
Jess comes up to my right elbow.
“Let’s get this dress rehearsal on the road,” she suggests. “If you don’t mind.”
“You and Meg are the ones in charge of what happens on the stage. I’m just… coordinating!”
“And doing it with style,” Jess says with a wink. She turns to the crowded stage, and raises her voice. “Let’s move everything off the stage, please! Start finding your places, everyone. How is the back of the house doing?”
Jared flashes the auditorium lights, and then the stage lights. “Lights are working!” he confirms.
I hurry to the edge of the stage, and carefully sit down before sliding down to the floor of the auditorium. It’s not the most elegant way to climb down from the stage, but it does keep me from flashing everybody my red lace panties. Looking around, I see the few parents that are sprinkled throughout the seats, mostly peering at their phones. Then I spot Cole. As usual, he’s in the back of the room. His dark hair looks like it could use a comb. He stares intently at his phone screen, and occasionally types something.
I try to be casual about wandering back toward him. Cole doesn’t even look up as I sink into the seat beside his. I have to elbow him to pull him away from his phone.
“Hey. What’s so interesting?” I ask. I use a teasing tone, and try to keep it light.
I’m trying to cover the anxiety that has bloomed in my chest about Cole being secretive around his phone. I might be imagining it, but I swear he has been frowning down at it so much the last two days.
Has Cole’s ex been in touch? Is she asking to get back together with him?
My mind darts around in a thousand different terribly dark directions.
“Hello?” I prod.
Cole jumps like he’s been caught doing something wrong. He gives me a nervous look as he puts his phone in his pocket.
“What’s happening?”
“The kids are about to run through the play for the final time. I think my part is done.”
He frowns. “Oh.”
“Are you all right?” I pat his arms and torso. “Limbs in place, major organs functioning okay?”
Cole tenses his jaw.
“Yes. Do I not seem okay?”
“I don’t know. You’ve been acting oddly since the oyster bake.”
He inhales a long breath and then blows it out slowly. “I’m fine.”
I squeeze his knee. “You seem really, ultra, extra fine. Most totally fine people need to reassure others that they are fine.”
He gives me a look. “You’re hilarious.”
“I’ll be here all week.”
Cole crosses his arms and glares off in the distance. I wait a few beats for him to respond, then I push.
“Something is bothering you. I can tell.”
“Maybe I just don’t like playing twenty questions. Ever think of that?”
