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“Madeline is most likely in a situation where she is away from her phone.” Jamie chuckled. “My sister actually.” Tilting her head, she looked up at me, locking her phone and standing. “Are you sure you can take me home? It’s a long drive, so I don’t mind calling an Uber.”
I folded the chair she’d been sitting on and handed it to the waiting event staffer. “I’m heading that way anyway. I live in Portland, so it wouldn’t make sense for you to pay for an Uber when I’m offering a free ride.”
She let out a long breath. “Okay, where's your car?”
I matched her stride as I led her to my Jeep, opening the passenger door for her. She bowed her head and climbed in, instantly buckling up. Walking around the back of the Jeep, I gave myself a small pep talk.
It’s just a ride home. Chat with her, get to know her a little bit, then ask for her number. Oh yeah . . . Clay gave it to you. Okay well, she doesn't know that. Ask for it anyway and pretend like you don't have it. In fact, delete it so you’re not lying. And stop being an idiot.
Chapter Two
-Jamie-
“So, tell me about your band,” I said, breaking the silence that had lasted for forty minutes of the drive.
Elliot turned to look at me, his eyebrows raised as he opened his lips to talk. But no sound came out. This guy—who I had met a few times before, who people have told me has asked about me—was stiff. I couldn’t tell if he was nervous, or if this was just who he was. His shoulders were squared, and his hand was firm on the gear shift. There were a few times I could tell he wanted to talk, but it was like the moment he entered the car, he forgot how to. Almost as if he didn’twantto. His eyes were focused on everything but me.
“How long have you been in a band? Do you always play covers? Do you have any more gigs coming up?” I asked rapid-fire questions, hoping to elicit a response.
I would be the first to admit, Elliot was breathtakingly handsome. I thought so from the first time I saw him at The Piano Bar. His hair is clean on the sides, but a mess on top. A five o’clock shadow defined his jaw and gave him that rockstar look. His green eyes would captivate anyone—and I’m sure they had. Elliot Whittaker was extremely sexy, but, ultimately, that night he hadn’t been in my line of sight—that was all Clay. And even then, I knew Clay wasn’t interested, even though I made it obvious I was. I was told that Elliotseemedinterested. I even knew he had my phone number, but no texts were sent, no phone calls were made. To me, that didn’t really scream,interested.
So why shouldIbe?
But that didn’t mean that friendship wasn’t a possibility. If only I could get the man to open up and find out.
He let out a small cough. “My band, um, well . . .” He swallowed, his eyes narrowing. “We’ve been playing together for about five years. Bennett and I started it up. We throw in a few popular covers in our set, but mainly try to stick to our originals. We do about five or six shows a month. One at The Piano Bar and the rest as smaller venues.”
“So, Bennett is . . .” I trailed off.
“He plays guitar and sings backup vocals. Jameson is bass, keyboard, and pretty much any other instrument we need—that guy can play anything. He’ll sing too, but it’s not his favorite. Chase is drums, and there's no way in hell we can get that guy to sing.”
As he talked, his shoulders began to loosen, and his thumb tapped the steering wheel.
“Have you always been the lead singer?”
He nodded, his lips forming a crooked smile. “I’ve always loved music. Started playing the piano when I was seven, and it took off from there.”
“And you write your own songs?”
“What's with all the questions?” He raised a single eyebrow, and a smirk that actually lit up his face.
“I’m just making conversation. You’re kinda stiff.”
“I am not,” he mumbled, wiggling in his seat.
“This is the most-high strung I’ve ever seen you. Where’s the guy from the stage? I want to talk to him,” I teased.
He furrowed his brow and scoffed. “Hate to tell you, sweetheart, but I’m the same guy. The only time you’ll see me stiff is when I’m at the office and I’m forced to be.”
I rolled my eyes. The guy in the driver’s seat was definitely not the man who was on stage. “Okay. If you say so.”
My phone dinged in my bag and Elliot’s eyebrow twitched in my direction before he returned his attention to the road. I unlocked the screen and found a text from my sister.
Jillian: Let me know when you’re home. I don’t like the idea of a random guy driving you.
I sighed and shook my head.
Me: He's not a random guy, Jilly. I met him at the wedding. He lives in Portland and is just being nice. I’m. Fine.
