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I spin to face them again, wanting desperately to change the subject to anything but who Gaines Morgan may marry one day,since I can’t see any path that would lead me down an aisle in a wedding dress toward him.
The man made it clear that he doesn’t want anyone to know about us.
“I’m going to get married when I’m thirty,” Stevie reminds us. “Eloise will knit me a dress.”
I can’t help but smile broadly at the prospect of that. “That would be the greatest honor of my life.”
Stevie closes the distance between us to hug me tightly. “You’re one of my best friends, too.”
I tear up as I hold her close. “You’re one of mine, too, Stevie. I hope that never changes.”
The words Gaines said to me about not wanting to break Stevie’s heart echo inside of me. If we took things too far and it fell apart it would impact almost everyone we both love, and we can’t risk that. We can never risk that.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Gaines
I glancedown at the album in my hand.
“Cupid Karma,” I repeat the name of the local band who financed everything they owned to make this record.
I know all of that because Castle gave me a forty-five minute lesson on the band’s history, including the fact that all three members are sisters.
I stepped right into that because I asked him to explain the band’s origins to me as if I was some fucking music aficionado.
I’m not.
I’m a guy who listens to whatever my streaming service thinks I’ll like. Their algorithm is fucked, though. I’ve run circles around Central Park listening to some classical shit, and other days, I’m bombarded with pop songs that I can’t understand the lyrics to.
I do have a favorite singer. Her stage name is Astrid Rehn. Her married surname is Morgan. Her songs always hit me hard, though, because I know the more recent stuff she’s written is about my cousin.
Every track I’ve heard for her new album is a literal love song for the ages.
The time I spent with Castle was time wasted.
Astrid and Stevie were heading up to see Eloise when I had to duck into the store to explain my presence in this part of town.
Since Castle practically pushed me out the door just now so he can lock up, I know Eloise is still not alone since Castle is on his way up to hand Astrid a sales report from last month.
“I don’t even own a fucking record player,” I say under my breath.
I did have one. I inherited it from Dutch, but when Berk wanted an in with Astrid, I gave it to him. He bought some records from her, gave them a listen, then showed up back at this shop to buy more.
It was a move that a high school kid might make to get the girl he likes to notice him. It paid off in spades for Berk.
My phone chimes so I tuck the album under my arm and tug it out of the pocket of my pants.
I read the text on my screen.
Evan: Chloe dumped me for girls’ night with her cousins and their kids. Want to meet up for Greek food?
I take one last glance at the building where Eloise lives.
Gaines: That depends. Do you know who Cupid Karma is?
His response is quick and not totally unexpected.
Evan: Hell, yeah, I do. I heard them at a bar in Hell’s Kitchen about a year ago. Do you know how hard it is to get your hands on a copy of their album? They’re not on any of the streaming services.
