NINETEEN
CHAPTER
Two months later
Teddy, I texted. Guess what?
I give up.
I could practically see his smug little smirk. I rolled my eyes at my phone and typed back: You didn’t even try.
There’s an 80’s movie marathon on cable this week?
Almost as awesome. I bit my lip, not wanting to come across as bragging, but he was the first person I wanted to share the news with. My album, Shattered Glass ? It’s number one on CDBaby and Beatport. Number six on iTunes.
I squinched my face up and hit send. Then grinned ear to ear at Theo’s reply.
Holy shit! Calling…
My phone lit up and I answered, “Holy shit.”
“That’s fucking awesome, Kace.”
“Thank you,” I said, plucking at a stray thread on my couch pillow. My smile wouldn’t dim. “It took a little bit of time to get the ball rolling, but now the downloads are really steady. It’s pretty crazy. Grant and Phoebe said ‘The Lighthouse’ and ‘One Million Moments’ were bestselling singles.”
“Hell yeah, they are,” Theo said. “Any record execs calling you yet?”
“No.”
“They will.”
“Grant thinks a video on YouTube will get their attention. He’s full of ideas. Before we released the album, he talked about just me and a guitar and some candles in an empty room. But now that some money’s coming in, he’s thinking water tanks and special effects. Can you believe that?”
“I’m really damn happy for you, Kace.”
“Thanks, Teddy.”
“So, are these Olsen people legit? They’re not ripping you off, are they?”
“So far, they’re great. We have a contract. I pay them 15% of everything I make plus a flat fee for the use of their studio and for production of actual CDs.”
“Sounds fair.”
“Sounds on the low-end to me. If I ever make a shit-ton of money, I’m going to take care of them. I wouldn’t even be taking this next step if it weren’t for them.”
“What is the next step?”
I flumped back in the chair with a sigh. “Grant wants to do a release party.”
“Where? When?”
“Next Friday. Le Chacal. I had Grant do it there so I can hang with Big E. I need all the friends there I can get. Hint, hint .”
I was teasing and I wasn’t.
“Shit, I wish I could,” Theo said. “But Gus is already up my ass about missing work. And I have class. I’m sorry…”
“Don’t be sorry,” I said, keeping the disappointment out of my voice. “It’s expensive, and it’s short notice. I don’t actually expect you to drop everything and fly out for a silly party.”
But I wanted him to, I realized. I missed him a lot, and our phone conversations were starting to feel like little crumbs of food when I wanted a big feast.
When did that happen?
I cleared my throat. “So anyway, I’ll call you after? It’ll be late.”
“I don’t care,” he said. “I’ll be here.”
“You’re always so good to me.”
“I try to be, Kace,” he said softly.
A short silence fell, waiting, like we were both holding our breath. I broke for air first.
“Okay, I should go,” I said quickly. “Give your mom a kiss for me.”
“Yeah, for sure, I will,” he said just as fast. “Goodnight, Kace.”
“Goodnight, Teddy.”
The night of the party arrived, and I was nervous as hell.
I put on black leather jeans, and a silky gray blouse, off-the-shoulder with billowy sleeves.
I piled my hair on my head, pulling loose tendrils to frame my face.
With a pang, I tucked the black rose Dena gave me at her wedding behind my ear.
I wished she and Oscar were coming to celebrate with me. And Theo.
And Jonah.
A text came in on my phone before I headed out: Enjoy your party. You deserve this.
A warmth bloomed in my chest as I replied: Thanks, Teddy. 3
Le Chacal was packed to capacity. I’d never seen the club so full before.
Jonathan, the skinny and balding owner, practically had dollar signs in his eyes at the amount of booze flowing.
The doors and windows were open, and people and music spilled out onto the street.
Passersby who had no idea what was happening stopped to listen, and many stayed.
I headed for the table Grant and Phoebe set up near the bar to sell CDs. I’d given myself a hand cramp signing 500 covers, thinking it was too much, no way we’d sell a fraction of them.
“Five hundred CDs, sold out,” Phoebe said, showing me the empty box. “In record time.”
“At ten dollars a pop.” Grant held up his hands, grinning wide. “I know it’s vulgar to discuss money, but let’s just say it’s not bad for a night’s work.”
Phoebe pressed a seltzer water with lime into my hand, which nearly sloshed all over the floor a minute later when Big E picked me up and swung me around.
Yvonne had arrived too, with a couple of her friends, and we laughed and shout-talked over Louis Prima on the sound system.
Ten minutes later, my phone vibrated from my back pocket with a text from Theo.
Having fun yet?
My brow furrowed. It’s early, but yes.
I started to send another, but he beat me to it.
You wore that flower in your hair at the wedding.
My head jerked up, my eyes scanning the crowd as my heart began to pound.
No way.
My eyes scanned the bar. Then tracked back. Theo was standing with Big E, both of them grinning like dopes.
My mouth dropped. “No. Way.”
Theo was ridiculously handsome in a red wine-colored dress shirt, rolled up at the sleeves, and dark jeans. He gave me a cocky grin and waved hello with his phone.
My heart, already so full of happiness, expanded in my chest as Theo’s eyes held mine and his smile pulled wide. I pushed through the crowd as fast as I could and flung my arms around his neck. “Are you kidding me?”
I held him tight, breathing him in, his skin, his cologne. Feeling his strong arms around me and the laughter coming through his chest.
“I can’t believe you’re here!” I cried.
“I’m here.”
“You told me you had too much school, you big liar.”
“I do,” he said. “But funny thing about UNLV—they give us the weekends off. Weird, right?”
I laughed, smacked his arm, then hugged him again.
“And you,” I said, turning to Big E. “You’re his accomplice.”
The big bartender held up his hands. “I’m just as happy to see this guy as you are.” His warm gaze went between us. “Well, maybe not quite as happy…”
I took Theo’s hand. “Come on. I want you to meet Grant and Phoebe, and I’m sure Yvonne would love to see you.”
Theo made a face. “Hope she left her baseball bat at home.”
I introduced my Las Vegas friend to my New Orleans friends and spent the rest of the night laughing and talking, surrounded by the people I loved. The crowd swelled and soon Rufus signaled from the booth that it was time to play.
I blew air out my cheeks. “Is it just me, or is this crowd really big?”
Phoebe took my drink from my hand, as Grant looped my guitar over my shoulder. Theo leaned in to be heard over the noise, his breath warm on my cheek, like a kiss.
“Knock’em dead.”
I glanced up at him. “Thanks, Teddy.” The crowd was too loud, but I know he heard me anyway.
I sang a few songs from the album, including “The Lighthouse.” The huge crowd gave me their silence and I gave them everything I had.
But I wasn’t the Drowned Girl anymore. While I felt the ache of Jonah’s absence in every word, in my mind I heard a violin, lifting up the refrain with hope.
I infused the words with rich emotion, but I didn’t cry.
After I finished my set to resounding applause, a zydeco band took the stage. They insisted I join in for a set. I wasn’t fluent in their style of music, but I heard the changes and felt the flow, and soon was jamming with them. The crowd went crazy.
My eyes kept seeking Theo in the crowd. Every time I did, I found his eyes on me, that intense look that only Theo Fletcher possessed. The look that made me feel, for a few brief moments, as if no one existed in his world but for me.