Chapter 4 #2
“All I’m saying is that you need to live a little and see where this goes. You may have just met your soul mate.”
“Soul mate?” I scoff. Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes at him.
He throws his arms up in irritation. “Valerie, can you please talk some sense into your sister?”
“Nope, I actually agree with her. I don’t think she should call him.
He’s a musician, meaning girls throw themselves at him and he will also have to tour eventually.
I don’t approve of a long-distance relationship for my baby sister,” Valerie states firmly, looking him in the eye to show how serious she is.
“Thanks for being supportive there, Val,” Shane says with heavy sarcasm. “Side note—I’m really digging this hot-for-teacher look you’ve got going on with the sexy glasses and high ponytail. Too bad you’re going to look this way when you're ninety and single with that kind of attitude!”
Even Valerie can’t contain her laughter at that comment.
I do have to agree with Shane though on the subject of how my sister looks.
She has a certain sex appeal in her work attire.
She’s gorgeous with her light-blonde hair and ice-blue eyes—the complete opposite of what I look like.
Nobody guesses we’re sisters when they first meet us, but our bond is as tight as if we were twins.
Shane looks between the two of us, shaking his head in silence.
“I’m done with this conversation, as it’s giving me heartburn and now I need a drink.
” He gives Valerie and me a kiss on our cheeks and looks one more time at us both.
“It’s a shame, really. Two of the most beautiful girls I’ve ever seen, single as the day they were born.
Aly, I do hope you change your mind about calling Gavin.
I’ll see you tomorrow.” And with that, he leaves us and goes back inside.
Valerie and I walk to our cars in silence, both of us deep in thought.
Shane’s words repeat over and over in my brain.
What do I have to lose by calling Gavin?
Sure, it goes against my policy of not dating musicians, but every cell in my body is screaming that he seems different and to give him a chance.
The memory of his handsome face with those intense eyes demanding I call him causes me to shiver, a smile creeping up on my lips, because I actually liked that he demanded I call him.
Give him a chance, Aly! You’ve got nothing to lose.
Oh sure, just my heart if he breaks it into a million pieces.
A phone call is harmless and doesn’t mean anything.
“You aren’t seriously going to call him, are you?
” Valerie’s question interrupts my internal debate with myself.
I look over at her to see she’s waiting outside of her open car door, and I realize we didn’t even say goodbye to each other, since I was lost in my own thoughts.
I take a deep breath and flash her a bashful smile, knowing she isn’t going to like my decision.
“Of course I am,” I confirm, giving her a playful wink.
Feeling high with adrenaline and confidence, I pull out my phone and type in his number.
While his phone rings, I blow her a kiss goodbye and get into my car to start the engine.
My Bluetooth picks up the call and I start to think I’ll be leaving a voicemail when he suddenly picks up on the fourth ring.
“Hello?”
“Gavin? Um, hi, this is Alyson, the girl from the Bluebird Cafe,” I say, trying to sound somewhat cute and not like a complete dork. “The one you gave your card to,” I remind him, hoping he hasn’t been handing his card out like candy on Halloween night.
“Alyson,” he repeats my name in his deep voice, and a chill slides down my spine. “Do you go by Aly?”
“Yes,” I rasp out, my voice shaking a little at my nervousness. “Most people call me Aly.”
“Well, all right then… Aly.” Why does my name sound so exotic coming from him? “I’m sorry if you can’t hear me very well. I’m still at the Bluebird. Can I call you when I get home?”
“Oh right! I’m so sorry. Your assistant demanded I call you, and she’s a little scary,” I joke while I smack my hand against my head for being the dumbass I am. Of course he’s still at the Bluebird, since it hasn’t even been five minutes since I left. Why didn’t I think to wait to call him?
Fortunately, he’s chuckling at me and I marvel at the sound. “I hope she wasn’t rude to you. Sosie’s always pretty serious.”
“No, she wasn’t rude at all.” I grimace at the lie. “Call me whenever you get a free moment. I should be up for a while. I mean, call me another day or whenever,” I stammer, rolling my eyes at myself for how stupid I sound.
“I’ll call you in a little bit, darlin’. Get home safe and I’ll talk to you soon,” he tells me before saying goodbye and hanging up.
“What an idiot you are, Aly,” I groan out loud, mad at myself for calling him so soon and seeming desperate. Knowing there is nothing I can do about it now, I turn on the radio, hoping it will distract me from my thoughts of Gavin.
I pull into my driveway fifteen minutes later and I go inside.
I feed Apollo before putting on my pajamas.
After I wash my face and brush my teeth, I look at my clock and see it’s only 10:00 p.m., so I decide to get into bed and continue reading the current book I’m obsessed with.
Apollo joins me and curls into my side. I check to make sure my phone is on full volume and not on vibrate so that I won’t miss Gavin’s call.
With my phone settled next to me on the nightstand, I lie against my pillows and start to read.
Two hours later, the words are starting to blur together and I’m afraid that if I don’t go to bed soon, I will be jolted awake by my Kindle smacking me in the face.
I put it aside and reach for my phone. Disappointment rears its ugly head as I see how late it is and he hasn’t called me back like he said he would.
“Chin up, Aly. Don’t waste any pretty breaths on him,” I tell myself, repeating the old motto my mother used to say to me when a boy I liked didn’t like me back. I turn my light off and settle into the covers, praying that a certain green-eyed devil doesn’t occupy my dreams.