39. Chapter 39
Chapter 39
Sloane
W hen Evan finishes "Bit Part," he sets his guitar down as one of the older ladies holds up what looks like a cigarette. "Is it okay if we share this?" she asks, and I quickly realize it's not a hand-rolled cigarette, but a joint. I have a moment of internal panic hoping and praying that Bryn doesn't freak out. They light up the marijuana cigarette and pass it around. When it gets to Ray, he declines, so does Tameka, Bryn, and myself. I am almost in shock that Bryn just handled that like a champ. I thought for sure she would lose it, and we'd have to go right away. She played it as cool as a cucumber. I'm proud of her and grateful.
"I bet it's amazing to get to travel all over the world doing what you love," I say to Evan.
He nods lazily. "It really is. I love Spain and Italy. They are such cool places."
"Ooh, I love Italy," Nikki says. "I visited when I was studying abroad one semester. It's amazing."
"Isn't the food so good?" Evan asks her.
Nikki throws her head back, a look of ecstasy on her face. "Yes! So delicious, and how is the wine so much better over there?"
Evan laughs that cute, goofy laugh. "It really is," he agrees.
"I'd really like to go to Australia," I say thinking about the article I read where he was talking about it.
Evan's eyes light up, "That's my favorite place. It's even better!"
"I bet," I say wistfully. "I really want to see it someday."
"You'll have to come with me next time we go there," he says.
"Okay," I say, knowing full well that would never happen, but I'll play along. After all, they all just smoked something that would make one do or say silly things.
The phone rings, and Evan answers it. When he's done, he says, "I'll be right back. Will you guys let me back in?"
"Of course," I say.
"Promise?" he asks.
"Promise." I say with a smile.
When he's gone, we talk about how nice he is and how cool this is. Cheryl is the nicer of the older women, and she pulls out a disposable camera. "I'll have to see if I can get a picture with him," she says.
"Oh, can you get one of me and Evan, too?" I ask hopefully. "I'll give you my address."
"Of course," she says, and we hear a knock at the door.
I hop up to answer it, and Evan is smiling so sweetly at the door. "See, I promised." I smile.
He walks in and gives me a bear hug, then kisses me on each cheek like they do in France. I'm so giddy that I must look like a grinning idiot. We turn to walk into the room, and Evan has his hand around my waist, so I wrap mine around his. Cheryl hops up and says, "Let me get a picture!"
We smile for her and then I say, "Let me get one of you two." Mission accomplished.
Evan grabs a composition book off his nightstand and says to me, "Give me your address so I can let you know when we're going to Australia."
"Okay," I laugh.
Tameka, Ray, and Bryn are standing now, so I can tell they want to get going, even though I wish this night would never end. Or morning, as it's well into the wee hours of the morning. Evan is showing me where he writes his songs and draws while trying to find a place for me to write my address, and Tameka is at my side.
Evan turns the pages, then stops and shows the spread to Tameka. "Here's where I wrote ‘Bit Part.’"
A smile spreads across her face. "That's awesome."
Finally, he finds a page with some space for me to write my address, and when I'm done, he says, "Write your phone number, too."
I almost can't believe this is happening, but this guy isn't going to call me. He probably won't even remember who I am. I write my number down and hand him the plastic pen with the hotel logo on the side. "Okay, now you better call or write," I joke.
"I will," he says with a lazy smile.
“Promise?” I say.
“Promise.” Evan replies.
We say our goodbyes to the four women who look like they have no intention of going anywhere, and Evan gives me a big bear hug again. Tameka, Ray, Bryn, and I all say goodbye, and as I look back one last time, I swear he says, "Goodbye, Sweetie," and I am over the moon!
***
When we get into the elevator, we revel in what just happened. "Oh my gosh, that was so cool," I practically squeal.
Ray is smiling at me. "I think he really liked you."
"Really?" I ask, feeling giddy as my friends saw some sort of connection too.
"Yeah," Bryn says. "He was hugging you and kissing you."
"Just in a friendly way, though," I say. He’s an older guy and my mind doesn’t even go there. “It’s weird. I feel like we had a connection, but an innocent one, like we knew each other in a past life or something.” I try to explain how it felt to me. It almost felt like I knew him somehow, or at least was meant to meet him.
"Well, he didn't act that way around anyone else," Tameka says, and I feel a hint of jealousy in her tone.
I change the subject since this is making me a little uncomfortable. "Bryn!" I say as I playfully slap my sister on the shoulder. "You were so cool when that joint was passed around."
Bryn gives me a sideways glance. "I was like, is that marijuana? There's no way."
"Yeah, but you didn't freak out," I say. "Thanks for being so cool."
"Yeah, yeah," she says jokingly. "Can we go home now? I'm tired."
We laugh as the elevator door opens into the very quiet lobby. I look at my watch and see that it's after 3:30 a.m. "Oh my gosh, I didn't realize how late it was." As we walk to the car, we replay everything that happened, and I'm absolutely giddy with excitement, I don't know how I'll sleep. So far, this was the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me. As I look up into the clear, star-filled sky, I hope that someday I'll get to see Evan Dando again. After all, he promised.