Chapter 17
SKYE
On Monday, I was at the store one hour before our opening time, preparing for the week.
I was in the back, working on a backlog of tasks until Tess called me up front.
“We just got this.” She held up an envelope as I approached the counter.
“Open it up.” I drummed my fingers against my thighs, giddy with excitement.
Tess did just that. “We got tickets to the Broadway play tonight! Did you order them?”
“No, I’d meant to, but…. Oh my God . I think Rob sent them.”
Tess looked up, and we both had widespread grins. “Holy shit, I’m his fan already.”
“You and me both, sis.”
I couldn’t help myself and took the tickets from her hand, surveying them, then turning them over, as if expecting to find a few words from Rob scribbled there or something.
I immediately reached for my phone, calling Rob. He didn’t pick up though. I sent him a message instead.
Skye: WE GOT THE TICKETS. THANK YOU
I wasn’t just giddy now, I was honestly euphoric. He’d sent us three tickets, as I’d told him that I was going with Tess and Heather—but unfortunately, our future sister-in-law couldn’t join us anymore. I was already wondering who else from the family would like to come with us.
In the afternoon, we switched spots, and Tess worked in the back while I tended to customers.
Jane joined us too—she was closing this evening, since Tess and I were going to the show.
Usually I didn’t keep my phone on me when I was in the front, but today, I chose to forget that rule.
I kept the phone in the back pocket of my jeans, just in case Rob wrote back.
He didn’t though, until Tess and I headed out to Broadway.
I loved the city this time of year. Everyone was in vacation mode, and it showed. The streets were crowded, and everyone looked more relaxed, especially in the evening.
Rob: This is the first break I got. Enjoy the play. Sorry I can’t be there.
Skye: The first break??? Holy shit, that’s intense.
Rob: And I’m still looking at another five solid hours.
Skye: Maybe I can use some of your… methods… to help you unwind tonight?
Rob: I’m staying at the hotel.
Awww, I’d forgotten about that completely.
Tess glanced at me as we stood in line. No, inspected me was a more appropriate word.
“What?” I asked.
“Trying to figure out what’s got you in a twist.”
Oh well, might as well admit it. The family knew how deep I was into him. “Won’t see Rob for two weeks. He’s staying in Manhattan during the festival.”
“He’s got a place here too?”
“No, a hotel.”
My sister narrowed her eyes, glancing at me intently. “Okay, let’s do this.”
“Tess….” I knew what was coming, but I couldn’t stop it. I was going to be on the receiving end of one of her detective actions .
“You miss him. That’s so cute.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “You could crash his hotel room. Just saying. I’m sure he won’t mind.”
“I don’t want to cramp his style.” Also, I wasn’t sure we were at that point. What if I was butting in and he needed his space?
I mulled this over as we walked toward the venue. Halfway there, Cole called Tess.
“Hey, we’re heading there now,” she said. “What do you mean you’re coming too? You don’t like plays.”
Tess blinked at me. I shrugged. We’d told him this afternoon that we had plans for the evening and a spare ticket.
“Mmm, sure, we’ll wait for you in front.” Pocketing her phone, she glanced at me. “What’s up with Cole?”
“No clue, but we’ll find out soon enough.”
As we waited in front of the venue, Cole joined us.
We still had twenty minutes until the play started, so we headed to a street vendor and indulged in our guilty pleasure, hot dogs.
I ordered mine with extra ketchup and mustard.
Cole was suspiciously silent as we headed back outside, standing as we devoured our food.
“What do you think?” Tess asked me in a conspiratorial tone. “Cole wants advice? Consolation?”
I surveyed my brother, trying to get a feel for the situation. There was something different about him.
“Maybe I just want to enjoy an evening with my sisters,” he said playfully, mustard dripping down his chin.
Tess whirled a finger at him. “You would’ve just offered to join us for drinks afterward. Instead you’re willing to suffer through a play.”
“Okay, maybe you’re right,” Cole admitted. I handed him a napkin, indicating his chin, and he wiped himself clean.
Tess clapped her hands, nearly dropping her hot dog.
I giggled at my sister’s enthusiasm, then asked Cole, “How can we help?”
“I don’t recognize myself.”
Tess and I glanced at one another in awe.
“Meaning?”
“There’s this woman I met recently….” He shook his head.
“What’s the trouble?” I pressed.
“I keep asking her out. She turns me down. My womanizer reputation isn’t doing me any favors,” he said.
This was so different to Cole’s MO, all cocky swagger and an extra dose of confidence, that I was thrown off.
“Ouch. Honestly, I’m not sure how to fix that.”
Cole glared at me, finished up the last of his hot dog, then said, “You’re no help.”
Tess held up a finger. “Let’s think about this from another perspective. If I were in her shoes, and some guy with a shady reputation asked me out, I’d be reluctant too. But , if he proved he really did just want me… maybe I’d give it a shot.”
“Prove how?” Cole asked as I grabbed our trash and threw it into a nearby can.
“You know, by not being flirty with everyone in sight, things like that.”
“Tell us about her,” I encouraged. “Maybe then we can give you more tips on how to charm her.”
I was teasing him about his nickname, the Charmer, to egg him on, but also just to make him smile.
It worked. Cole straightened up, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Hey, I’ve still got game,” he said with a grin. “Just need to learn the rules of this one first.”
“Damn, I never thought I’d see the day when you’d be willing to change your rules for anyone.
” Then again, this time with Rob had made me think that maybe I could have a normal relationship.
The man was just so amazing that it was impossible not to get carried away.
I found myself smiling just because I was thinking about him.
“Please don’t tell Ryker. He’ll give me so much shit.” Cole looked at me pointedly.
“Can’t. The no-secret policy runs so deep in me, it’s practically part of my DNA.”
Tess laughed. “Besides, we do like it when Ryker gives you shit.” She nudged his shoulder, saying, “Are we terrible or what?”
“Yes, yes you are,” Cole exclaimed as we approached the theater entrance. “Come on, let’s go in and find our seats.”
Tess and I each took one of his arms, flanking him as we headed inside. We loved plays and musicals.
At the end of the show, the audience hollered for an encore, which would probably be another twenty minutes or so. I looked at my siblings, and they appeared ready to go. “Let’s ditch it.”
Tess took one look at Cole and nodded. Making our way out was not easy, climbing over everyone as we tried to scoot out, which attracted a lot of attention.
A few swore at us, and I honestly couldn’t blame them.
It was dark when we stepped outside, but the sheer number of people milling up and down Broadway had increased.
Manhattan was even more alive in the evenings during summer.
“You’re making me feel really special,” Cole said. “I know how much you girls like to watch these things until the end.”
“We won’t kick you while you’re down,” Tess teased. “We’ve already tormented you enough.”
“Much appreciated. Anyone up for cotton candy?” Cole said, pointing to a street vendor with a mobile cart under one of the streetlights. He must have just pulled up, because we hadn’t seen him there before.
The smell of sugar was thick in the air. My stomach rumbled despite being full, and I found myself nodding right away. There was a line already, and while we waited, I took out my phone, texting Rob, wondering if he was still working. I just couldn’t stop thinking about him.
I only looked up when I realized my siblings were suspiciously silent, and I found them watching me intently.
“What?” I asked.
Tess grinned from ear to ear, nudging our brother. “See? That’s what a woman who can’t take her mind off her guy looks like. So caught up in texting him, she forgets the world.”
“I’m taking notes,” Cole said with mock seriousness, and the three of us burst out laughing. What could I say? My sister was 100 percent spot on.