Chapter 10
By the time she and Chloe finished with the garden, they were both hungry. That’s when Emily learned that Chloe had made plans to meet Jaclyn at the Crab Shack for a night of trivia and dinner.
“I know it sounds kind of lame,” Chloe said when broaching the subject. “But the trivia is fun, and the food is awesome. Would you want to come with?”
Emily paused, not wanting to appear too eager. “Sure. That works for me.”
“Let me text Jaclyn that we’re on our way.” Chloe pulled out her phone. “Hopefully, she can get us a table. They fill up quickly on Tuesday nights.”
The popular seafood spot was indeed packed when she and Chloe arrived. What surprised Emily the most was the wide assortment of ages present for trivia night.
Though she and her friends had come here regularly, they’d always avoided Tuesday nights because of the crowds.
“Jaclyn brought the guy from the club.” Emily’s gaze slid from the blond man to the one with the goatee. “And the one you were dancing with.”
“Garrett and Bradley,” Chloe said, supplying the names. “Looks like Dalton is here, too. He must have invited himself.”
Emily was glad Dalton was here, if only so she wouldn’t feel so much like a third wheel.
While the other guys had dressed casually, Dalton looked like he’d jumped out of a Fortune 500 board meeting.
“What’s with the suit and tie?” Chloe asked in lieu of a greeting when they reached the table and took a seat.
“All the department heads met with the provost today.” Dalton loosened his tie. “The meeting went late.”
“Provost?” Emily asked.
“Dalton is head of the Economics Department at Collister,” Jaclyn answered before he could. “Think big fish, small pond.”
“Thanks, dear sister.” If Dalton was disturbed by her comment, it didn’t show.
“Anytime.” Jaclyn smiled at Emily. “My job as a sister is to keep him humble.”
They moved on to introductions, and Emily learned Garrett worked for a local outfitter, and Bradley was in pharmaceutical sales.
They ordered, and their food arrived quickly, giving them thirty minutes to eat before the trivia began. As Jaclyn and Chloe were giving the guys their full attention, that left Emily with Dalton.
“How’s life at the Oasis Hotel?” Dalton picked up a fry and took a bite.
“I’m ready to find something more permanent.” Emily forked off a bite of her catfish, fried just the way she liked it, the flavor of Old Bay seasoning adding to the taste of the crispy batter. “You don’t happen to know of any places for rent? I’d really like something I could move into right away.”
Dalton rubbed his chin, his eyes turning thoughtful. “No, and I think it will be difficult finding something available before the first of the month.”
“I have no doubt that’s true, but I’m holding on to hope something will turn up.”
“What are you looking for?”
“Studio or one-bedroom.” Emily gave a little laugh. “Heck, at this point, I’d settle for a room and a shared bathroom.”
“You are desperate.”
“Not desperate.” Emily kept her tone light. “But I can’t afford to stay much longer at the Oasis. I need something cheaper.”
“What is it you do for work?” Dalton asked. “I don’t believe anyone has said.”
“I was the concertmaster with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.” Emily sipped her Coke. “Right now, I’m unemployed. But I’m looking, and I’m sure something will turn up.”
“I applaud your confidence.”
Even as she basked in the warmth of his smile, they both knew that a positive attitude didn’t always ensure success. Achieving success took hard work and determination. Other than applying with the school system, she hadn’t been doing the work.
That ends today,she told herself. Tomorrow she would make a list of possibilities and start working that list.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Dirk announced, “thank you for joining us tonight. It’s that time again, time to add a bit of fun and challenge your brains with Tuesday Night Trivia.” He waited for the applause to wind down before he continued.
“It’s now time to pull out your phones and follow the directions on your screens.” Dirk pointed to the large display on one wall. “Then get ready to put your thinking caps on. We have a number of tough, but exciting, questions for you to answer this evening. For those new to the party, each week the focus is different. For tonight, the questions will center around twentieth-century events. We’ve come up with ones that will not only test your knowledge, but hopefully keep you entertained. And the winner will have their meal and drink tab comped.”
More cheers.
Across the table from her, Garrett groaned. “I sucked at history.”
Emily experienced a rush of excitement. Twentieth-century events. Right up her alley.
“Before we dive in, I want to make sure everyone is ready. Are you up to the challenge?”
Hoots of “yes” and “let’s get this party started!” filled the room.
Dirk grinned. “That’s just what I want to hear. Let the trivia begin.”
Thirty minutes later, Emily sat back in her chair and smiled in satisfaction.
“You really know your twentieth-century history.” Admiration shone in Dalton’s blue eyes.
Emily waved a hand, admiring again the candy pink of her nails. “It’s a specialty of mine.”
She’d won the trivia contest by a wide margin. The win had resulted in her fish meal and drink being free.
“Are you a history teacher?” Garrett asked, taking a sip of his beer.
“I’m a musician. I’ll be busking in the town square during the lunch hour tomorrow. Right by the angel statue. You and Jaclyn should stop by.”
Garrett exchanged a look with Jaclyn. “We have jobs.”
“Your loss. I’m amazing, if I do say so myself.” She shot him a cocky smile as she finished off her soda.
“Busking is your job? Your only job?” The look Bradley shot her was incredulous.
Emily wanted to say, Just like pushing pills is your job, but she refrained, knowing he had a point. It would be difficult to live off the money tossed into her violin case.
“Lay off her, Brad,” Chloe told him.
“You can support yourself doing that?” Like a dog with a bone, Bradley couldn’t seem to let it go.
The bartender showing up tableside with their bills saved Emily from having to respond.
At the sight of Dirk, Emily pretended to pout. “Don’t tell me. You decided to charge me, after all.”
Rocking back on his boot heels, Dirk shook his head. “I guess you really have come here before.”
Dirk’s comment had Dalton frowning in puzzlement.
“What do you mean by that?” Dalton asked.
“I ran into this guy last Saturday at Destiny.” Emily offered Dirk a smile. “When I mentioned I’ve been here before, he didn’t believe me.”
Dirk held up a large, scarred hand. “I cannot believe I didn’t remember you. How is that even possible?”
“I admit it’s crazy,” Emily teased, feeling lighthearted and flushed with triumph after her trivia victory, “since we both know I’m pretty unforgettable.”
The bartender’s lips quirked upward, and he chuckled. “Definitely. My bad.”
“So is my tab still comped?” she asked.
“Did you win fair and square?”
“Absolutely.” Other than, of course, having personal knowledge of the twentieth century because she’d lived through much of it.
“Then no charge for you, Blondie.”
Emily studied Dirk for a long moment. “Do I get a congratulatory kiss, too?”
With that one question, Emily had recaptured the attention of everyone at the table.
“You go, girl,” Jaclyn said.
Amusement skittered across Dirk’s face. “If you want one, it’s also on the house.”
“In that case…” Pushing back her chair, Emily stood and placed her lips firmly on Dirk’s mouth. Because of his facial hair, it was a lot like kissing Vince. Then she stepped back. “Very nice.”
Dirk’s lips lifted in a slow smile. “If you want a repeat?—”
“I’m good.” She flashed a brilliant smile. “Thanks.”
“No, thank you.” Dirk chuckled and, after making sure no additional drinks were needed, laid down the individual checks and strolled off.
“How was it?” Jaclyn asked, her eyes as merry as Emily had ever seen them.
“Nice enough.” Though her lips couldn’t keep from curving, Emily shrugged.
“Why did you kiss him?” Garrett’s expression was clearly puzzled.
“Umm, because I felt like it.”
“We challenged Emily to kiss three different guys at Destiny on Saturday,” Jaclyn explained. “It appears she decided to continue the challenge tonight.”
Then, after looking around the table and realizing there were three men there whom Emily hadn’t kissed, one who was with her, Jaclyn continued. “But just one guy tonight, right, Emily?”
“That’s right,” Emily concurred, seeing the warning in Jaclyn’s eyes. “Just one tonight.”
On Friday, when Chloe asked if she’d like to go to the county fair with her and Jaclyn that night, the offer came at exactly the right time.
Less than an hour earlier, Emily had received a letter from GraceTown Public Schools that she hadn’t gotten the job. To her way of thinking, the fact that it was obviously a form letter only added insult to injury.
Emily had the feeling if Chloe hadn’t texted, she might have spent the evening feeling sorry for herself. Which would have been a waste of a perfectly awesome summer day.
Tonight, she would cast aside any worries and simply have fun.
Though the fair was always a little dusty—when it wasn’t muddy—and most attendees went ultra casual, Emily decided to go festive. She chose a short halter dress in mossy green and twisted her hair back into a kind of messy knot.
When Jaclyn’s SUV pulled up in front of the Oasis, Emily practically skipped to the vehicle. She stopped abruptly when she spotted Mackenna sitting in the back seat.
“Hey, I know you.” Mackenna pointed. “Jaclyn said we were picking up someone named Emily, but I didn’t realize it was you.”
Jaclyn’s gaze shifted from Mackenna to her. “You know each other?”
“Mackenna was nice enough to give me a private paddleboard lesson last weekend,” Emily explained.
“She didn’t need much instructing,” Mackenna told Jaclyn. “She’s a natural.”
The conversation on the drive to the fairgrounds had Emily learning that Mackenna’s last name was Lee, she worked at Collister College in Marketing and Student Recruitment, and she had been friends with Jaclyn since high school.
Emily got the impression that while Makenna and Jaclyn were friends, they weren’t tight, not like Jaclyn and Chloe.
Once they reached the fairgrounds, Emily and her three companions headed for the Midway. Though Emily wouldn’t have minded meandering through the ag exhibits or swinging by the animal pens, filled with 4-H prize-winning stock, it was clear the others weren’t interested.
She’d seen that the second she’d asked if there was anything in the ag buildings or exhibits that anyone wanted to check out.
“Are you kidding me?” Jaclyn had made a face. “I have two words for you. Dirty. Smelly.”
Mackenna hadn’t bothered to respond, but she was wearing a white dress that looked as if the dirt from the barns would leap on it like fleas off a mangy dog.
“Do you want to see the animals, Emily?” Chloe asked when they were nearly past the barns.
“Not really.” Emily waved a dismissive hand. “I just didn’t want to walk on by if anyone was interested.”
“We only like the Midway.” Jaclyn tossed the words over her shoulder. “That’s where everyone will be tonight.”
“Everyone who we want to see, anyway,” Chloe quipped, and the other two laughed.
“Who are you hoping to see?” Emily asked, but Chloe had already turned back and was responding to something Jaclyn had said.
As they strolled by booths selling everything from turkey legs to fried pickles, the distance between her and the three began to feel as wide as the Grand Canyon. She felt like an afterthought as they spoke about people Emily didn’t know and laughed over shared memories.
Emily listened, hoping to gain a better grasp of their interests, but the noise of the fair made hearing their conversation difficult. She thought she heard Chloe mention something about unique foods.
“I tried chocolate-covered bacon one time.” Emily had tasted the unique food item just last year at Geraldine’s urging.
She must have been close enough for the three to hear her, because as one they turned back.
“You ate what?” Jaclyn asked, her voice rising.
“Chocolate-covered bacon.” Emily smiled, recalling that the nearly perfect sweet and salty blend had left her wanting more. “It’s really good.”
“Sounds yummy,” Chloe admitted.
Jaclyn wrinkled her nose. “Oh please, Chloe. You and I both know it sounds gross.”
Before Mackenna could weigh in with her opinion, Jaclyn brought up a party she’d attended in Baltimore last year where bacon had been an ingredient in cheese gougères.
An appetizer that only Emily had never tasted. Just like that, Emily found herself once again relegated to the nosebleed section.
Emily told herself to be patient. Building connections took time. The process couldn’t be rushed. The trouble was, she wanted friends and that feeling of connection now.
The entrance to the Midway was in sight when they bumped into Garrett, Bradley and a guy Mackenna introduced as Wes.
While Wes was new to Emily, it appeared by the way he slung an arm around Mackenna’s shoulders that the two knew each other very well.
Emily wondered if the three women had been hoping to meet up with these guys this evening.
“We came to check out the Midway,” Jaclyn explained.
“Can we join you?” Garrett asked.
Jaclyn’s arms wrapped around his neck, and she kissed him, giving him his answer without saying a word.
For Emily, nothing changed with the addition of the three guys—except, instead of trailing after three women, she now trailed after three couples.
Then, quite unexpectedly, Dalton appeared and fell into step beside her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, unable to keep from smiling.
“Same as you, enjoying the fair.” He gazed at the three couples who were so busy laughing and talking they hadn’t once glanced back at her. Or him. “Or are you?”
Emily fought to remain positive. “The night is still young.”
“Why did you come with three couples? Seems like tagging along wouldn’t be much fun.”
“I didn’t tag along.” Heat flooded her cheeks. “I came with Jaclyn, Chloe and Mackenna. We ran into the guys a few minutes ago. I don’t think it was planned, but I don’t know for sure.”
They’d reached the edge of the Midway when Chloe turned back, as if suddenly remembering Emily.
Her eyes widened at the sight of Dalton. “Hey, where did you come from?”
Dalton waved a hand. “I spotted Emily and came over to say hello. The rest of you were too busy talking to notice.”
Everyone had turned by this time.
Jaclyn gave a little laugh. “I almost forgot Emily was with us.”
“That was pretty obvious.” Dalton shot his sister a pointed look.
“Emily doesn’t need a keeper,” Jaclyn began. “She?—”
“Your sister is right. I don’t need a keeper. In fact, I was thinking of doing a little exploring on my own.” When Chloe opened her mouth as if to protest, Emily lifted a hand. “I want to see what’s out there.”
Chloe’s expression brightened. “You’re going on a manhunt.”
For only a second, Emily was as confused as everyone else. Then she laughed. “Something like that.”
It wasn’t, of course, anything like that, but playing along saved face.
Jaclyn turned toward Makenna and the guys and quickly explained, “She’s on a hunt for more men to kiss.”
“Being with a group would be a definite deterrent,” Mackenna agreed.
“Almost as bad as being here with your mom.” Chloe made a face.
“Or your grandmother.” Jaclyn laughed.
Garrett’s arm dropped from Jaclyn’s waist, his gaze now on Emily. “If you’re looking for a guy to kiss, you can start with me.”
The back of Jaclyn’s hand slapping his midsection had him emitting a loud, ”Oof.”
“I was just kidding,” Garrett protested.
“It didn’t sound that way to me.” Jaclyn’s eyes flashed a warning. To him? To Emily?
Emily didn’t want to wait around to find out.
“You guys have fun. I’ll grab an Uber home. We’ll catch up this weekend.” Emily didn’t wait for anyone to urge her to stay, which was good because even as she strolled off, she didn’t hear any protests.
She’d gone a good ten feet before Dalton caught up to her.
“If you want to be alone, I’ll leave, but if you’d like company, I’m available.”
Emily hesitated, not wanting his pity.
“Unless you really are on a hunt for guys to kiss and are worried that I’ll be in the way.”
She looked at him, searching for what she wasn’t sure. “You don’t approve.”
“It’s not my decision. I support you doing whatever you want—your body, your life. I’ve just never been big on kissing strangers.” Dalton offered a sheepish smile. “I’m a romantic. Old-fashioned, you might say. I like to take my time so that when I kiss someone, it means something. I don’t want to be the guy a girl can kiss and forget. I want to be the guy she always thinks about.”
“I’ve had enough with the kissing stuff.” Emily waved an airy hand. “Kissing strangers can be fun, but like you said, it’s not all that satisfying.”
They walked in silence for several more feet.
“I was supposed to meet a group from my department tonight at the beer garden,” Dalton said, breaking the silence.
“Well, don’t let me keep you?—”
“You’re not.” He spoke quickly. “I already swung by and glanced in before I spotted you. Wall-to-wall people. Not what I was looking for this evening.”
“And the Midway is?”
He laughed. “That kid who loved all the sights and sounds must still be in there, because I found myself drawn in this direction. I told myself that I’d walk around, maybe grab some chocolate-covered bacon and?—”
“You overheard.”
“Overheard what?” The puzzlement in his eyes was too real to be faked.
“You actually like chocolate-covered bacon?”
“Who wouldn’t? I get it every year.” He chuckled. “I know it sounds gross, but?—”
“It’s really yummy.” Emily couldn’t keep from smiling as she glanced around and breathed in the atmosphere.
“What’s on your agenda for the evening?” he asked.
“I’m looking to simply enjoy the fair.” She inclined her head. “What about you?”
“What sounds good to me is…” His head tipped back as his gaze lifted skyward. “A ride on a Ferris wheel with a pretty woman.”
Then his vivid blue eyes were back on her. “Interested?”