Chapter 6 #2
She reached the Brick Oven a few moments later, and the moment she tugged open the heavy wooden front door, she was greeted by the appetizing scents of sizzling pepperoni, oregano, crusty bread sticks, and gooey cheese.
Her stomach grumbled, and she thought to herself that she was definitely going to order some dinner while she was there.
It was that moment that she realized she should have planned her evening better.
She’d neglected to arrange to go with any of her friends because she’d decided to go so last minute.
Ugh, I hate the idea of sitting and watching the concert by myself, she thought with an internal groan. That will look lame—me sitting all alone like that.
She didn’t admit it to herself, but lame wasn’t the right word. She knew in her gut that sitting there by herself would make it look more like she cared—like she was interested in Theo and wanted to support his band.
She hesitated for a second, actually considering turning around and leaving the restaurant. After all, she hadn’t told anyone she was going to be there, so she was in no way obligated to stay. As a matter of fact, all she’d said on the subject was that she wasn’t going to be there.
No, she told herself firmly. I came all the way here. I’m going to stay.
She crossed her fingers inside the pocket of her leather jacket, hoping she’d be able to find a group that she could slip into seamlessly. Hopefully she could even end up having a great time with them.
She’d only taken a few steps into the Brick Oven when she saw Penelope Hurst and Harper Clements sitting together at a table near the stage at the back of the dining room. Relief flooded her, and it intensified when Harper caught sight of her a moment later and waved.
“Hey!” Harper said eagerly as Michelle approached their table. “Do you want to sit with us?”
“Yes, please.” Michelle beamed at them. “I’m so glad you guys are here.”
She slipped into a seat next to Harper and gave her a hug. Penelope waved, but her eyes still held the distant expression that they’d had ever since Penelope’s marriage troubles had intensified.
Michelle had friends her own age in Coral Sands, but she had a soft spot for Harper and Penelope, who were technically her mother’s friends.
Penelope was Audrey’s age, and they’d grown up together in Coral Sands.
Harper was in her thirties, in between the ages of Audrey and Michelle.
Michelle’s bond with Harper was stronger than her bond with Penelope, and she considered Harper to be one of her actual friends, rather than just an acquaintance to hang out with when her mother was there too.
They’d bonded because of all the times Michelle had gone to the animal shelter where Harper worked to cuddle new litters of puppies and kittens and help get them used to people.
Penelope was an energetic, sharply honest type of woman, and while Harper glowed with kindness and was a little softer around the edges, she also could be brutally honest. Her opinions on men were no secret to their friend group, but they were all too polite to bring up the reason why she thought all men were awful and incapable of change—her ex-boyfriend had left her for her sister.
Harper had always been the odd-ball in her high-achieving family, choosing her dream of running an animal shelter over making a good living at the family company, and her ex had seemed to want her family’s lifestyle much more than he’d wanted her.
Michelle felt bad for her, but Harper seemed to be happy overall.
She appeared to be very content with her life, taking care of animals and living in the comfortable quiet of Coral Sands.
Penelope, on the other hand, did not seem very content.
Her eyes lingered on the empty stage for a few moments, and a scowl played across her face.
“We ordered a spinach, chicken, and white sauce pizza, and a pizza pie,” Harper said. “There’s going to be plenty of food so feel free to just eat whatever you want.”
Michelle smiled gratefully. “How about I add an order of garlic breadsticks and then we all split the bill three ways?”
“Sounds perfect,” Harper said with a grin, and Penelope nodded her agreement.
Michelle’s stomach fluttered as she wondered what Penelope and Harper would say if they knew she was there because there was an undefined something going on between her and Theo.
Both of them would probably feel pretty negative about it, Michelle thought, biting her lip. Penelope seems to be set against romance right now, and Harper pretty much always is. Although I guess she was always supportive of Mom dating Evan.
At that moment, Theo and his band stepped out onto the stage amidst whoops and claps from the audience.
Theo grinned hugely at the crowd, and then he caught sight of Michelle.
His eyes lit up like fireworks, and his grin widened more than she would have thought was possible.
Her stomach gave a jolt, seeing how happy her attendance had made him.
I… I think he likes me, she thought, and felt herself blushing furiously.
Desperate for something to distract herself with, she turned to Penelope.
“How are things going with you and Robert?” she asked, and then immediately regretted it.
Although her tone had been gentle and caring, she’d known in her gut it was not something Penelope wanted other people to bring up, and the expression on her friend’s face confirmed that a second later. “Are things any better?”
Penelope waved her hand through the air as if she was brushing away a fly.
“I don’t want to talk about anything stressful tonight.
Thanks for asking, Michelle, but let’s not even mention Robert.
I’m in the mood for fun—and music!” She turned her face back toward the stage and clapped loudly, whooping.
Harper squeezed Michelle’s arm as if to assure her that it was all right, and Michelle smiled at her gratefully. She felt badly for Penelope, but she wasn’t hurt by the other woman’s reaction. She knew what it was like to not want to talk about something.
Theo and his band started to play, and from the first twang of the guitar chords, Michelle felt her eyebrows lift up in surprise.
They were good. They were really good—Theo especially.
His long, thin fingers worked magic on the guitar strings, moving so fast and gracefully it was like they were dancing.
Wow, she thought, unable to keep her eyes off him. I didn’t expect him to be bad, but this—this is amazing.
Their waitress came by, and Michelle hurriedly put in an order for a craft beer and the garlic breadsticks. She found that she didn’t want to miss even a minute of the music.
She and Penelope and Harper laughed and cheered as they ate their food. It was a great concert, and they weren’t the only audience members who were having a wonderful time. The whole restaurant was full of enthusiasm, and the applause was loud after every number.
When the concert was over, the band left the stage and the room became suddenly hushed.
For a few moments, people continued to talk in whispers as if the concert was still going on.
Michelle realized suddenly that she was sweaty, and she took off her leather jacket and hung it on the back of her chair.
She’d just finished doing so when Theo stepped into the dining room, running his fingers through his hair.
Michelle felt differently about his fingers now that she’d seen how skilled they were on the guitar.
Her heart started to beat faster as she noticed how handsome he looked in his dark jeans and navy bomber jacket.
She hurriedly looked away, but it was futile because Theo made a beeline for her. He leaned against the edge of the stage, smiling down at her.
Always leaning, she thought, trying to summon her old prickly reserves against him and finding that she was unable to.
“Guess you had to prove me wrong, huh?” he teased, crossing his arms and grinning at her.
“What do you mean?” she asked primly.
“I mean, I’d said you were too boring to come out here to the concert, and you said it was true and you had to work. But now here you are. So I’m guessing that you decided you wanted to prove me wrong and show me that you are fun and social.”
Harper snorted, and Michelle’s mouth popped open in indignation.
She rolled her eyes internally, thinking that she couldn’t win either way with this man.
Theo was right—that was exactly what she’d been thinking, but she was most certainly not going to admit it.
She wanted to snap at him and ask him why he insisted on being so infuriating all the time.
Instead, she leaned back in her seat, acting nonchalant.
“Actually, I’m working,” she said, smiling serenely. “We’re interested in perhaps having live music at The Birchwood House sometime, so I figured it would make sense to check out one of our local bands in person.”
Theo raised his eyebrows skeptically, but in the next moment he shrugged and grinned slyly, letting it slide. “Well, I hope you had a great time, whatever the reason why you were here.”
Michelle blinked at him, forcing a smile. Had he seen through her fib? Heaven forbid he ever find out that she was actually curious about seeing him perform. And she certainly wasn’t about to tell him how impressive and attractive she’d found him!