Elly pulled on the jeans and tied the scarf around her neck. Slipping on her heels, she spun around and checked the result out. “Okay, I look sort of cute. Well, passable. You’re good.”
She could hear Kim chewing. “Yes, I know. Remember, don’t bring up the Aaron thing tonight. It’s Isaac’s night to shine.”
“You don’t have to worry. I don’t want to EVER talk about Aaron with him.” Elly raised her eyebrows in the mirror. “Okay, well, I better run. Thanks for the clothing advice. And for everything else in between.”
“Uh-huh. Sean – the water is boiling over!” And with that, the phone clicked to a dial tone. Elly had just enough time to pluck her eyebrows before she heard the doorbell outside the shop.
“Coming!!” she yelled, as she grabbed her purse, slyly tucking a book inside. It wasn’t that Everest Oppressed was boring. It was just the three opening bands that she had to watch first, just to get to their set that she couldn’t stand. She ran down the steps and out the door, to where Isaac was waiting, looking dapper in tight jeans and a loosely buttoned plum colored shirt. He placed both of his arms around Elly, pulling her face close to his.
“I missed you,” he murmured, kissing her cheeks, her closed eyes, her chin and then finally her lips. Elly surrendered to his warm mouth.
As they kissed, Elly thought to herself, How can I still be so thrilled with Isaac when I’m obviously not over Aaron? She felt a deep guilt in her soul and pulled away from Isaac, as though he could sense her thoughts.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Oh, nothing. A long day at work. We had a wedding.”
“Did you have a bridezilla?” he asked.
Elly looked at him, amused. “Did you hear that word on TV?”
He laughed. “I did actually! I thought I would use it in a sentence today, just for you.”
Elly stood on her tiptoes and nuzzled his chin. “You make me smile. Did you know that?”
Isaac wrapped his hands around her waist. Elly sucked in sharply.
“I felt that!” he whispered.
Elly stepped back. “We better go. You don’t want to miss your set.”
Isaac glanced longingly at the apartment overhead. “Or we could just stay in…drink some wine…shed some clothing…”
Elly rolled her eyes. “Into the car. Now.”
Isaac smiled and ran around to his side of the car. Elly sat down inside, wrinkling her nose at the hazy smell of cigarettes. Isaac kissed her hand. Please let me get through tonight without crying, she thought.
They took the highway east, soaring past Forest Park until they arrived in the Central West End. The Central West End was sometimes called The Heart of the City, but what it really was was the heart of the money in the city. Lush art galleries, specialty shops and fine French restaurants lined its wide streets. It was an eclectic showcase of St. Louis, tucked away under broad trees, their branches creating a canopy over the old brick buildings. Isaac pulled perfectly into a front row parking spot, just off the main street, placing them directly across from the club.
Elly looked at him, exasperated. “Everything in life just works out for you, doesn’t it?”
Isaac grinned, his white teeth gleaming. Elly’s chest condensed with longing. “Pretty much. I’ve always been lucky.”
Elly grimaced at him. “Yeah. I’ve noticed. My life, not so much.”
Isaac took her hand. “But now you’re with me. I’d say your luck is a-changin’.”
Aaron is marrying her, she suddenly thought. “Take me inside” she whispered.
The Paradox Club was in an old mill, which sat conveniently across from numerous hipster bars. Isaac took Elly around the back entrance, which momentarily thrilled her.
“It’s like we’re famous!” she gushed.
Isaac rolled his eyes at her. “It’s just the back door. The cooks come in this way, too.”
“Why are you ruining it for me? Go on, I’m waiting for the paparazzi.”
The club was just starting to fill up. Isaac led Elly to the small table that was in the back of the room. The club was beautiful – a far cry from the tiny club where they had their first date. It smelled the same – cigars, heavy musk, and a hint of rum in the air. The walls of the Paradox were swagged with elaborate fabrics in deep oranges and purples. There were rock outcroppings lining the wall, and tiny white lights shimmered from within them, giving the effect of a desert canyon at dusk. Overhead, mobiles of copper plates spun and reflected, throwing their light around the room. Elly rubbed her hand against Isaac’s chiseled back.
“This is really, really nice. You guys are certainly moving up in the world!”
Isaac simply nodded. He looked bewildered. “This is the biggest venue we’ve ever played in.” His color drained. “What if we screw up?”
Elly took his hand in hers. “You won’t. You guys are great.”