“I’m happy you’re here. Was this your idea or his? Where is he?” I scan the area behind her.
“Mine. I refuse to let him make an ass out of himself. He’s on probation since that little maneuver on your first day at DROP. He went in the back entrance.” She rolls her eyes at what I assume is his version of what happened in the diner. “Anyway,” she continues, “where in the hell have you been hiding that hottie?” Rae nods her head toward Regan.
“Ha! I just met him last week. He’s our drummer’s cousin.”
“Way to keep him for yourself.” Rae stares at me in mock accusation, and it causes me to blush. It’s clear she feels the same sisterly connection between us that I instantly felt upon my first meeting with her.
“Rae, to be honest, I assumed you had a boyfriend.”
Regan returns in time to hear her response. “No, guys my age are idiots. Thanks for the water, Regan. How old are you?”
“You’re welcome, and, twenty-five.”
“Perfect.” She grins and brings the straw to her lips.
My eyebrows shoot up. “Seriously? I thought you were, like, thirty.”
Regan laughs into his beer. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“You’re just refreshingly mature.”
Before he can respond, the bartender takes the stage and announces Bo. My fingers tingle, and I feel slightly dizzy. I notice that Rae is staring at me and I’m thankful that Regan isn’t. I tilt my chin to the stage to somehow reassure her that everything’s fine. Bo comes out wearing black jeans and a green t-shirt. The green t-shirt he told me reminded him of my eyes. I swallow hard as he sits on the stool, and, without saying a word, starts strumming.
Every feeling from the first night I heard him play flies through me like a drunken seagull. I take several deep breaths as he makes his way through his original work, praying that what I’m feeling isn’t regret. The strings, his fingers, the warm bourbon tone kissing the microphone—they’re all lulling me into his presence, his being.
My phone vibrates against my thigh, startling me away from this apparent Bo-asis. I see that it’s Monica, so I click “ignore” since she’s probably just calling to see if I showed, and continue staring at Bo. I’m not even hearing what he’s singing, my brain seems to not want to let me see and hear him sing at the same time. It’s one hell of a defense mechanism. When my phone vibrates two more times, I decide to take the call outside.
“Mon, what’s going on? Is everything OK?” The warm breeze resuscitates my logic.
“What the hell took you so long to answer?”
“I’m at Finnegan’s with Regan and actually Ra—” I’m cut off by a squeal.
“Whatever, Josh proposed!” Her voice is pure bliss.
“What? Oh my God, Monica, that’s amazing! Tell me you said yes!” The parking lot drowns under the happy tears rising past my irises.
“Of course I said yes!”
We meet each other sniff-for-sniff in tears of happiness and congratulations.
“Details, please!” I squeak through tears.
“Well, Josh helped my dad grill our food last night and asked his permission then.”
“Asked his permission? Oh my God, how cute!”
“Right? Then the four of us went out on the boat this morning. Right in the middle of the ocean,” her voice clips for a second, “Josh got down on one knee ...”
This is so Josh and Monica I could be sick, in the happiest way possible.
“OK,” I prompt, “what’d he say? How’d he ask?”
“He said that the love he felt for me couldn’t be measured, not even by all the water in the sea beneath us,” she sniffs back more tears, “and he said he wanted to spend forever with me. Rocky seas and all.”
“Oh, Monica.” I’m openly sobbing in front of Finnegan’s, but my smile prevents people from asking me if I’m OK. I’m perfect.
Ten minutes later, after talking dates and girly details, I nearly forget where I am when I hear applause coming from inside.
“Shit, Mon, Bo’s set is done, and I’ve left Regan in there with Rae this whole time. I’m so freaking happy for you and can’t wait to see you two. Will you be home tomorrow?” I quickly wipe under my eyes as people start filing out of the bar.
“Yes, we’ll be home tomorrow. How was the set?”
That’s not what she wants to know.
“Everything’s fine, enjoy the rest of your weekend. I love you. Tell Josh I love him, too. Bye.”
I lean my head back against the wall and take in what’s just happened.
She said yes. They’re getting married. Forever.
When the exodus slows and I realize my party is still inside, I turn and head back through the door where, of course, I find Regan and Bo chatting like old friends at our table. My fake smile is getting a workout these days, and I beg its appearance once more as I sit in the chair across from Bo.
“Sorry about that, Monica called.”
“What happened? Your eyes are all red. Why were you crying?” Rae leans forward and puts her hand on my arm. Bo and Regan stop their quiet conversation and stare at me.