“You know, Regan, I actually feel great. Seems my body knew that what I was doing with Adrian was wrong before my mind did. I can’t believe how much better I feel.” I settle onto the stool as C.J. taps our starting tempo between his sticks.
After a long, sweet look, Regan strums C.J.’s tempo and we get lost in our set. Regan and C.J. have played together for years, even as kids, so it’s up to me to keep up with their silent understanding of our playlist. We have a page or two worth of “accepted” songs, but “The Cave” by Mumford and Sons isn’t one of them. I roll my eyes and flip C.J. off behind my back as he and Regan start it as our closing number. Regan switches to the guitar for the number and sings with me. Thankfully, it’s one of my favorites and I’m able to give it my best shot. Assholes.
“You pulled it off, Rapunzel. You pulled it off,” C.J. teases through the applause.
“You’re both dickheads.” I give them a smug smile.
Regan wraps his arm around my shoulders and leans down, speaking in my ear, “You’re worlds better without that Adrian guy in your head, November. That was the best I’ve heard you sing since I’ve known you.” My cheeks burn at his interpretation of my performance. “You were right when you said you sing for you, that’s for sure.” He pulls away as Rae hugs his waist from behind. After they kiss, and C.J. rolls his eyes and heads to the bar, Rae turns to me.
“Thanks for taking care of Bo last week, Ember.” I shoot Regan an accusatory stare. “No,” she continues, “Bo told me ...”
“Oh. OK. It wasn’t a problem. He doesn’t drink much, huh?” I try to chuckle at his sloppy performance after the engagement party.
“He didn’t use to.” Before the awkward silence suffocates us, she perks up. “Hey, do you want to come riding with Regan and I next weekend?”
“Like horseback riding?”
“Yeah. There are some great trails a few miles outside of town. Family friends own a stable that we can use whenever we want. I thought it might be fun, me, you, Bo—”
“Rae ...” I’m not in the mood to be set up on a date. Not with Bo—we’re a bit past that even if we’re not together.
“Oh come on, Ember, it’ll be fun!”
“You make a convincing argument,” I tease, “but I just don’t want to be under a microscope right now. I know you wouldn’t intentionally make it feel that way, but...I mean your brother and I haven’t even had a sober conversation since the community center opened.” I shake my head and shoulder up to C.J. at the bar. He slides me his just-poured beer before ordering another one. “Thanks,” I mumble, taking a sip.
“Ember, listen.” Rae stands next to me and speaks in a near whisper, “I’m not supposed to say anything but Bo has something he’s planning, and it was my job to get you to Concord next weekend.” She knots her fingers and looks at me through her mile-long lashes. “I’m failing here. You’ve got to cut me some slack. If you don’t want to come riding, that’s fine...just meet us at Tarryn’s around seven on Saturday, OK?”
“Tarryn’s?” I sigh.
“Yeah, it’s the restaurant where we first had dinner...when Ainsley was there, remember?”
“Oh, yeah, the time I realized I couldn’t live without you!” I laugh, remembering her obvious detest of Ainsley that evening.
“That’s the one. Will you remember how to get there?” Her eyes widen in excitement.
“If I decide to go I’ll see you there, OK?”
“Trust me, Ember, you’re not going to want to miss this. I love you!” She squeezes my neck with all the force her 110-pound frame can muster and leaves a wet kiss on my cheek.
She and Regan disappear in hand-holding bliss, and I’m left with C.J. at the bar. I study the beer he gave me.
“Thanks again for the beer, that was oddly nice of you.” I don’t know how to speak to C.J. with anything but sarcasm.
“No problem, Rap-”
“Seriously, dude, what’s with Rapunzel?” I cut him off. “Is it the hair? It’s not that long.”
C.J. stares at me with his chocolate brown eyes and sucks in a deep breath before answering me.
“You honestly don’t know?” I shake my head in response to his condescending tone. “Fine. Look, it’s like...you’re the hottest girl in here on any night of the year. It’s a fact. I mean, seriously, Ember, look around you.” C.J. gestures around the bar with his beer bottle, eyes widened. “No one comes close. You’re untouchable ...” He looks down and picks at the beer label with his thumb.
“C.J...what?” Candor is not something I’ve come to expect from him, and I think he’s joking with me.
“And the best part is you have no idea, which makes you a hundred times more gorgeous. So, Rapunzel, you’re in a stair-less tower. No one can get to you...except for that Bo guy. Why are you locking the door on that?”
“I’m not.” I shake my head in confusion.
“Then meet the poor bastard in Concord next weekend and see what he has planned, would you?” C.J. yawns while he laughs.
“Tired Ceej?” I ask.