Asha slumps. “And I think I’m in love with their bass player. He’s gorgeous, and from reading articles about them, I think he has the soul of a poet. He writes a lot of their songs.”
“So you’re lusting after him? Okay. I can get on board with that. Does he have a girlfriend?”
She crosses her arms. “I’m not looking to be his girlfriend. I’m not one of those delusional women who thinks he’s going to bring me up onstage and fall in love with me. It’s a harmless rock star fantasy. Everybody has one. I remember when you used to have Justin Timberlake posters all over your room.”
“That’s different. JT could dance. There’s nothing sexier than a man who can dance.”
A short distance away, Joanna holds up an ugly flower necklace. “Girls! Don’t you just love it?”
“So much love,” I say, giving her a thumbs up.
“She’s not that bad,” Asha whispers. “Plus, she was the one who told us about Mister Romance, so I figure we kind of owe her one.”
Joanna walks over with her collection of items and drops them in front of us. “How much for all of this?”
Ash goes through her pile and adds everything up. “Thirty-five.”
Joanna reaches into her purse and pulls out some cash. “I think I’m going wear the flowery thing tomorrow night. Do you think?”
“Totally,” says Ash. “You should wear it with that cute red dress you rocked at work the other day.”
“Yes! So cute, right?” Joanna turns to me. “Did Ash tell you we’re seeing the Stoners tomorrow night?” When I hesitate, she says, “That’s what the fans call the Kingdom of Stone guys. I’m pretty sure they’re not real stoners. Or maybe they are. Who am I to judge, right? Anyway, I’m good friends with their manager, so if you want me to get a ticket for you, too, I totally could.”
“Uh ... thanks, but I don’t really know their stuff.”
She waves off my concern. “Who cares? They’re hot guys playing rock music. What’s not to like, right?”
I smile as I wrap up her purchases, and when I give them to her, she grabs my hand and leans forward in a conspiratorial way. “So, Eden, did Asha tell you about the whole ...” She looks around. “... Mister Romance legend?”
I take a quick glance at Asha, who nods. “Uh ... yes,” I say. “Thanks for the tip about him. I think it would make a great story.”
“No problem. And just so you know, if you need to, like, do some research or whatever, my cousin and her friends are having a big fundraiser thing next week, and I can totally get you an invite.”
Now my gratitude is real. I know I told Max I’d stop investigating the identity of his clients, but if I happened to be at a party and some of them were there, and I just happened to run into them ... well, that’s just a good old-fashioned coincidence, isn’t it?
“Wow, Joanna, that’s a great offer. Can I get back to you?”
“Sure. I’ll RSVP that I’m bringing another guest just in case, and if you decide not to go, Asha can come instead. There’ll be some rich single dudes there. Maybe even royalty. You never know what could happen.”
She lets go of my arm and shoves her purchases into her giant tote, and I realize Asha’s right – she’s not that bad. In fact, she might be useful in finding out some facts Max is hesitant to tell me.
“Hey, Joanna,” I say. “Why don’t you come over to our place tomorrow night and get ready there? Ash can do your hair, and we can have cocktails before you guys go to the concert.”
For a second, she looks shocked, but then her face breaks into a giant smile; a real one this time. “Are you serious? That would be ah-maaaaayzing! I’d love to! We’ll have such a good time!”
“Great. We’ll see you around six?”
“Yes! Perfect! See you then.”
She’s just about vibrating with excitement as she waves goodbye and walks away.
When she’s gone, Ash nudges me with her shoulder. “Aw, that was a nice thing to do. Are you getting soft in your old age?”
I glare at her. “You shut your filthy mouth, Asha Rose. You’ll ruin my reputation.”
*
I’m weaving through the waning afternoon crowd with fresh coffee for me, Nan, and Asha when I get a text from Nannabeth.
<Found a man 4 U. GORGEOUS! Lawyer!!! Single!!! Hurry bck b4 he leaves!!!!!>
I groan and drop my head back. I wonder how much time I could waste if I went all the way around the other side of the markets to get back. The only trouble is, the coffee would be cold by then, and I’d have to make another run. Still, if it helped me avoid Little Nanna Matchmaker...
I compromise by dawdling all the way back, and when I arrive, I’m relieved to see Nan is alone at the stall.
“Awww,” I say. “I missed him? Total bummer.”
I hand Nan a coffee, and she pats my forearm. “I’m immune to your sarcasm by now, dear, you should know that. Besides, he’ll be back. I’m going to sell some furniture for him next weekend, and he’s just gone away for a few minutes to organize someone to deliver it.”
I look around. “Where’s Ash?”
“Bathroom break, but she’s been gone longer than you. No doubt she’s found a clothing stall somewhere and is trawling it for vintage Valentino.”
“Oh, well. Her loss.” I put Asha’s coffee on the table and sip mine. Ahhhh, sweet caffeine. Normally, I’d have had four or five by now, but this is only number two. My brain sighs in relief.
When I look up, I see Nan’s smiling at me.
“What?”
She blinks, and I notice how her eyes are a touch misty. “Nothing. Just always surprises me how much you look like your mother when she was your age. Asha looks more like your dad, but you ... you’re a dead ringer for Liz.” She touches my face. “I wish she’d lived to see you girls grow into such beautiful young women.”
I pat Nan’s hand and smile back as best as I can. Thinking about Mom always makes my throat tight. “Yeah. Me, too.”
Mom was too young to die, and Ash and I were too young to lose her. Everything should have been different. She shouldn’t have had to kill herself working two jobs to keep our heads above water, and Dad shouldn’t have been a Houdini husband who disappeared whenever it suited him.
Ash blames it on them getting married too young, but I blame the swinging dick who broke Mom’s heart a little more each time he left.
“You finished your coffee?” Nan asks.
I take one final sip and nod.
“Good. Then go take off your smartass pants and put on some lip gloss. I want you to look your best for when Sean gets back.”
“Sure, Mah,” I say in my best redneck accent. “Ah’ll go pretty mahself up, so the hawt cowboy you wanna sell me to can check mah teef befow he rahds me!” I’m in the middle of a gross yokel guffaw when Nan’s eyes go wide as she focuses on a point over my shoulder.
I stand up straight and drop the act. “He’s right behind me, isn’t he?”
Nan winces and nods.
A deep voice says, “So, I’m the cowboy in this scenario? Do I have to wear chaps and a hat? Because as luck would have it, I own both.”