Ten Days of Perfect (31 page)

Me:
Bo and I will be at McCarthy’s tonight- 9:00. Some of his friends will be there, too.

Adrian:
see you then.

“Well, if nothing else, tonight’s going to be interesting. Hey, do you think we should hook Adrian and Ainsley up?” I jested as I pressed my head against the window. “Rachel sure has some choice words for Ainsley, what’s that about?”

“Do you really want to know or are you going to get ‘all girl’ about it and use it to form some jealous rage?”

“Excuse me? What part of the last week and a half leads you to believe I’ll act ‘all girl’ about
anything?
” My mouth dropped open in mock-horror.

“Ha! True. Ainsley and I dated a bit off-and-on in high school; you know-the whole cheerle
ader and football player deal?”

“Um, you played football? Oh, please tell me you were the quarterback.” He tried, and failed, to suppress a grin as I spoke. “You were the fucking quarterback? Let me out now so I can go puke in the bushes.”

“Hypocrite. Like Adrian Turner was some wallflower bookworm.” Bo turned up his sarcasm.

“Fair enough. So you and the trampy cheerleader dated, trampy being Rae’s word not mine.” I cocked my head to the side, mimicking Ainsley’s move from the night before, “Why’d you break up?”

“We went to different colleges; I went to UNH and she was down at Northeastern, it was kind of an easy out for me
- the whole distance thing, since I didn
’t want to be with her anyway.”

“You pig
- love it. Rachel said she tried to get back together with you after your parents died? Better words than trampy are typically used to describe
that
kind of move.” I rolled my eyes out the window.

“Yeah, it started innocently enough; I mean, we’ve been friends since we were little. After a few months she tried to move in on me physically and I called her on using my grief for her gain. She was pissed, but that’s only because I was right.”

“Well played.” I nodded.

“That’s really it. She still flirts with me constantly; it bugs the hell out of Rae and she’s told Ainsley off a few times.” A proud big-brother grin stretched across his face. “
So, what about you and Turner?”

“Well, you know about all there is to know.”

“Yea, Blue, I guess I do.”

Ouch.
Bo saw the
tense
look on my face.

“I’m sorry, that was out of line. Why’d you break up?”

“Well, like I told you, I told him I loved him. He said he loved me back, but I thought it was panic on his part. Wouldn’t have mattered, we were too young.”

“Wh
at was it, if it wasn’t panic?”

“Well, the other night he told me he wasn’t kidding, that it was love - that he really did love me then,” I spoke in a near-whisper.

“What? What do you mean the other night?”
That was not a whisper.

Oops.

“Oh calm down. He just thought the reason why I’ve basically avoided him since graduation was because I thought he was a jackass-”

“He
is
a jackass,” Bo interrupted through gritted teeth.

“Easy! I know Adrian well enough to know that he wasn’t telling me that to get back in my pants.
Believe me
, a guy like Adrian Turner does
not
have to use ‘the L word’ to get what he wan
ts.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well, haven’t you seen him with women around here? Don’t they just throw themselves at him? You said you knew he was ‘fast’ with women.”

“I haven’t spent much time with him apart from being with you; I just know guys like him.”

“Oh, well, you’ll see tonight
- he doesn’t have to do anything but walk in a room
,
kind of like you.” I smirked.

“Oh for Christ’s sake,
do not
compare me to Adrian.” Bo rolled his eyes, exasperated, as he turned down his driveway.

“What the hell is your issue with him? As far as I can tell, he did you a huge favor by not telling me about the blackmail even though he had
ample
opportunity to. But, he let, or made, you do it. Did he make you do it?”

“No, he didn’t make me do it Ember, Jesus. We covered this already; for a split fucking second Adrian knew you better than I did, and pointed out that you would likely figure the whole thing out eventually.” The leather of the steering wheel groaned under his tightening grip.

“Right, and that split second is over, I’m all yours. I was all yours before Adrian ever showed up, and I’ll be all yours long after he moves on.” I pried his right hand off the wheel and
smoothed my fingers across his.

Bo maintained the strained silence as he drove down his driveway and I shook my head thinking about going out later.
Perhaps I’ll text Adrian and tell him not to come.

“Is it going to be all weird tonight having Adrian there
- if he decides to show up?” I asked as Bo exited the car.

“Oh, he’ll show up. And, no, it’s fine.” Bo slammed the door. “Hey, why are you just sitting there
-
are you pissed?” He crossed over to my door.

“Just waiting for you to open the door
.” I shrugged and
his face cracked as he let out a raucous laughter.

“Come on, let’s get ready so we can go have a quiet dinner before we introduce Ainsley and Adrian - if Ainsley shows up, that is.” Bo winked as he opened the door and swooped me into his arms.

“Oh, she’ll show up.” I mocked his previous tone, as he carried me up the front steps to his house.

“Oh, come on, are you really wearing that?!” Bo rolled over and buried his face in his pillow as I strutted across the room.

“You bet your sweet ass I’m wearing this,” I purred in to the mirror, brushing off the bright red, backless halter dress as I steadied myself in my nude patent heels.

“OK,
why
are you wearing it? Are you trying to incite a riot?” His voice rang with lively wickedness as he lifted his head from his pillow.

“Ha, quite the opposite actually. I’m wearing this for several reasons. One, I look hot in it, two, you know I look hot in it, and three, there’s no other way to prove to you that Adrian’s not trying to get in my panties unless I wear this very dress. He’ll look, don’t be fooled, but if he has any residual feelings for me, they’ll throw themselves on the floor in front of me.” I turned to see him sitting slack-jawed.

Adrian totally has feelings for you, Blue. Let’s hope he doesn’t act on them.

“Alright, you cock
-
tease, what if he
does
throw himself in front of you?” Bo’s laugh echoed in the room.

“Permission granted to kick his ass . . . if I don’t do it first. And, I
never
tease
- you know that. Now, get yourself all prettied up; you can’t be seen with me looking like that.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll change. But first . . . I want to give you this.” From under his bed, Bo produced a wrapped package with a card taped on the front.

“What’s this?” I charmed, slinking toward him.

“A little something from the real me to the real you, November.”

Ignoring the card, like an excited child, I tore the wrapping open. Inside was a hard cover music composition notebook; it was all black with no wording on the front. I cracked open the front cover and my eyes welled with tears. There, on the first page, was the lullaby, my lullaby, with Bo’s original accompaniment, scribed in his hand.

Seeming to sense
my lack of words, Bo grabbed my knee
,
“It was incomprehensible to me that someone with your talent didn’t own one of these.” He cocked his head, “I wanted to be the one to lead the way. You
need
to take yourself seriously here, November. I’ve been playing for years, and your raw talent supersedes most that have spent years in a studio,” he encouraged through pleading eyes.

“Bo,” I choked at the sight of my past and anticipative future together in one gorgeous visual harmony, sitting between us in the present, “this is . . .”

“Forever, Ember. Something brought me in to Finnegan’s that night. Something sparked in me when we shook hands before you sang-”

“You felt that?” The memory of my first physical interaction with Bo warmed my senses.

“Hell yes, I felt it - it’s what made me join in that damn Wailin’ Jennys song with you. I couldn’t deny the pull I felt to you and I had to test it out on stage. The crowd noticed too, Ember - it was like they were watching James Taylor and Carly Simon or something!”

Forever . . .” I
dropped the book and sank into
his body.

* * *

On the drive to McCarthy’s, Bo stole several glances at me as I touched up my deep red lipstick. I was looking forward to having some uninhibited fun with him tonight, as tomorrow could change everything in terms of our flagrance around each other. If our organizations ended up collaborating
-
which I, hoped they did
- we’d likely have to lay low while all the nuts and bolts screwed into place.

“Come back,” he whispered, grabbing my hand.

“Sorry, just thinking about the meeting tomorrow.” I returned my glance to the street.

“What’s the matter?”

“I want the collaboration to work; it would be so great for both of our organizations and communities. Mostly, we’d have excuses to travel between our two homes, Bo. But, if it works we have to be careful, and discreet; if it doesn’t, we’re left as two people living nearly three hours apart . . .”

“It doesn’t have to be three hours apart, Ember.”

“Ha. What are you suggesting? That one of us moves?”  I raised my eyebrows as high as they’d go and sat in shocked silence.

“What? Nothing sarcastic to tag onto that one?”

“Give me a minute . . .” I didn’t need a minute; there was nothing sarcastic, rude, or dismissive to say to this.

“Well?”

“Well, what? Who gives up their job? I love my job, Bo
- holy shit I can’t believe I’m engaging in this conversation.” My sweaty palms sought relief, but I couldn’t mess up my dress. I shook them in the air.

“Are you freaking out? We’re just talking, Ember.” Bo’s grip on my knee sent a calming current through my veins.

“Sorry, it’s just, tonight, last night, the day before, and the eight before that I’ve thought of forever when I’ve t
hought of you Bo. Fucking
forever.
”

He grinned, “And that’s a bad thing?”

“It’s a crazy person thing,” I scoffed.

“Guess I’m crazy, too.” His smile reached his eyes as he kissed my hand. “Let’s just have some irresponsible fun tonight, and worry about all of this heady stuff tomorrow.”

“Bowan Cavanaugh, are you going to try to get me drunk?” I batted my eyelashes dramatically.

“Nope, I happen to know you can do a fine job
of that
all on your own
,
Ms. Harris.” He winked as we par
ked in front of McCarthy’s Pub.

Despite the name, McCarthy’s was more of a night club than a pub. Private tables surrounded the black dance floor. We were escorted promptly to one in the corner and given complimentary champagne; just another reminder of the weight the Cavanaugh name carried in Concord

“You sure know how to show a girl a good time,” I toasted him and sucked down half the champagne.

Bo just shook his head as the waitress approached. He ordered for us and her smile lingered as she backed away from our table.

“Has it always been like this for you? The fawning and all?” My hands motioned back and forth in front of his body.

Even in the dim light of McCarthy’s I could see Bo’s cheeks redden, “Kinda, but it’s hard to tell if it’s because of me, my money, my parents . . .”
H
e shook his head in thoughtful disbelief.

“Oh, it’s you, for sure.” My smoky stare did it’s best to undo him.

“I’m thinking tonight that it’s you; no one’s eyes have left you since we walked in here Ember.” His proud peacock look returned.

Looking around, I noticed he was right; we seemed to be the talk of McCarthy’s. No doubt, all minds were wondering who the woman was with Concord’s heir apparent; it didn’t make me nervous. I felt proud and beamed the biggest smile I had.

As we ate our dinner, McCarthy’s got busier, and I noticed a DJ setting up near the dance floor. I sat facing the door, which I always preferred, and that gave me the advantage of seeing Ainsley walk in before Bo did. I swallowed my second glass of champagne in one gulp.

“What was that about?” Bo stared at my empty flute.

“Told you she’d show up.” I nodded in Ainsley’s direction just as she caught my eye and the back of Bo’s head. “Oh, would you look at how she just lights up like a Christmas tree? It’s sweet, really.” Sarcasm flooded our booth.