Page 36 of Picking Pismo

Claire shifted, looping her hands around the crook of Alexis’s elbow. “You were stunning.” She winked at David, loosening the knot wound up in his gut. “I, too, was amazed at how much you’ve improved since the last time I saw you.”

“When was that?” questioned Alexis. “I don’t remember.”

They moved toward the exit of the auditorium, the crowd thinning around them with each step.

“Christmas. The Nutcracker.” Claire’s voice cracked. She bit her bottom lip. “Mom was so proud you landed the lead, she’d be proud of you today, too.”

With misty eyes, Alexis said in an almost whisper, “I know.” Dragging her feet, Alexis slowed her pace as they exited the auditorium and spilled into the lobby. “It wasn’t the same with her not here.”

Claire blinked rapidly. “I agree…” She swiped at the corners of her eyes. Holding her arms out for an embrace, Alexis entered them. Claire squeezed Alexis tightly. “But I’m glad I was here to see you.”

Alexis nodded. David’s heart clenched. He wondered how many times the sisters would be met with grief at their major life moments.

Breaking their embrace, Claire let out a long raspy breath. “I guess we’d better go.” Her gaze skidded to David.

David nodded, holding open the lobby door for them to exit. Once outside, the sticky, salt air filled his lungs. Cool relief hit his skin. David needed to lighten the mood, anything to help the sisters not end the evening on a bad note.

“Can I buy you both some frozen yogurt to celebrate?” David pulled his keys out of his pocket. “Or, do ballerinas not eat frozen yogurt?”

Pointing at her chest, Alexis said, “This ballerina does. Can we go back to Pismo Beach and go to Pismo Yogurt? I like that place the best. They have the best toppings.”

“Sounds good to me.” David looked to Claire for confirmation. “Does that work?” He raised an eyebrow.

Smiling again, Claire replied, “I’m not one to turn down an opportunity to be treated to frozen yogurt.”

David wrapped his arm around Claire’s waist, hoping to push away the interaction with Lauren from ruining their evening. She mirrored his movement, putting her arm around his middle. Maybe they’d be okay? Maybe they’d figure it out and find a way to be together? But a pit formed in his stomach, because deep down he knew this might be the beginning of the end.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“Do you think David was acting weird?” Claire scanned the crowded parking lot, hoping to find a free spot in the pier parking lot.

Being Friday night, the out of towners were, well, in town making the population of Pismo explode at the seams. Come Monday, Pismo would be half the size. Summertime always brought the crowds too, every day of the week. Then Claire remembered that by summer, she and Alexis would be in Los Angeles. The thought depressed her. Being in Pismo these past months made Claire question everything.

She gripped the steering wheel harder, making her knuckles turn white. Living with no thought of tomorrow wasn’t exactly working. Her stomach twisted on itself. Something was off with David. She could sense it in her bones. No doubt seeing Lauren was a big part of it. He never talked about her, and only mentioned once he was divorced.

“No,” Alexis’s fingers froze on her cell phone screen. She shifted, glancing over at her. “Is something off between you two?”

Claire spotted someone walking to their car. Bringing the car to a crawl, she followed them back to their car to take their spot. “David’s ex-wife was at the dance performance.”

Alexis’s jaw dropped. Her eyes dilated. “Say what?”

Skillfully, Claire pulled into the tight spot and turned off the ignition. Flipping down the visor mirror, Claire scrutinized her appearance, wondering what Lauren thought of her, which was ridiculous, because who cared what a woman she met once thought of her? Grabbing her lipstick out of her purse, Claire reapplied her lipstick then closed the mirror and pushed the visor back up.

Tossing her lipstick inside her purse, Claire zipped it closed. She shifted in her seat to face Alexis. “Lauren, that’s David’s ex-wife, was there with her new husband. I don’t know the whole story, but David acted like a deer in the headlights. He just froze, and I was forced to carry on a conversation with two people I don’t even know.”

Also, Claire didn’t reveal he ditched her after the performance was over. Literally, he left without even looking over his shoulder. Maybe David spotted his ex-wife and was trying to avoid speaking to her? That would make sense.

Alexis unbuckled her seat belt. “Yikes. Ex-wife, awkward.” She raised an eyebrow.

“You’re telling me,” Claire muttered under her breath.

“Do you think he’s still in love with his ex-wife?” asked Alexis.

“No,” Claire replied much too quickly. “I mean, I don’t think it’s like that, but then again, I don’t know their history. But I do think seeing Lauren might have messed with David’s head. Like maybe he isn’t ready for anything with me.”

“Perhaps…” Alexis opened her car door. “But I’m sure it’s fine. You said the ex-wife was with her new husband. So, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

Pushing her door open too, Claire slipped out and shut her door. Alexis came around the car, stopping beside her.

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