Page 11 of Tangled Up In You

Her smile encouraged him to go on.

“And then I think maybe it’s not just about wanting to steal time but tostilltime. There are some moments that you never want to end, times that you wish to freeze and linger in?—”

“And isn’t it amazing that that’s what you have the power to do with songwriting?” she asked, excitement coloring her voice.

“Do I?”

“You do! You can capture a moment, a feeling, so precisely in a song that it will live forever. It will always be what you felt at the time. And the most amazing thing is that everyone else gets a chance to claim it as their own depending on how they interpret it. That’s what’s so beautiful about music.”

And there it was: the exact moment he was truly lost to Sophie. He felt it physically, this falling for her. It was the same disorientating sensation that comes when mistiming the step from a curb. The delicious dizziness made him smile. No other girl had ever taken this kind of interest in his ambitions, let alone supported him this way. She genuinely believed in him as a songwriter and musician.

“Are you okay?” Sophie asked.

He smiled. “No. I mean, yes. I, eh, I need to take care of something, though. I’ll see you at The Basement tomorrow?”

He didn’t wait to get her response, too eager to get to Mary’s so he could break it off with her.

5

SOPHIE

“But what do you think hereallymeant?” Sophie asked Felicity as they walked arm in arm.

“I swear, Sophie, if you ask me one more time what Gavin bloody McManus meant by telling you that you’re ‘lovely’two days ago, I’ll push you into the Liffey. I swear I will.”

Sophie laughed off her friend’s “threat,” once more enjoying Felicity’s darker sense of humor. They were as different as two girls could be but that was exactly what they each appreciated about the other.

They were on their way to The Basement, the same club Gavin mentioned and Sophie was excited to dress in something other than her school uniform. She secretly hoped her low-rise Capri jeans, pale green silk and lace capped-sleeve crop top, and wedge-heel gold sandals would catch Gavin’s eye. Especially because it was far colder here than she was used to. Otherwise, she was shivering for nothing.

“Also,” Felicity said, coming to an abrupt stop and facing her, “you do know that Mary will probably be there?”

“I, uh, yeah.” Sophie shook her head. “You’re right. I need to focus on something else.”

Felicity slipped her arm through Sophie’s again as they resumed walking. “Orsomeoneelse to make the bastard jealous!” she said, and they laughed.

The club wasn’t anything special. Just a space with a small stage where a DJ was set up, a smattering of cocktail tables in the main area, and booths along the walls except where a long bar dominated. But it was crowded.

Sophie and Felicity were immediately swallowed up by the crowd. People were dancing and singing along to the chorus of “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus, and it didn’t take long before the girls succumbed to the energy and joined in, laughing and throwing up their hands.

“Definitely not your song,” a voice murmured in Sophie’s ear. She whipped around to find Gavin behind her.

She laughed, caught up in the vibe of the club scene and in good spirits. “Then what is my song?” she asked.

His eyes held hers for a long moment before falling over her body. “Darlin’, youarea song.”

Sophie’s cheeks grew warm, and she tried to hold back a smile as she looked up at him from under her lashes.

“Jesus, how have I never noticed how green your eyes are before?” He stepped even closer and bent so he was at eye level with her.

“Oh, they’re hazel but they turn if I’m wearing anything green,” she said.

“I could get lost in those eyes.”

Just then, the DJ called for everyone to “make some noise” and the club was flooded with house lights. Gavin was close enough to kiss her and she tingled in anticipation but the moment was lost with the change in song.

To make matters worse, Felicity asked, “Is your Mary here tonight, then?”

Gavin reluctantly tore his gaze away from Sophie. “And where’s your man?” he snapped right back at her.

---