Page 47 of A Duet of Darkness and Dreams

“You want another one?” I ask.

Startled, she brings a napkin up to her mouth, wiping away the moisture that escaped. “Oh, I—no, I shouldn’t. I need to get home eventually.”

I have to bite my tongue. The words to tell her she can stay here begging to burst out of my mouth. That she can sleep in my bed and I’ll take the couch. Or . . . we can share. But even I’m not that delusional. I know exactly how that will go and why it can’t.

James bounds back into the room with a shit-eating grin on his face as he stands at the head of the table.

“Who wants to drive to Vegas on Monday?”

The room goes quiet for a moment until finally Joel speaks up. “Wait, Monday?”

James rounds the table and sits next to Becks, kissing the top of her head. “I just cleared it with Al. He doesn’t have anything booked for us until Thursday, so after the show on Sunday we’re all free for a few days.”

I find it hard to keep my jaw from falling to the floor. They just got engaged, and now they’re planning on running off to Vegas to get married? Officially? Legally?

“What do you guys think?” James asks hopefully. “You all up for a road trip?”

There’s a beat of silence but then Key jumps up out of his seat. “Fuck yeah!”

At that, there’s a chorus of excited chatter, myself included, as plans for the following Monday are drawn up and discussed. It might seem like a crazy plan to me, but who am I to dictate how they live their lives. Besides, I don’t think I’ve ever seen two people more in love than James and Becks.

“You’ll come too, right?” I hear Becks ask Isabella from across the table.

She looks like she’s lost for words. “I mean, of course I’d love to, but I don’t have a car.”

“That’s okay,” Becks says. “One of the guys can drive you.” I see her green eyes flick to me for a moment before she asks the table at large. “Hey, there’s room for Isabella in one of the cars, right?”

“Hell yeah,” James says. “We can take my van and one of the other cars. There’s plenty of room in both.”

Noticing the way Isabella’s ears flush a shade darker makes my stomach flip. Shit, I could be stuck with her in a car for hours. I bet she’d look gorgeous with the wind blowing through her hair.Damn.Well, at least we won’t be alone. That’ll offer some reminder to stay platonic.

“Dave?” James asks.

I look up to find everyone watching me. “Huh?”

“Is it cool if we take your car?”

Nodding my head, I sit forward on my chair. “Yeah man, that’s cool.”

“Thanks.”

Isabella tucks her hair behind her ears and stands from the table. “I should head home,” she says, turning and pushing her chair in. “I still have a few assignments I need to finish before exams.”

“Did you take a cab or the bus?” Becks asks.

“Bus.”

She makes a face. “Oh, you shouldn’t take the bus alone this late. Dave can drive you.”

I think my heart actually skips a beat. “What?”

Becks tips her head toward a very embarrassed-looking Isabella, then lowers her voice so only I can hear. “You’re the only one who hasn’t been drinking. You don’t mind, do you? It’s not far.”

I clear my throat and stand. “Yeah, sure. Of course.” Her lips twitch, and I still have no idea what she’s thinking. “You ready now?”

She nods and gives Becks a hug, offering her congratulations again and telling her how excited she is for Vegas. Then she casts her eyes down as I grab my keys and head for the door, holding it open for her as we head out into the chilly November night air.

We head for my Buick wagon in the driveway and I fumble with the keys when I stop to unlock the passenger-side door for her. She smiles shyly at me, and my heart flutters. “Thanks,” she says.

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