Page 15 of Please Don't Leave Me

Straight in front of us is a dance floor in what I’m assuming is usually the living room. But it looks like all the furniture is relocated to the back of the room and arranged so there’s a sitting area by the big glass doors leading out to a terrace. There are a few hallways branching off of the main area, likely leading to bedrooms, offices, and that sort of stuff.

The architecture in this historic building is amazing. I can’t stop looking at it and admiring the craftsmanship.

“Let’s grab a drink first,” I lean over and say in B’s ear.

As we make our way over there, I see a staircase in the back left corner, behind the bar, that I didn’t spot the first time. It leads up to a loft, and you can’t see what’s beyond that. My eyes keep darting from one unique detail to the other.

“I knew you’d like it.”

I startle and turn around to see Matt standing very close behind me in a toga costume; he looks like a Greek god.

He knows I have an admiration for great architecture. “It’s beautiful.”

“As are you, my little angel.” He takes my hand and lifts it above my head, guiding me to spin so he can see mywhole outfit.

“Matt, this is my sister. B, this is Matt.”

“Damn, Lou, you weren’t lying. He’s hot.” She says it loudly so that not only Matt but also the bartenders and people in line behind us can hear it.

He gives one of his deep, sexy laughs, and I blush.

“And you’re as bold as she said you are.”

B straightens her shoulders, and I know she took that as a compliment. “I find it exhausting to be filtered and ashamed. I don’t know how Lou does it.”

He tilts his head to the side and looks at me with a knowing smile. “We’ve been working on that, haven’t we, Lou.”

My face heats. “One could say that.”

He gestures toward the seating area in the back of the room and invites us to sit. “Why don’t you guys join me? I was just chatting with an old friend of mine you might know.” He says that directly to B, so I’m curious who it could be.

We walk over, and he introduces us to a person I’ve never seen before, and I don’t recognize their name.

But apparently, B does. “Oh my god! I love your music.”

Matt can tell I’m lost, so he clarifies for me. “Stevie is the lead singer in the band Grumpy Old Bear.”

“That sweatshirt is for a band?” I direct my question to both B and Matt. “You never cared to mention that?”

They both laugh at my ignorance, and I realize that I admitted to this stranger that I have no clue who they are, nor did I know that was the name of a band. I want to shove my foot in my mouth right now.

“Yes, Grumpy Old Bear is a band. I knew right away you had no clue who they were even though you were wearing their sweatshirt. Stevie and I go way back, and they’re in town working on their next album.”

Stevie looks over to B, who is fangirling so hard right now. “You could stop by the studio sometime this week if you want to meet the rest of the band.”

“I think I’m going to die,” B says, leaning over on me, acting as though she’s going to pass out. “Yes, I would love that!” Then she lifts her head to look at me and says, “You need to meet more hot strangers at coffee shops because cool shit keeps happening to me when you do.” To that, we all burst out laughing.

As we’re walking away from Stevie toward the terrace, B leans in and whispers, for once, “I have such a crush on them! I’m going to wear my hottest outfit to that studio session. Maybe they’ll ask me out. I really would die.”

Oh, B. Whatever am I going to do with that girl?

The night air is chilly out on the terrace, but there are fire pits and heaters scattered all over to keep people warm. Matt said he had to run and handle something quickly but to meet him out here.

B and I are standing in line at another bar to get a fresh drink. The cocktails they’re serving taste so good. I guzzled my first one down so fast, and I’m already starting to feel it. B and I pre-gamed prior to coming here, so that is also contributing to my buzz.

We get our new drinks and stand by a heater to wait. “You know what, I’m going to let you and Mr. Sexy Toga Man have some alone time. I’m going to get Stevie out on the dance floor.” Without waiting for a response, she bolts inside.

I’m not standing alone long before I see Matt walking through one of the large glass doors with a drink in his hand. It looks like one of those old fashions he had on our date or some sort of dark liquor on ice.

---