Page 84 of Hooked
“And the band maybe?”
It was the first time the theater was doing a public performance to tease an upcoming show like this. They were doing two fifteen-minute previews of coming attractions on the sidewalk outside the theater, and people were crowded around.
Tayla and Jeremy managed to find a space for the book club near the front of the theater, and the girls waited, bouncing on their toes, for the dancers to start. Jeremy stood behind Tayla, his arms around her waist and his chin propped on her head.
“Comfortable?”
“So much.” He bent down. “You staying at my place tonight?”
“I shouldn’t. I need to do laundry and catch up with Emmie. Tomorrow?”
“Going up to the mountains to grab Pop tomorrow. I’ll be back Sunday.”
“Okay. Well… we’ll figure it out.” Tayla’s heart sank.
“No worries. And no worries about Pop. He knows I’m an adult, and he turns his hearing aids off at night. Trust me.”
Tayla laughed. “Your senior roommate.”
“I can’t complain. He makes a mean bacon sandwich.”
“Definitely can’t complain about that.”
“Play your cards right, and he’ll make one for you someday.”
“I’ll remember that.”
She was back, so why did she feel like she was already saying goodbye? And why did it feel so wrong? She wanted to move back to the city. She was thrilled with her interview. She was nearly certain she had this job. And it was a dream job!
What is wrong with me?
She plastered on a happy face and fought back tears. The laughter and joy of the crowd around her was bittersweet. The smiling faces of the book club should have lifted her spirits, but Tayla couldn’t help but think about their next month’s read,The Hate U Give. Would she be there to talk with them about it? Would she have to move before they finished?
“Stop thinking so loud,” Jeremy said in her ear.
“Sorry.”
He tilted her chin up until he could read her eyes. “And stop saying goodbye already.”
“I’m not.”
“Mm-hmm.” His tone was doubtful.
Intro music started and everyone clapped when the dancers came out. They bowed, the music changed, and they threw themselves into the dance. It was passionate and arresting. The two principals at the center of the group moved together in a graceful union before they were torn away from each other by the other dancers in the company. Over and over, they struggled to stay together only to be dragged apart.
Dideverythinghave to be a sign today?Tayla focused on the girls in the book club, who were riveted to the performance. One of them had tears in her eyes.
Nearly twenty minutes later, the dancers were taking their bows and the book club—along with the entire crowd—erupted into applause and chatter. Jeremy and Tayla guided the girls back to the bookshop where most were being picked up by their parents. Then they walked over to Jeremy’s shop where Cary was watching the counter.
A selection of his photographs was also hanging on the walls because he was one of the featured artists that month.
Tayla and Jeremy nearly ran into Ox’s sister Melissa while she was walking out of the shop. Her cheeks were red and her eyes were wild.
“Melissa?” Jeremy put a hand on her shoulder. “You okay?”
“Fine!” she nearly shouted. “I’m fine. Have you seen Ox?”
Tayla pointed across the street. “I think he’s over at INK with Emmie. Unless he went out to get food. He was just finishing up with a client when we left and he mentioned he was hungry.”
