Page 57 of All In
But I wanted him to, I realized. I missed him a lot, and our phone conversations were starting to feel like little crumbs of food when I wanted a big feast.
When did that happen?
I cleared my throat. “So anyway, I’ll call you after? It’ll be late.”
“I don’t care,” he said. “I’ll be here.”
“You’re always so good to me.”
“I try to be, Kace,” he said softly.
A short silence fell, waiting, like we were both holding our breath. I broke for air first.
“Okay, I should go,” I said quickly. “Give your mom a kiss for me.”
“Yeah, for sure, I will,” he said just as fast. “Goodnight, Kace.”
“Goodnight, Teddy.”
The night of the party arrived, and I was nervous as hell. I put on black leather jeans, and a silky gray blouse, off-the-shoulder with billowy sleeves. I piled my hair on my head, pulling loose tendrils to frame my face. With a pang, I tucked the black rose Dena gave me at her wedding behind my ear. I wished she and Oscar were coming to celebrate with me. And Theo.
And Jonah.
A text came in on my phone before I headed out:Enjoy your party. You deserve this.
A warmth bloomed in my chest as I replied:Thanks, Teddy. <3
Le Chacal was packed to capacity. I’d never seen the club so full before. Jonathan, the skinny and balding owner, practically had dollar signs in his eyes at the amount of booze flowing. The doors and windows were open, and people and music spilled out onto the street. Passersby who had no idea what was happening stopped to listen, and many stayed.
I headed for the table Grant and Phoebe set up near the bar to sell CDs. I’d given myself a hand cramp signing 500 covers, thinking it was too much, no way we’d sell a fraction of them.
“Five hundred CDs, sold out,” Phoebe said, showing me the empty box. “In record time.”
“At ten dollars a pop.” Grant held up his hands, grinning wide. “I know it’s vulgar to discuss money, but let’s just say it’s not bad for a night’s work.”
Phoebe pressed a seltzer water with lime into my hand, which nearly sloshed all over the floor a minute later when Big E picked me up and swung me around. Yvonne had arrived too, with a couple of her friends, and we laughed and shout-talked over Louis Prima on the sound system. Ten minutes later, my phone vibrated from my back pocket with a text from Theo.
Having fun yet?
My brow furrowed.It’s early, but yes.
I started to send another, but he beat me to it.
You wore that flower in your hair at the wedding.
My head jerked up, my eyes scanning the crowd as my heart began to pound.
No way.
My eyes scanned the bar. Then tracked back. Theo was standing with Big E, both of them grinning like dopes.
My mouth dropped. “No. Way.”
Theo was ridiculously handsome in a red wine-colored dress shirt, rolled up at the sleeves, and dark jeans. He gave me a cocky grin and waved hello with his phone.
My heart, already so full of happiness, expanded in my chest as Theo’s eyes held mine and his smile pulled wide. I pushed through the crowd as fast as I could and flung my arms around his neck. “Are youkiddingme?”
I held him tight, breathing him in, his skin, his cologne. Feeling his strong arms around me and the laughter coming through his chest.
