Page 18 of Little Did We Know
I chuckled.“I’ll drink to that.”
He smiled and took a swig of his own beer.
“I take it you’re just here for the demos, then,” I said.
He inclined his head.“It seems to be the only way to get access to the demos—to suffer through the club nonsense.Or some seedy basement venue.”
Fuck, don’t get me started.
“Or home parties in a cramped livin’ room where they eventually want you to throw your keys in a bowl,” I said, shuddering at a memory from two years ago.
He laughed.“I’ve been to a party like that.I was out of there within twenty minutes—with a horrified look on my face and a date I never heard from again.”
I chuckled and shook my head.
“I’m Lucian, by the way.”He extended a hand.
I shook it firmly.“Greer.You a local?”
“I am.And you’re from…New York?”
Yeah, fucking hard to miss.
“There’s something else in your accent, though,” he added.
“Somethin’ my brothers give me shit for,” I said.“I’ve spent enough time in South Carolina to become the family joke.”
“I don’t know, I find it charming.”He smiled.“Are you only visiting?”
That was the question, wasn’t it?
“I’ve been comin’ to DC for years, but it looks like I’m moving here eventually,” I replied.I couldn’t help it; I gave him a subtle once-over as I drank from my beer.He was damn sexy, this polished suit guy.“I have a couple more years on Uncle Sam’s payroll.Then we’ll see.”
Understanding flashed in Lucian’s eyes, and he nodded with a dip of his chin.“I wondered.You military guys stand out.Where are you stationed?”
“North Carolina—Lejeune—but I’m headin’ to Florida soon,” I answered.“We don’t get corporate credit cards, just your hard-earned tax dollars.”The moment the last word left me, someone did atesting, testinginto the microphone onstage, so that halted our conversation.
We both turned that way.
“I want to hear more,” Lucian said, clapping me on the back.“Another beer or two after the demos?”
“I’m in.”
* * *
The following week, my last Friday in town for now, I decided that Lucian and I were going to become fantastic friends, partly because he showed up outside the steakhouse fifteen minutes early, like I did.
“Good to see you again, man.”I shook his hand.
“You too, Greer.”
I wasted no time, ’cause I wanted input.Every input I could find.I showed him my phone.More accurately, the listing my mother had sent me.She’d lovingly added, “It’s too far away from home, but at least it’s not Charleston.Which I don’t think you can afford anyway, sweets.”
Thanks, Ma.
“How stupid do I have to be to buy this?”
Lucian tilted his head and scanned the page.
