Page 24 of Christmas in Watch Hill
FOUR
JESSICA
When I woke up frommy nap, it was seven thirty. I’d slept longer than I wanted, my late Friday afternoon fading into the early evening. Rubbing my eyes, I checked my phone in my apron pocket and saw six text messages from Molly.
Molly could be relentless.
I admired that quality about my friend, whom I’d known since we roomed together during freshman year at Kent State. Once she decided to do something, she didn’t give up until she got what she wanted. She wanted to meet up at The Tap Room bar on Route 50, and she wasn’t going to allow me to beg off tonight, bringing up the fact that no, we hadn’t seen each other in a few weeks, and yes, she missed me, too.
Just come out, the final text read. You know you want to.
I locked the phone and thought about it for a moment. I liked The Tap Room, which was known for having a cheesy-but-cute band on December weekends called The Sleigh Bells, featuring a lead singer dressed as Santa and the rest of the band dressed as elves. They usually played sets of carols mixed in with rock music.
What the heck? I got up from the plush sofa. I don’t have anything else to do.
I turned on the coffee shop alarm system, drove the few blocks home, and freshened up with a black leather jacket, a pair of over-the-knee boots, and the skinny jeans I’d splurged on during the Cyber Monday shopping frenzy. About a half hour later, I took a deep breath in the parking lot of The Tap Room before walking into the popular watering hole. I guessed Molly would have Ian in tow.
She did.
They sat at a table in the back of the main dining room, and Molly waved me over as soon as she saw me cross the doorway. They already had a round of beers, a bowl of guacamole, and a basket of chips. Molly smiled as soon as I reached them.
“So glad you were able to make it.”
“Me too.”
I intentionally took the seat across from Ian instead of the one next to him. Our weekend together had ended on friendly terms, but it was clear to me on the plane ride home that it was just a one-time weekend between two people who had decent chemistry and happened to spend a crazy night together. Even earlier in the coffee shop, I hadn’t been sure what remained between us, if anything.
Nothing. Probably nothing.
“Was the rest of your day busy?” he asked.
“Not any more than when you saw me.” I dumped a large serving of guacamole on one of the unused plates and added some chips. “So, this passes for a big night out in Watch Hill. Just wait until The Sleigh Bells show up.” I raised an eyebrow. “They are something else.”
“A little bit intense,” Molly added. “You’re definitely going to remember them.”
“But not as good as the bands you find in DC.” I smothered a large tortilla chip in the chunky dip. “Way more amateur than that.”
“I’m looking forward to it. I really could use something different.” Ian leaned forward, his eyes piercing mine and causing my stomach to twist in a way it hadn’t since Halloween weekend, the last time I’d seen him. “Something unique.”
“Oh, you’re going to get that.” Molly nodded at the staff entrance and exit on the side of the bar. “That’s the lead signer now.”
