Page 36 of The Pass
Thinking about that is depressing as hell though, so I stand to get another beer from the bar. Sydney and Jonah are on the dance floor, front and center.
With a fresh beer, I lean a hip against the bar and watch them. Jonah holds on to Sydney’s hands and lifts them so that she can twirl. Seeing two people from different parts of my world hitting it off so well gives some sort of balance to my life. Sydney and I are so much alike, I don’t expect there’s anyone in my life she wouldn’t get along with.
I head back to the table and fall back into conversation with Ollie. He’s telling me about his part-time job at the golf course when long arms wrap around my neck from behind. Sydney’s hair falls over my shoulder before she leans down so we’re cheek to cheek. She still smells like my bodywash but now it’s intertwined with sweat and alcohol. That should turn me off, but it doesn’t.
“Did they kick you off the floor already?”
“Quick hydration break.”
I hand her the diet and Malibu I got for her at the bar.
“Oh you’re a prince.” She takes it and moves to sit on my lap facing Ollie.
“What happened to Jonah?” he asks her.
“He’s waiting for the band to break so he can talk to the lead singer.”
We all turn to get a look at Jonah standing at the bar with his back against the hard wood. Even from here I can tell his gaze is on the tall, lanky guy crooning into the microphone.
“Never happen.” Ollie chuckles. “He’s been working up the courage for weeks now. Every time Jonah comes up with one excuse or another why he didn’t get a chance.”
“I didn’t take him for the shy type.” Sydney cranes her neck farther to watch the two of them. “We should help.”
Ollie groans. I manage to keep my initial reaction to myself.
“How exactly would we help?” I ask and then regret that question immediately when Sydney goes into scheming mode.
“What if, you talked to him first and then you could introduce them?”
“Why me?”
“Because I’m not his type.” She waves a hand in front of her boobs.
Ollie laughs.
I kick his chair. “Why don’t you do it?”
“Oh no, you’re much prettier than I am. Our best shot is sending in the ringer.”
He and Sydney both stare at me expectantly.
“No. No way. It’s a terrible plan.”
Sydney looks at me with those big, brown eyes. “What if that cute singer is Jonah’s soul mate and he never meets him because he was too shy? Can you really live with that guilt?”
12
Sydney
“What is he doing?”Jonah asks as Tanner approaches the stage where the band is packing up.
We gave Jonah until the end of the set to make a move, but as Ollie predicted, he only stared at the handsome lead singer.
“He’s being your wingman,” I tell him with a little poke in the chest.
Jonah’s brows shoot up under the dark red hair falling onto his forehead. Then he laughs. “Well, that’s ironic. The only guy in this place that’s more chickenshit than me is helping me out.Fuck.” He pushes off the bar and his jaw flexes. “All right.” He strides toward them.
“What just happened?” I ask Ollie on my other side.
