I felt Ricky’s arm tense under mine as we stepped away from the door of his record store and walked down Main Street. He was full of his old, awkward stiffness, as if he was bracing for a sharp fall. I knew it was me who made him so tense, and it wasn’t hard to guess why.
“It’s been a while since we hung out just the two of us, old friends,” I stammered.
Ricky relaxed. “Yeah, just a beer or two to catch up.”
The evening suddenly felt on much more even ground. I knew Ricky held out hope that somehow an unseen spark would be uncovered between us, but it was such an old hope that it was really more an unnecessary reflex. He had always been more comfortable as my friend despite his adolescent crush.
“And tater tots, right?” I asked Ricky and squeezed his arm.
“And you’re going to tell me all about your great life in NYC and why I should move there.” Ricky opened the bar door for me and waved at the bartender.
I slipped into the high top that Ricky pointed at and shook my head. “You shouldn’t move there. Record store people there think they’re a whole better species. I like you here; a hidden gem.”
“It does help my online sales.” He ordered two beers and a basket of tater tots with a series of practiced signals to the bartender. “People like the pictures of Main Street and the shop and the whole rock ‘n’ roll background.”
“Location, location, location, right?”
Rick shrugged, his face clouded with seriousness, and then he jumped over the sad subject. “How about we talk about you and Storm?”
“What?” I yelped right as a waitress arrived with our drinks. “I mean, it’s not like we’re dating or anything.”
“And you didn’t have plans tonight?” Rick asked.
I picked up my beer and clunked it against his glass. “I’m here with you. As friends.”
Ricky winced. “You don’t have to say it like that.”
“Sorry, it’s just—”
“Don’t worry!” Rick recovered and took a drink of his beer. Then he grinned. “It doesn’t matter because did you see Storm’s face? If he thinks this is a date, then that’s good enough for me.”
“His face?” I tried to keep my tone even, but I was still too loud, too anxious to ask.
“He was so jealous. Man, I never thought I’d see that, and it was me he was jealous of!” Rick chuckled and lifted his beer with satisfaction.
“That’s not why I came, Ricky. You’re wonderful. I really would date you if we’d ever had that spark, you know?” I said.
My old friend shook his head. “No changing the subject. You and Storm.”
I bit my lip. “I’m not trying to make him jealous, but do you really think he was jealous?”
Rick nodded and took another long sip of beer. “I do, and I think it’s good for him. Storm could use a little want.”
“What, does he always get what he wants?” I asked.
“No, not like that. It’s just that Storm’s been in a rut and wanting something, or especially someone, is a great motivator,” Rick said.
“So wise,” I said, toasting my friend.
He rolled his eyes. “I’ve dated people, you know, Cora. I’m pretty good at the whole relationship thing. I just need to meet someone.”
“Not enough tourists lured into your honey trap?” I asked.
Rick laughed but then slumped against the table and sighed. “Less every day.”
“And you really haven’t said anything to Storm?” I watched Rick try to act like it was no big deal.
“The last thing he needs is guilt. Storm’s got his own life, he’s entitled,” he said.
Our fried food arrived, and we dug in, trying to salvage the easy camaraderie of earlier. Luckily, there was a game on over the bar and plenty of ridiculous old high school memories to laugh about.
“Too bad you never played drums in high school. It might have helped your chances,” I teased.
“I like surprising people though no one’s really that impressed when they hear the record store guy plays the drums,” Rick said.
I shook my head vehemently while finishing a tater tot and then gasped, “But you’re really good!”
“And then when people are surprised, it feels kinda like an insult,” Rick said with a rueful smile.
I slapped his hand with my napkin. “I’m serious, Ricky. You’re good. Would you ever leave the record store to play?”
“I’ll be lucky if Storm invites me to play again ever,” he joked.
“I didn’t see this look you think meant so much,” I snapped. “He seemed like he didn’t care if I came or went. No, more like he never wanted me there in the first place.”
Rick held up his hands. “Whoa. Storm’s just a little shy about playing for people. I think it’s understandable, considering the family pressure he feels.”
“I didn’t mean to intrude. I was just so curious,” I admitted. “And he’s really good. Do you think he would ever record for real again?”
“Maybe he’ll get inspired,” Rick said.
He teased me more on the walk to my mother’s art gallery. We jostled each other like siblings and laughed about old mistakes. Rick still looked a little wistful, but he was cheerful. And convinced that I was just what Storm needed.
“Or, more specifically, you’re what he’s been wanting. A new Muse,” Rick said.
I shoved him. “Stop. Storm thinks I was prying and now he’s pushed me away. And he’s right, I’m not good for anyone. My life’s a mess.”
Rick caught my arm and twirled me back onto the sidewalk. “Come on, then. Back to the bar. That sounds like a whole other round of drinks.”
I laughed and wriggled free. “Sorry. I’m all done for the night.”
Rick opened the door for me and then walked back down Main Street whistling. When I turned around, my mother was standing with her arms crossed.
“You’re not toying with that poor man, are you?” Caroline asked.
“Mother! No! Rick and I are just friends. We went out tonight, but he knew it was just buddies catching up,” I said.
“So, whose Muse are you?” my mother asked. Her eyes twinkled.
“You were listening in?”
Caroline shrugged. “Small town. You were on Main Street. Fair game.”
“Rick thinks I could be Storm’s Muse,” I admitted then waved my hands in a frantic slashing. “No. What am I saying? The whole thing with Storm was just a fling.”
“Is just a fling?” Caroline asked. “Or are you heading back to work?”
I froze. We still hadn’t talked about my job or why I was able to spend so much time hanging around my hometown.
“What? Trying to kick me out already?” I opted for joking, but Caroline saw right through me.
She studied my face closely then shrugged. My mother was never one to push. “Well, I’ve got a class tonight, so maybe we can talk about all that in the morning?”
“Oh, wait? You really are kicking me out!” I laughed but knew better than to fight my mother. She gently shoved me toward the door.
“I have a class tonight, and I don’t need my clients hearing any of your snorts or comments,” my mother said.
I stuck myself in the doorway. “What if I want to join your class?”
“Then I would say you and I need to talk right now about whatever it is you are avoiding.” My mother crossed her arms and studied my face closely again.
I shrunk back and opened the door. “I misplaced my phone somewhere. I have to go find it anyway.”
“Good luck, my love,” Caroline said.
I let my mother shut the door in my face and took my time turning around to face Main Street again. The light was on in Rick’s record shop. I had spent many of my mother’s evening classes hanging around the record shop with Ricky, years before he bought the place. He used to pretend to read comic books while I danced around, and he always let me play whatever I wanted.
I took two steps and then stopped myself. I had sent poor Ricky enough mixed messages over the last few decades.
Instead, I stuffed my hands in my pockets and headed down Main Street toward the fast food joint. I could buy a cheap coffee and sit in a booth for hours. And it was going to take hours to find a new job and chart a course back to my normal life.
This time, I stopped in the middle of an intersection. Luckily, there wasn’t a single car on the street. I stood there and wondered what the difference was between destiny and self-sabotage:
I couldn’t job search because I had left my phone at Morris Mansion.
I dragged my feet but turned toward Storm’s home. The more I thought about accidentally running into him, the more determined my pace became. The chances of running into him in the enormous mansion were slim, but if I did, it would be the perfect opportunity. I had intruded on Storm’s playing and made a fool of myself over our tentative evening plans; now was my chance to show that I could be cool. I could handle casual flings.
By the time I jogged up the palatial front steps, my cheeks were blazing red and I was out of breath. The idea of running into Storm made me cringe. He would think I was some desperate stalker, especially after he’d blown me off at the record shop.
“Hey, Cora. Forgot your phone? It’s on the kitchen island.” Tyson’s voice rang out over the intercom as he buzzed the front door open remotely.
“Thank you! Have a good night!” I called into the intercom.
There was still a chance the quick exchange had not caught Storm’s attention. If he was in the mansion at all. I resolved to make it to the kitchen and back with nothing more than a quick wave at the security cam as I shut the front door behind me.
“I really did forget my phone. A totally normal reason to be here this late,” I muttered under my breath as I fought the urge to jog down the long hallway to the kitchen.
I made it to the end of the hallway and turned into the kitchen only to run smack into Storm’s chest. My cheek hit his hard pecs, and I bounced back, stunned.
“Whoa, Cora?” Storm caught me with one arm.
I stiffened. “Sorry. Just forgot my phone.”
“Really? The date was that bad?” Storm asked.
I shoved free of his supporting arm and stood back. “It wasn’t a date. Ricky’s an old friend.”
“And he knows that?”
I appreciated the sudden suspicion on behalf of his friend but then I swatted Storm’s arm. “Of course! What kind of a girl do you think I am?”
“One who sneaks around the mansions of rock stars late at night?” Storm jokingly blocked any further blows from me.
“Oh, so you’re a rock star now?” I asked.
Storm moved his defensive hands to his heart. “Ouch. Though if I’m just a regular guy, how am I supposed to get you to spend the night?”
I stuck out my hand in a stiff, formal greeting. “Hi, I’m Cora.”
Storm smiled and slipped past my handshake to plant a lingering kiss on my lips. I swayed and found myself returning the kiss with such vigor I had forgotten to breathe. I was still clinging to Storm when he pulled back his insistent mouth and looked me deep in the eyes.
“You aren’t seeing anyone else, are you?” Storm asked.
“Not unless you count that guy I met at your party that first night. What was his name?” I teased.
Storm kissed the smile from my lips. I had just come for my phone, but it was impossible to deny that I had found much, much more.