by Magan Vernon
“Ha-ha, very funny.”
“I’m serious. This is the only way Gramps is okay with me singing. If it’s for Jesus, then it’s okay. If it’s not, then either I’m a pansy or trying to pick up girls,” Eddie said, keeping his head down.
The older he got, the harder his Gramps was on him.
“Okay, Ed. For you, I’ll go,” I said, shoving his shoulder again.
***
The church high school choir was composed of about twelve kids ranging from freshmen to new seniors, and now me and Eddie.
We all gathered on the balcony with Assistant Pastor Kevin on the piano. He adjusted his thick black glasses on the bridge of his nose, and I found myself doing the same. I had begged my parents for contacts so I wouldn’t be the only girl in sixth grade with glasses, but they said not until high school. I was stuck as the girl with braces and glasses for middle school, and I didn’t think anything could be worse.
“Okay, friends, open your hymnals to ‘Just a closer walk with Thee.’ We’ll start at the top and go through the first refrain,” Pastor Kevin said, standing up and holding his own crimson hymnal.
Pastor put his free hand up, and we all hummed then slowly started at the beginning. But one voice rose above all the rest. Eddie was in the middle with the two other baritones, senior boys, but his voice echoed throughout the church. I’d heard him sing when we were goofing around, but it wasn’t like this. His voice was powerful and booming. Slowly, everyone else’s voices dropped to a low hum and then disappeared as they all stared at Eddie. With his eyes closed, he belted out the refrain. It wasn’t until he had finished and opened his eyes that he realized everyone was staring at him, causing his cheeks to flush.
“Sorry, y’all, I guess the spirit moved me,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck.
“No, don’t apologize. That was amazing!” a freshman girl with long blond hair said.
“You have the voice of an angel,” another girl cooed.
That was the first time I’d ever experienced jealousy over my best friend, and at that moment, I realized that I thought of the dimpled crooner as more than a friend. I had a crush on Eddie Jahid, and there was no way in hell I was ever going to be able to tell him.
“Rumor has it Eddie has been spotted in Nashville. Do you know if he’s coming back soon? Maybe going to sing in the choir again?” the blue-haired lady asked me as I filled a plastic cup with wine from a box. These ladies were viscous, rolling the dice with bunco, and I needed something to take the edge off.
“Yeah. He’s in Nashville, meeting with his agent or something,” I said, trying to be as vague as I could. It was not like I knew much more than that anyway.
“Do you think he’s there to see that Playboy bunny ex of his? I can’t believe she would do that to poor Eddie. He was always such a good boy and had the voice of an angel,” the woman said, filling her glass up to the top.
“Um, I don’t know anything about his ex, ma’am,” I said and walked toward my table. Of course, that lady had to switch seats and move to my table.
“But aren’t you and Eddie an item? I told Henry I saw you two at Forever Sweet Bakery together. He didn’t believe me until some TNC site posted about it. Our little town, getting on national news media,” the woman said, clasping her hands together.
“Dorothy, quit gabbing. It’s your turn to take score, and don’t fuck it up this time,” the woman with bright, bottle-red hair next to her said.
“Do you think the church hall is really the best place to use the F word, Marge?” Dorothy asked, raising her eyebrows high on her head.
“It’s not the best place to drink and gamble either, but salute!” Marge said, raising her half-full plastic cup.
The bell rang from the first table, and I grabbed the dice, eager to move on to a new conversation that wasn’t about drinking in the church hall, or me. “What number are we on?”
“Back on ones, honey,” the old lady next to me said, smiling sweetly.
I shook the dice then rolled them on the table, coming to a stop with three ones.
“You got a bunco!” Marge said, lifting her hands in the air.
“Oh, cool. Bunco!” I raised my glass and took a big gulp.
“Who has the bunco prize now?” the lady next to me asked.
Dorothy held a pink gift bag to her chest. “You wouldn’t take this from an old lady, would you? I could be dead by the next week and not get a bunco prize!”
I stared at the old lady open-mouthed as she threw the bag at me. “Fine. The girl gets the guy and the bunco prize. At least, I have my friends and wine!” Dorothy made a toast and downed half her glass.
“What’s going on in here?” A low drawl rang through the room, and all eyes turned toward the doorway.
There stood Eddie with his guitar case on his back. Noah stood on one side of him with another young guy I’d never seen before on the other.
Dorothy turned sharply toward me. “Brooke, no boys at bunco!”
“I’m just heading downstairs with the boys. Sorry, ladies,” Eddie said, waving his hand and offering a wink in my direction. He turned and walked toward the stairwell with the other two in tow.
All of the ladies’ eyes were on me. I wasn’t sure when Eddie got back in town. Maybe I should have, especially if there was something going on with us, but either way, I couldn’t focus on rolling dice when I knew he was right downstairs.
“You know sex in the sanctuary is frowned upon,” Dorothy said, leaning in.
“Dorothy!” Marge said, smacking her shoulder.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I said, rolling the dice again only to get nothing but random numbers, so I passed them off to Dorothy.
The lady next to me smiled. “Oh, honey, we’ve read your books. We know that’s far from true.”
My face heated up to a million degrees. “Y’all read my books?”
Dorothy cursed under her breath then passed the dice to Marge. “Of course, we did! As soon as your mother said you were writing, she had Beth order copies for the library. We’ve been gobbling them up. All those forbidden romances!”
The lady next to me, who I figured out was Beth, smiled. “Yes, the patrons love the romance. Oh, we should set up a signing for you! Maybe you could even do something with Eddie singing and you signing books!”
“Or she could add him into one of her books. He may be young enough to be my grandson, but I wouldn’t mind reading about a girl and the country boy next door rockin’ the deer stand.”
Holy hell. I guess word did travel fast in town, and Gramps must have been gossiping like an old lady.
I put my head down on the table. This could not be happening. “I’m going to get some air,” I muttered, standing up from the table.
I didn’t pay attention to the other ladies as I headed out of the church hall and toward the stairs. Most places in Texas didn’t have basements because of the clay soil. The church was an old building with a root cellar which had been converted to a basement for events and weddings, but I didn’t think anyone ever used it for that.
The low hum of bass floated up from the bottom of the steps, and the farther I went down, the more I heard the drums and guitar, then Eddie’s voice. I stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching him with his eyes closed as he strummed the chords of the guitar. It took me back to high school. Even middle school. All those moments I had first fallen for this guy when he was just my best friend—before he was Eddie Justice.
“He has a beautiful voice, doesn’t he?” a low voice said.
I gasped before spinning to see my mom standing next to me.
“Mom, isn’t it your turn at the head table?” I asked.
She smiled. “I let another girl take my place when I saw you head out.”
“Oh. I’m fine. I just went to get some air and heard the music,” I said.
“Would needing to get some air and downing half of the boxed wine have anything to do with you gathering the courage to tell me you and Cla
y met with a realtor?” she asked.
I stared at her open-mouthed. “How the hell did you know that?”
Mom patted my shoulder. “A mother has her intuitions. That and it’s a small town. Suzie in the real estate office called me as soon as y’all left.”
I sighed. “Clay wants to buy a place and have me move in as his roommate. He has his heart set on it.”
“And what does that boyfriend of yours in Austin think of that?” she asked.
I shrugged. “I think he’s pretty much an ex at this point.”
“And what about Eddie?” She raised her eyebrows.
“I haven’t told him that either, but it doesn’t matter. Who knows if he’s going to stay.” I muttered the last part.
Mom looked toward the country crooner and squeezed my shoulder. “I think you and your brother both have to go for what you want—whether it’s a house or a boy.”
With that, she turned and headed back up the stairs.
I wanted to say something else, but instead, I found myself focusing on the band.
Noah stopped playing and waved his arms before poking Eddie in the back with his drumstick. Was there anything Noah couldn’t do? Jeez, this guy was everywhere.
Eddie’s eyes opened, and he smiled before looking at the young guy with the bass and Noah. “Take five, guys, all right?”
The other two guys nodded, and Eddie set his guitar on one of the folding metal chairs before walking toward me. “Hey, sorry to interrupt your bunco. I just didn’t know what was going on.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to think on what my mother had said, but couldn’t stop thinking about the old ladies’ words. “Well, rumor has it that the old ladies up there have been talking to someone’s grandfather and hearing stories about deer stands.”
Eddie raised his eyebrows and laughed. “Seriously? Man, gossip gets around this town.”
“It’s not funny!” I huffed.
“It is, actually. How many people can say they fell out of a deer stand and had their gramps come to their rescue while they were half-naked?” Eddie asked.
“So far, just me,” I muttered.
“Come on, that’s great book material.”
I rolled my eyes. “Anyway, when did you get back in town?”
“I flew in this afternoon. I stopped by your house, but your mom said you and Clay were out, so I didn’t want to interrupt your sibling bonding.”
“Oh.” I nodded.
“Unless that was just a cover-up and you were really conspiring with the church ladies?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.
“A lady never tells.”
“Hey, Eddie, are you going to talk to your girlfriend all night, or are we going to play?” the younger guy with the bass yelled.
“Hold onto your panties, Joey,” Eddie yelled over his shoulder then turned back to me.
“I know I should have called or something, but it’s good to be back and to see you. I’ll text you tonight and then maybe we can hang out tomorrow?” he asked.
“Yeah. That’d be good. I have to write a little in the morning. Deadlines and all that,” I said, trying to sound cooler than what I actually was. The truth was I could miss a deadline and no one would care. I didn’t even know how the hell I was going to pay rent to Clay.
Eddie smiled. “Then I’ll pick you up early for some work and coffee.”
“You sure?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.
He leaned in and kissed my cheek. “It’s a date. Now, get upstairs before those church ladies come after us.”
Chapter 10
I woke up the next morning and immediately rolled over to check my email and Facebook. I’d been spending less and less time on my phone now that I had Eddie around, but that didn’t stop my addiction.
I had my usual load of PMs, but I wasn’t expecting to see one from Drake.
Hey, Brooke. Haven’t heard from you in a while. I get things were crazy with the holidays, but what happens now? Can we talk?
I sucked in a deep breath as my thumb hovered over the reply button. I typed in a few words then deleted them, then typed something new, only to delete it.
I couldn’t break up with a guy via a PM. I probably should have done it years ago but was always too chicken shit. Now, I had to do it for real and not online. I owed the guy at least that much.
I exited out of my Facebook app and opened up my texts, finding my brother’s number.
Wanna go on a road trip to Austin?
Clay immediately responded.
With you? Hell, no.
I frowned and typed back. Why not?
Clay responded with Ask your boyfriend.
I sat my phone on the nightstand and rolled out of bed. It would be a complete bitch move for me to show up at Drake’s place with Eddie. Not that Drake had any idea anything was going on with Eddie and me, or that it ever did.
“Hey, what are you doing tonight?” Drake bounced on my dorm bed.
I put my textbook down and looked up at him. I was just starting to get used to these new contact lenses, and part of me wanted to just say ‘fuck it’ and go back to glasses. “What?”
“This girl in my accounting class told me she has tickets to see Eddie Justice play in some honky tonk about thirty miles outside Austin. She can’t go because of a night class, so she offered them to me. What do you say? Want to get our boots on?”
My breath caught in my throat, and I immediately looked back at my textbook and shook my head. “No, that’s totally not my thing.”
“What are you talking about? You have every single one of his songs on your iPod. I know you love him.”
If only he knew.
“No. I mean his music is catchy, but ...” I hesitated, biting down on my bottom lip.
“But what?” Drake asked, leaning in. He really was an attractive guy with his hazel eyes and light brown hair. Almost too good for the girl who was still pining over the boy next door.
I sighed, looking up. “If I tell you, I’m going to sound stupid.”
“Come on, Wookie, you can tell me,” Drake cooed.
I always hated that nickname, but when he stared at me with those big doe eyes, I had to tell him at least part of the truth.
“Eddie and I actually grew up together. We were neighbors. Well, sort of neighbors. His family owns a big ranch, and my parents’ house is up the road.”
“So you, like, know him?” Drake’s eyes grew wide. I could already see him scheming about how Eddie could further his acting career.
“I mean I guess you could say I knew him. I literally haven’t seen him since the end of our junior year of high school.”
Drake smiled. “Then what better excuse to see him again tonight?”
I’d dreamed about the moment I’d see Eddie’s dimpled smile again. I’d followed his TV interviews, and I knew the old farm boy had started working out and cut his long hair. His recent magazine spread featured him in nothing but a pair of Levi’s and a cowboy hat, his six pack on full display.
But I couldn’t exactly stare at my forever crush while I was there with my boyfriend. No. I had to live in the real world.
I smiled at Drake and put my hand on the back of his head. “I have a better idea,” I whispered against his lips as we rolled over and I made him forget all about Eddie and the concert. If only I could do the same and forget about Eddie.
“So when I was talking to my agent, he suggested possibly doing a live album. An online exclusive. It would release in January after all of the holiday craziness,” Eddie said, taking a sip of his coffee.
We found a small coffee shop that also sold gifts and antiques. It was about fifteen miles from Friendship with no reporters in sight.
“Whoa. Hello. That was a lot of information all at once, but sounds like a good opportunity for you,” I said, taking a long sip of my drink.
“And for you to come with me,” he said raising his eyebrows.
“No. That’s totally unnecessary,” I said, sha
king my head.
“Why not? It’ll be fun to have you at a show. You’ve lived in Austin for years, so I’m sure you know all the best places to go.”
I chewed on my bottom lip, thinking of what to say. It would be the perfect way to get the rest of my stuff from Drake’s apartment and finally break it off for real, but how would he feel seeing me with Eddie? Maybe I could sneak away while Eddie was practicing or something.
“Can I think about it?” I asked.
Eddie smiled. “Yeah. I guess I can’t force you to miss bunco or anything exciting like that.”
“Actually, I do have something else going on,” I said, swirling the straw in my drink.
“Finally finish writing your bakery sex scene?” He wiggled his eyebrows.
I widened my eyes, and he laughed.
“When you went to the bathroom, I had to take a peek at what you were writing. A little bit more explicit than my songs. No wonder the church ladies are reading them.”
“Shut up! I was trying to seriously ask you something,” I said, tossing my straw wrapper at him, which he immediately dodged.
“Okay, fine. What did you need to ask me?” he asked, leaning in.
“So ... Clay’s buying a house, and he asked me to be his roommate. He closes on New Year’s Eve Day, so if you’d like to use those newfound biceps you’ve developed to help us move, I’d be much obliged.”
Eddie put his arms out and flexed, his muscles pulling against his white t-shirt. “I guess I can give you tickets to the gun show.”
I laughed, shaking my head. I hadn’t laughed or smiled this much since Eddie came back into my life. “You’re ridiculous. Did you know that?”
“And you ...” He leaned in slowly and brushed his thumb on the corner of my mouth before pulling it back and running his tongue along the pad of that same thumb. “Have whipped cream on your face.”
