All Shook Up

by Annalisa Daughety

  Chapter Eleven

  Suzanne checked the clock in the living room. Nick would be here in ten minutes. Just enough time to change out of her work clothes and into something a little more relaxed. She opted for jeans and a red tank top.

  She stepped into the bathroom and glanced in the mirror. Not bad. She leaned closer and wiped a smudge of eyeliner out of the corner of her eye. August had been so hot so far that she may as well just give up on wearing makeup. She quickly brushed her teeth and dabbed on a bit of lip gloss. Ready as I’ll ever be.

  The doorbell rang just as she walked into the living room. She opened the door to a smiling Nick.

  “Hey,” he said, stepping inside. “Thanks for having me over.” He held up a PetSmart bag. “This time I come armed with a variety of treats.”

  Suzanne laughed. “You’re really buttering Charlie up aren’t you?” She motioned toward the kitchen. “He’s out back right now. I figured it would be easier to keep him outside until the pizza got here, otherwise we’d have to endure a lot of barking and general mayhem.”

  “Well I’m totally against mayhem.” He grinned. “Can I go out back and give him a treat now?”

  “Sure.” She led him through the dining room to the kitchen.

  He paused at the refrigerator and surveyed the hodgepodge of pictures and notes displayed there. “Is this you graduating from college?” he asked pointing at a picture.

  She walked over to see which one he was looking at. “Oh yeah.” She laughed. “That’s me and Grandpa on the day I graduated. He was so proud.”

  “What a great picture.” His eyes fell on a dry erase board with a Bible verse written on it: ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ Jeremiah 29:11. He glanced at Suzanne. “Favorite verse?”

  She shook her head. “It’s this thing I’ve been doing for the past few years. I find a verse that I really need to apply to my life and write it up there.” She smiled. “Most of the time, I leave them up for just a week or two before I change.”

  “How long has this one been up?”

  She met his brown-eyed gaze. “Two months. I guess you could say that trusting in the Lord’s plan for my life is a challenge for me.”

  Nick nodded. “It’s hard for everyone I think.”

  “I know that there have been opportunities I’ve been given that I’ve been too scared to take. I always think I should take a leap of faith and see what He has in store for me, but fear holds me back.”

  “What’s the latest one?”

  You. She held back the word. “My rental house is going up for sale at the end of next month. So I either have to find a new place to rent or decide to become a homeowner.”

  “So what’s holding you back?”

  She opened the refrigerator and took out two bottles of water. She handed one to him and opened the other. “That seems awfully final, don’t you think? I’m just not sure I’m ready for that kind of commitment.”

  Nick nodded. “It is a big decision. But buying a home isn’t a prison. You can always sell it or rent it out if you decide it isn’t what you want. Right?”

  She took a swig of water. “I know you’re right. But in my mind that’s the kind of thing I want to be certain of. I really don’t want to make a mistake and wind up somewhere I don’t really want to be.” Although she had to admit, Saturday night when she’d crashed after the 5K, she’d gotten sucked into a marathon of HGTV. The prospect of having her own space to decorate and landscape however she wanted felt kind of exciting.

  “So you think this is one of those things that could be part of God’s plan for your life?”

  She shrugged. “All I know is that whenever things seem to fall into place easily, I always get the feeling that I should pay attention. You know?”

  “I sure do. That’s part of what brought me back to Memphis. My lease happened to be up in Atlanta at the same time my grandmother was going into the hospital. And since I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go next, it seemed like Memphis was where I was supposed to be.”

  She twisted her mouth into a smile. “And is it?”

  “For now. Especially for right now in this moment.”

  Something about the way he looked at her made her pulse race. A little more intensity glimmered in his eyes tonight.

  The doorbell rang, breaking the moment. “I’ll get it. You give Charlie his treat.” She grabbed some cash off of the coffee table and answered the door.

  The Domino’s delivery girl stood on the porch with a grin, holding two large pizzas. “Hi,” she said.

  Suzanne smiled and handed her the cash. “Keep the change.”

  The girl nodded, her red ponytail bobbing. “Thank you.” She handed the hot pizzas to Suzanne.

  Suzanne put the pizzas on the coffee table and went out into the backyard. “Everything okay out here?” Nick sat in one of the patio chairs, and Charlie was engrossed in his bone.

  “We’re good. Hungry though.” Nick grinned.

  “Well, come on then.”

  They settled on the couch, and Nick opened the pizzas. “A large cheese and a large pepperoni. Good call,” he said.

  Suzanne took a bite. “Delicious.”

  They ate in silence for a moment.

  “So is Elvis Week over now?” Nick asked.

  She shook her head. “Nope. One more big event to go. The big finale.” She smiled. “Tomorrow night is the candlelight vigil. Thousands of people will line up with candles and walk to Elvis’s grave. It’s actually very somber and kind of beautiful.”

  Nick widened his eyes. “How long does it last?”

  “I think it starts when the sun goes down and lasts all night. Or until the last person makes it to the grave. I’m talking a lot of people, so it takes quite a long time.” She tossed the last of her crust onto her plate. She glanced up to see Nick staring at her. “What?”

  He put his plate on the coffee table then took her plate and set it on the coffee table. He reached up and brushed her lip with his thumb. “You have just a little sauce there.”

  “If this was a movie. . .” She trailed off.

  Nick grinned. He stood up and held out a hand to her.

  She took his hand, and he pulled her toward him until they were face to face.

  “I wanted to do this the other night when I brought you home, but I wouldn’t let myself. And then when I walked you to the car after the 5K, I fought every instinct I had.”

  She knew she should back away. Go check on Charlie or scoop some ice cream into a bowl. But she stood, rooted to the spot. Because she’d wanted the same thing he had.

  Nick leaned down and kissed her softly on the mouth.

  She leaned into him, delighting in the feel of his lips on hers.

  He pulled away with a grin. “Just like I thought it would be.”

  “Awful,” she said, her voice glum.

  They burst out laughing. The kiss had been anything but awful. In fact, if Suzanne had to describe the perfect first kiss, that would’ve been it.

  Nick pulled her to him and kissed her again, but this time on the forehead. “Now that we have that out of the way, we can relax.”

  “I was relaxed,” she said with a laugh.

  He grinned. “Well I was a little nervous. I almost kissed you earlier in the kitchen but we were discussing a Bible verse and it didn’t seem quite right.” He chuckled.

  She shook her head at him. “You’re too much. I’m going to let Charlie in. Why don’t you put the pizza in the fridge.”

  “And then?” He raised his eyebrows. “What do you have in mind after that?”

  “Simple, Mr. Competitive. We go Wii bowling to see who has to buy dinner next time.”

  His laughter followed her out the back door. Once she stepped outside, she tried to get her heart to stop pounding. Most of her long-distance relationships had been free of kissing. So it wasn’t like she was super-experienced in
that department. But she knew enough to know that whatever was brewing between her and Nick had real feelings behind it.

  And even though she was glad he’d kissed her, she couldn’t help but wonder how much harder they’d just made their inevitable good-bye.

  ***

  The next night, Nick waited in line with what seemed like a million other people at the gates of Graceland. If he thought the Elvis tribute contest drew a wild crowd, it was nothing compared to this. He’d lost track of the number of languages he’d overheard.

  Between the people, the candles, and the media trucks, it was quite a scene. Nick pulled out a small notepad and jotted down some notes. He’d talked to a few people who made the trek yearly and others who were here for the first time. It seemed like everyone had an Elvis story.

  The woman behind him had offered her opinion: “His music got me through some tough times, especially his gospel albums. I don’t know if there is a sweeter sound than Elvis’s version of ‘Amazing Grace.’ I played it for my babies when they were fussy, and they’d calm right down. And we played it at Mama’s funeral. And someday, it will be played at mine. His music is timeless; that’s what it is.”

  The wide variety of ages represented in the line surprised Nick. He’d expected a mostly older crowd, but he discovered a mix. Clearly, whatever it was that Elvis had possessed, it crossed generational lines even years after his death.

  Nick finished making his notes and shoved the notepad back in the pocket of his cargo shorts. He’d stayed busy all day, but whenever he grew still he found himself going over last night again in his mind. The way Suzanne’s lips felt against his might just be the best feeling in the world. And after that, they’d laughed so much, playing Wii tennis and bowling. Charlie had jumped up and barked every now and then, adding to the chaos.

  Once she had solidly beat him two out of three games, they’d collapsed on the couch and watched an old episode of The Cosby Show before he left to go home.

  Nick kissed her one more time at the door, and he couldn’t help but realize their evening—of pizza, conversation, and laughter—was the kind of normal night they could have if they lived in the same place. For just a split second, he’d longed for that kind of life. The kind where he came home from work and his house wasn’t empty.

  He quickly pushed the thought away. His judgment had clearly been clouded by their kiss.

  “You a big Elvis fan?” the guy in front of him asked, jolting him back to the present.

  Nick grinned. “I definitely like some of his music. And no one can argue with his star power. It’s somehow still magnetic even decades after his death.” Nick pulled out his notepad. “I’d love to ask you some questions if you don’t mind.”

  The guy nodded. “Sure.”

  Focus on work. Not Suzanne. “Tell me about your earliest memory of Elvis.” Nick put his pen on the paper and waited for the guy to respond. If it kept his mind off of Suzanne, he’d talk to every person in this line.

  Chapter Twelve

  Suzanne leaned back at her desk at work and rubbed her temples. “Have I mentioned how glad I am that Elvis Week is officially over?” she asked.

  Avis giggled. “Girl, me, too. I mean, no week is totally normal around here, but I felt like I was living in some kind of crazy world lately.”

  Suzanne nodded. “No doubt. I’ll be glad to just work on run-of-the-mill weddings and the occasional after-hours event.” She grinned.

  “So what did you decide to do about your house? Are you joining the ranks of us homeowners?”

  Suzanne let out a huge sigh. “I don’t know yet. I went ahead and got pre-approved for a mortgage just in case I decide to buy. But I haven’t actually done any house hunting yet.”

  “Baby steps.” Avis burst into laughter. “I’m impressed that you’re even considering it. I think you could be really happy with your own place.”

  Suzanne’s eyes twinkled . “I’m ashamed to admit this, but I’ve started watching HGTV lately. And now I’m hooked.” Because she’d always been a renter, Suzanne had never upgraded from her college-style furniture. She had a hodge podge of things she’d picked up at thrift stores over the years. The idea of decorating her own place thrilled her.

  Avis squealed. “You’re getting house fever.” She smiled broadly. “That’s better than baby fever. Not nearly as expensive, and you can sell the house when it starts giving you fits.”

  “That’s one way to look at things,” Suzanne said. She glanced at the clock on her computer. “Okay. I’m out of here. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.”

  “You, too,” Avis called.

  Suzanne hadn’t seen Nick since the night they kissed. She’d talked to him on the phone a few times though. He’d taken his grandmother home yesterday. After all the delays caused by her blood pressure, her doctor went out of town. His grandmother had insisted on going home for the weekend, and the surgery was scheduled for next week.

  Suzanne headed toward her house. Traffic wasn’t as bad as normal for a Friday afternoon. Must be a lot of people out of town for one last summer hurrah.

  Nick invited her to dinner tonight, but he wasn’t supposed to pick her up until a little before seven. Which would give her some time to relax. She pulled into the driveway and sauntered inside.

  Charlie met her at the door, his favorite stuffed bunny in his mouth.

  She reached down and tugged on the bunny.

  Charlie tugged back. Tug-of-war was his favorite game. He wasn’t much of a fetcher, but he loved to tug.

  Suzanne eased into the patio chair and scratched Charlie behind the ears. She’d lived in six different places in Memphis. Was it time to make the city her permanent home? “Come on, boy. Let’s go inside.”

  Charlie trotted along behind her and went straight for the water bowl.

  Suzanne slipped on a pair of dark jeans and a pink flutter-sleeve top. She paired the outfit with her favorite wedge heels, thankful her calves had healed from her recent run. She and Nick were going to dinner at Houston’s and then planned to catch a movie at the drive-in theater on Summer Avenue. She’d grown to love the drive-in since she moved to Memphis. It was only open on weekends and played a double feature.

  The doorbell rang.

  Suzanne glanced in the full-length mirror at the end of the hallway. Not bad, considering she felt totally exhausted. She hoped she wouldn’t fall asleep during the movie.

  She flung open the door. “Hey,” she said.

  Nick grinned. “Ready?”

  She nodded and followed him out to his grandmother’s car. “Now that your grandmother is home from the hospital, does she want her car back?”

  He laughed and started the engine. “Oh yeah. I thought she was going to flip out tonight when she found out I was going out and taking the car. I don’t know where she thought she was going. The doctor doesn’t want her to do much of anything except rest.”

  “So the surgery is rescheduled?”

  “Wednesday.”

  “She must be relieved to finally have a solid date.” She looked over at Nick. “And you too, right? That means you’re that much closer to getting out of Memphis.”

  The words hung between them for a long moment.

  “I feel like I’m in limbo here,” he confessed. “So in that respect, it will be nice to get back to normal.” He laughed. “Whatever that is.”

  He pulled into the parking lot at Houston’s. “I haven’t been here in forever. I hope it’s as good as I remember.”

  “Oh, it is. This is definitely one of my favorite places.”

  Nick’s phone buzzed. He held it up and checked the caller ID. “It’s my grandmother.” He shot Suzanne a worried glance. “I’d better take it. She insisted I go out tonight, but promised she’d call if she needed me.”

  She stared out the window trying to guess which couples were established and which ones were on a first date based on their body language.

  Nick clicked the phone off and sighed.

&nbs
p; “Trouble?” she asked.

  “She wants us to come to her house. Says she isn’t feeling great and doesn’t want to be alone.” He raised his eyebrows at her. “I can just take you home though.”

  Suzanne shook her head. “Don’t be silly. I’ll go with you. Maybe she’ll feel better and we can at least catch the late show.”

  Nick hesitated. “You don’t mind?”

  “No. Let’s go. We can drive through and grab dinner or just order pizza again.”

  He turned on Poplar Avenue and headed toward Germantown. “My grandmother will probably grill you. I’m just giving you fair warning.”

  Suzanne laughed. “It’s fine.”

  Fifteen minutes later, they pulled up in front of a giant house. If this were the kind of home Suzanne was in the market for, her decision would be easy. It was beautiful. “Wow,” she whispered. This was a very expensive home in a very expensive neighborhood. She hadn’t gotten a spoiled rich kid vibe from Nick, but suddenly his world traveling made more sense. He must not be living solely on a freelancing salary. She followed Nick up the sidewalk and into the foyer.

  “Grandmother? We’re here,” he called.

  “I’m in the library.”

  Nick guided Suzanne through a living room and a formal dining room and stopped in a large room filled with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. “Grandmother, this is my friend Suzanne.”

  Suzanne stepped forward and offered a hand to the elderly woman perched on a chaise lounge.

  Nick’s grandmother smiled at her and shook her hand. “It’s so nice to finally meet you, Suzanne. I’m pleased that Nicholas made a friend to spend time with while he’s here visiting.” She patted the end of the lounger. “Sit here and tell me about yourself.”

  Suzanne sat down and looked up at Nick. He didn’t look pleased.

  “Nicholas, why don’t you get us a snack and some water?” his grandmother asked.

  Nick nodded. “Be right back.” He shot a look at Suzanne and hurried off.

  “So, Suzanne. Nicholas hasn’t told me too much about you.”

  Suzanne frowned. At least his grandmother was honest, but that wasn’t exactly what she wanted to hear.