A Face in the Crowd (6 page)

“Well, enjoy your time off.” He tapped the roof of her car and stood up to his full height.

Relief and disappointment mingled together as she regained her bearings. “Thanks, and thanks for letting me hang out with the guys. It was fun and not something that usually goes along with this particular job.”

“You’re welcome.” He took a few steps back to allow her to open her car door. “See you around then.”

“Yeah, see ya.”

He sent her a final wave as she pulled away and with her heart in her throat, she blew out a breath. What would it be like to kiss Oliver? She was sure he’d be good at it. With a mouth like his there was no way he couldn’t be. Although, getting involved with someone like him also meant going against her rule about keeping it simple. Getting involved with a man like Oliver would be anything but that. A girl could dream though.

The following morning was sunny and beckoned Lexie to spend some time outside. She needed fresh air and a serious dose of vitamin D. Although her job was fulfilling in many ways, the days went by in a blur of getting to work in the dark and leaving in the dark. Fresh air and sunshine were lacking in her day-to-day life.

She swung her car into a parking space and got ready to unload her bike. The Silver Comet Trail was her favorite. Sixty-one miles of paved trail just for pedestrians, and considering how crowded Atlanta was, it was a true wonder. Simone’s Mini was already in the lot, bike unloaded. The girl got up early even on her days off, unlike Lexie, who used the morning to make up for lost sleep.

“Morning friend, glad to see you could carve some time out of your busy roadie schedule for me.”

Lexie hefted her bike off its rack and set it on the ground. “It’s too early for you.”

“You know you love me. So, tell me again. How hot is Bailey up close?”

“Even hotter than in your imagination.”

Simone exhaled audibly. “You know I’m green with envy, right?”

“Yeah, but green’s your color.”

“I think you’re torturing me for making you get up early.”

Lexie winked. “Maybe. Ready to ride?”

“Yes, let’s go.”

After an hour of steady riding, Simone signaled for Lexie to slow down. They matched each other’s pace and drank some water from their bottles. The day was heating up, but still pleasant.

“Hey, Lexie, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

“Okay, what’s up?”

“It’s about my job,” Simone squeezed her bottle over and over again making the water level rise and fall.

“Well, what is it? Did you get fired or something?” The thought of Mrs. Brown firing Simone was ridiculous. She had practically raised her children.

“No, nothing like that. I got a call from a producer out in L.A. They offered me a job as a staff writer.”

“What!” Lexie squealed and almost fell off her bike.

“They called me yesterday,” she cast her eyes to her shoes. “I mean, it’s a really big opportunity.”

“Hell yes it is. That’s so exciting.” Upon further examination of her friend’s strange behavior, Lexie stopped doing her version of a cheerleader. “Why do you not seem more excited? You should be doing cartwheels.”

Simone looked up and tilted her head to the side. “We both know I’m not capable of doing cartwheels.”

“Okay, valid point, but you seem less than thrilled. What am I missing here?”

“I’ll have to move . . . to L.A.”

The words hung in the air between them like a death sentence. Of course Simone would have to move. Lexie struggled to remain in control of her emotions which were now swinging wildly from ecstatic to misery.

“I wish it were the job I applied for in Atlanta, but they didn’t call and this is just such a big step for me. It’s the break I’ve been waiting for.”

Lexie shook her head and revived her smile. “Of course it is. We’ll have to go out tonight and celebrate. Besides, it’s not like I won’t visit. That’s why there are planes, right? I can come out and you’ll be back out here to see your family. It’ll be great.”

Simone let out a nervous laugh. “Right.”

Lexie reminded herself as they headed back to their respective cars that no matter what, she and Simone would always be close. It would be different being so far away. No more spontaneous plans or meeting for lunch, but she would put on a brave face and put her selfish feelings aside. She wouldn’t let her own sadness dampen her best friend’s moment. Plus, she’d never been to L.A., and now she’d have a good reason to visit.

Chapter 6

“This was a great idea, Lexie. We haven’t been here in forever,” Simone held the door as they stepped under the green awnings and entered Smith’s Olde Bar. The familiar smell of stale cigarettes and beer filled the air around them as their eyes adjusted to the dim lighting.

Simone nodded toward the tables and Lexie followed as they made their way across the room. Some local talent was set to play downstairs, but first, food. As Lexie scanned a plastic covered menu, she tried for easy conversation. She was working hard to make the night fun when what she really wanted was to sit at home and sulk, but it wouldn’t help anything.

“So, when do you leave?” Lexie asked after they’d received their dinner.

“They want me to start in two weeks.”

Lexie almost choked on her nachos. “Wow,” she coughed, “that’s soon.”

“I told them I need until the first of the month. I had to give thirty days’ notice to Mrs. Brown and to my landlord.”

“How upset was Mrs. Brown?” Lexie was still trying to clear food from her airway.

“Well, she didn’t cry, but the kids did which in turn made me cry.” Simone paused and took a bite of her cheeseburger. “It was a mess.”

“At least the kids are older now. They’ll be busy with school and friends before long.”

“That’s true.” Simone looked down at her burger and sighed.

“Come on, it’s going to be great. You get to go somewhere new and discover new places and people.”

“I know, but I’m going to miss the hell out of you.”

She tried to reassure her bestie with a smile. “Me, too, but I’ll be fine and so will you. Plus, you deserve this.”

“Just think, if I screw it up, I may be back here before you even realize I was gone,” Simone said it with a half grin, but there were nerves under the humor.

“That’s not going to happen. You’re way too talented a writer for that. We always knew this day would come.”

“Hoped, you mean.”

“No, knew. I knew this would happen and I’m glad it finally has.” Lexie wiped her greasy fingers on a napkin. “Plus, this way you can move out to L.A. and meet some really hot actor and make pretty babies. Make sure to save Johnny Depp for me, though.”

“Of course,” Simone agreed with mock seriousness, complete with a crease between her eyes. Damn, she was going to miss her.

“Hey, Lexie,” a male voice said from above her. “You were right. This is a cool place.”

Simone glanced up with her food halfway to her mouth and froze, eyes wide.

“Hi Leo, I’m glad you approve. This is my friend Simone.”

“What’s up?” Leo smiled at Simone, but she didn’t say anything in return. She just kept staring, unblinking, her jaw practically hanging open.

Lexie gave her a light kick under the table causing Simone to spring back to life. “Hey.”

“I almost didn’t recognize you in normal clothes.” Leo gestured to someone in the direction of the pool tables.

Lexie craned her neck to try to see who, but couldn’t spot anyone she recognized. “Are the rest of the guys with you?”

“Yeah, they’re finishing up a game.”

A strange sound escaped from Simone’s throat. Something between a sigh and a dying cat. Lexie did her best to ignore her as she checked her own teeth in the back of a spoon.

“Here they come now. Do you guys care if we sit?”

“No.” Lexie managed after she slammed the spoon back onto the table. “The more the merrier.”

Leo pulled up a chair beside her at the same time David and Oliver sauntered up to the table. More introductions were made and when David looked at Simone, her color deepened to fuchsia. Lexie had to stifle a giggle. It was pretty overwhelming, she had to admit.

“So, what are you ladies out doing tonight?” David settled himself next Simone and stretched out the same way he had in the hospital. The man was comfortable no matter where he was.

“We’re celebrating actually. Simone got a new job.” Three heads swiveled in her direction. “And, she’s moving to L.A.”

“What’s the job?” David looked genuinely interested.

“I’m going to be a staff writer on a new show that’s in development. I’m moving out to L.A. at the end of the month.”

“You’re going to love L.A.” Leo then proceeded to tell her all about her future home.

While they chatted, Lexie dared a glance at Oliver. The snug white T-shirt he wore was enough to make her mouth dry, but tonight he also had his hair pulled back in a messy bun. The change made his eyes stand out. Eyes which locked on hers.

She jerked her gaze away from him and stood before she could start fantasizing about kissing him again. “I think the music’s about to start downstairs.”

Oliver stood. “Mind if we hang with you guys for a while?”

“No,” Simone cut in, “that’d be great.”

As Lexie started for the stairs hyperaware Oliver was to her right, her palms started to sweat. Outside the hospital was different. She was no longer on her turf and she didn’t know how to deal with Oliver or how to act around him. If it were anyone else, even the other guys, but with him . . .

“Do you want a beer or something?” Oliver touched her arm and sent a thousand bursts of energy loose underneath her skin.

“A vodka cranberry would be great, thanks.”

He turned and headed for the bar and she exhaled. Simone and Leo were chatting animatedly again as they waited for the local guy with the guitar to start. She wished like hell she could be as at ease with new people as Simone could.

“How’s Bailey doing?” David had silently come up beside her, his eyes trained on Oliver’s back. “He’s going to pull through this, right?”

Lexie nodded, understanding why he didn’t want to ask in front of Oliver. “The odds are in his favor.”

David’s gaze moved from her to the stage. “You know, I remember when we first started playing. We took gigs at college parties and in little bars like this. It was some of the most fun I’ve ever had.”

“You don’t like the big arenas and shows that you do now?”

“I do, but it’s different. Back before all the crazy, we used to come out and jam. Just play and fly by the seat of our pants, you know?” He turned sideways and leaned on the bar, eyes wide with excitement. “The audience was close enough to touch and they genuinely cared about the music. Now there’s a lot of smoke and mirrors and the stages are so big you feel really far away from the fans, almost disengaged.”

“That sounds disappointing.”

“In some ways it is, but then again we get to travel overseas and play for our fans all over the world and that’s pretty cool.”

“I guess you just have to find the best part of each stage of your career. If you’ll pardon the pun.”

He let out a little laugh. “I guess so.” David nodded toward the table where Simone and Leo were talking. “Simone seems great. You’re going to miss her.”

“I am. We’ve known each other a long time, but she’ll do well in L.A. It’s time for her to go out and live her dream.”

“You could always go with her and try something new. There are hospitals everywhere.”

“There are, but my life is here. And, this is her time. I wouldn’t want to get in the way.” He nodded, but didn’t share his thoughts with her.

“Here you go, Lexie,” Oliver handed her a drink. “So, what are you two talking about?”

“How we used to play in places like this.”

“Seems like a million years ago,” Oliver’s expression grew reminiscent. “Do you remember when that girl jumped from the railing over the security guards, ran across the stage, and then dove over the drums to get a shot at Leo?”

“That, my friend, was a crazy night,” David took a sip of his beer and grinned.

He shook his head, “Epic.”

“Don’t you guys have to worry about being recognized when you go out like this?”

“It’s not as bad here in Atlanta. No one expects to see us, so they don’t,” he shrugged. “Plus, without Bailey’s crazy ass with us we seem to blend in a little easier.”

At the mention of Bailey the mood shifted. The guys were putting forth a good face at the hospital, but now that they weren’t in front of Bailey, their worry showed.

“Hey,” she laid a hand on Oliver’s arm and gave a light squeeze. “He’ll be okay. Just keep doing what you’re doing.”

Oliver searched her eyes and swallowed, the motion of his Adam’s apple momentarily pulling her attention from his face to his neck. “Yeah, he will.”

Her eyes darted back to his at the emotion reflected in his voice. They held gazes, oblivious to those around them. It was happening again. The strange connection she’d felt in the parking deck, one she’d never shared with anyone else. And, just like before, it terrified her. Oliver was not the sort of man a girl, like herself, fell for. He was temporary. He was out of her league. He was . . .

The first chord sounded from the stage. Lexie withdrew her hand from Oliver’s arm as though caught doing something wrong, but before she moved very far he grabbed it and wove his fingers through hers.

“I’m glad you’re here.”

It was her turn to swallow.

She stared unbelieving at their interwoven fingers, his large hand protective around hers. This couldn’t be happening, and yet, it was. She could feel him as sure as she could feel the sun on her face. Warm and welcome. She met his eyes and dared to whisper, “Me, too.”

The night ended well into the early morning hours and she wondered if the bar hadn’t closed, if it would’ve gone on longer. Under normal circumstances, she would’ve been tired, but not tonight. Her mind was as restless as her body.

“Not a bad way to celebrate,” Simone flopped onto the couch in Lexie’s apartment. “I can’t believe we’d just hung out with Survival of the Fittest. Mark this down as the coolest night of my life.”

Lexie’s mind remained on Oliver and the way she’d felt sitting beside him, his laughter, and his hidden worry. She wondered where he was now. Had he gone up to the hospital to sleep? Returned to his Atlanta friend’s home? For some reason, hanging out with his friends had made her like him more. Maybe it was because they made him seem more real. Not just a singer or celebrity, but a real person with friends and a life. A real life. One other than what she saw on the covers of tabloids in the supermarket.

“Earth to Lexie, did you hear me over there?”

“Sorry.” She stopped rubbing her calf where it was propped up on the coffee table. “My mind wandered.”

“What are you thinking about over there? Oliver perhaps?” Simone flipped onto her stomach, smirking at Lexie from a better vantage point. “He seemed pretty cool, and I saw you guys talking.”

“He’s great, but we were talking about Bailey. He’s worried about him.”

“I don’t doubt it, but during all of the professional talk at what point did he take your hand?”

Lexie fell back against the cushions. Here we go.

“I’m not blind, you know.”

“I know you’re not and the truth is, I don’t know why he took my hand.”

Simone made a disbelieving noise. “Please. I know why. You’re hot. You’re single. He’s a man. I was just wondering what you thought about it.”

“I’m trying not to overthink it. And besides, he’s Oliver Honeycutt. In a couple of months, he’ll be gone.” She stood. “It was a fun night. We’ll just leave it at that.”

“Whatever you say.” Simone let the subject drop and rolled to her side. “Hey, do you care if I just crash on your couch? I’m too tired to drive home.”

“I’ll grab you some PJ’s.” Lexie returned to the living room and held out a T-shirt reflecting another concert they’d attended together and a pair of shorts with pink stripes.

Simone outstretched a hand and yawned. “Thanks for a fun night, bestie.”

“Anytime.”

Lexie crawled into bed, her body like Jell-O as she stared at her ceiling waiting for the sweet pull of sleep, but her mind wouldn’t turn off. Though she’d washed her face and hands, she would swear she still felt tingles where Oliver’s hand had been. Huffing out a sigh at her own foolishness, she rolled to her side and forced her eyes closed, but Oliver’s face was there. With it came a sense of longing, to see him again, to touch him. This was one schoolgirl crush that was going to end badly.

The rest of her time off passed too quickly, as usual, but instead of being filled with a sense of dread about going back to work she found herself strangely anxious. She didn’t have to wonder why, either. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Oliver. Of course, hanging out with him and his friends hadn’t helped.

She went through her usual routine and found herself smiling when she looked up at the board and found her name across from Honeycutt. Bailey’s chemo régime was in full swing and thanks to the charge nurse, she’d be able to check on him without having to make excuses. And, if she happened to run into Oliver . . .

When there was no answer after she knocked, she entered the room and found him asleep, but not alone. As she wrote on the marker board, she studied the lady resting in the chair by his bed out of the corner of her eye. She had to be his mother. They had the same mouth and skin tone. She must’ve sensed Lexie’s presence because her eyes fluttered open.

“Hi, I must have dosed off,” she stood with posture a queen would envy, and straightened her blouse. “I’m Cathy, Bailey’s mom.”

“I’m Lexie.” She moved to Bailey’s side mentally noting has pale skin. “How’s he doing this morning?”

“As well as can be expected. Must you wake him?” His mother sounded annoyed.

“I need to check his vitals, but I’ll be as gentle as possible. Maybe he can squeeze in a few more minutes of sleep before I get back with his meds.” As she went through her routine, she could feel Cathy’s eyes on her. She normally didn’t get nervous around family members, but for some reason Bailey’s mother put her on edge.