Emma just stared into her coffee cup.
“Pay attention. From everything you’ve told me about Marc, he doesn’t seem like the type of guy to swim in those waters. He’s fixing up his house. He talks about his family. He’s been willing to put up with you even though you refused to tell him your name. Does that sound like a guy lusting after groupies? Honey, he could have tossed you out any time but he didn’t. Think about it.”
Emma glanced out the big window looking over the backyard. Was Annie right? Had she just jumped to a conclusion because it was what she expected? She’d told herself all along the joy ride would be over soon. Had she deliberately misread what she’d seen?
Was she a coward who ran from confrontation? Maybe the reason she refused to tell Marc her name was because all along she’d been taking a moment in time to step into a life she could never have. Maybe believing underneath it all that she really couldn’t change. Or just playing a game with Marc all along, only he didn’t know it. Or she’d just set herself up for failure….
She wasn’t seeing a very pretty picture of herself.
“I’m sure Marc feels like shit today,” Annie went on. “Especially since he probably expected you to at least give him the courtesy of an explanation. Think how hurt he must be?”
“I don’t want to think about how he feels.” Emma knew she sounded like a petulant child but she couldn’t seem to help herself.
“Yes. You do.” Annie reached over and touched her arm. “Honey, I know how badly you’re hurting, but don’t you think you at least owe him the chance to explain? Then if he turns out to be a rotten bastard, I’ll personally help you kick his ass clear across the country.”
Emma gave a weak laugh. “Sounds good to me.”
“So, not to get off track here but how was the concert?”
“Oh, Annie, it was fantastic.” For a moment, all the pain and hurt subsided and she was back at the Amphitheatre, caught up in the enchantment of the night. The excitement. The vibrancy of the music. And Marc, totally absorbed in what he was doing, at one with his magical bass guitar.
“God, Annie, you should have seen them. They were unbelievable. And Butch Meredith went out to talk to them even before they walked off stage.”
“That’s fabulous. He’s made superstars out of Deep Blue River. Honey, this could be the big break every band works for.”
“I know.” She sighed. “And I’m really glad for them. I just wish….”
“Want to see if any of the blogs have picked up the word yet?” Annie grinned.
“Oh, Annie, I don’t think I’m up for anything right now.”
“Sure you are.” Annie rose and tugged Emma up from her chair. “Underneath it all you’re dying of curiosity. Right?”
“Dying of something,” she agreed. “Are you sure I can’t just go back to bed?”
“Not for one minute. Where’s your laptop?”
“In my room.”
“Then let’s get it.”
Reluctantly, very much aware of her bruised heart and drained body, Emma trudged to her bedroom and grabbed her laptop case. Before she even realized what was going on, she was sitting cross-legged on the bed with Annie and her friend’s fingers were flying over the keyboard.
“All right,” Annie crowed suddenly. “There it is. Look.” She turned the computer at an angle so Emma could get a better look.
The heading on the screen read Music Musings Around the City. Emma squinted at the words.
“The formal announcement has yet to be made but informed sources have told Musings hot local band Lightnin’ is about to hit their breakout moment. After a stellar performance last night as the opening act for Deep Blue River, rumor has it they are about to sign a contract with River’s manager, Butch Meredith. We hear a concert tour and a CD are in the immediate future. Stay tuned.”
“Ohmigod!” As badly hurt as she was, Emma still felt a surge of excitement for Marc and the others. But that means he’ll be leaving. How will I ever get to see him?
“Indeed.” Annie began scrolling through other pages. “Man, it’s all over the Web. Those guys must be in the stratosphere. Listen.” She turned to Emma. “You have to get in touch with Marc and congratulate him. And at least give him the chance to make this right.”
Emma nibbled on a thumbnail. “I just don’t know, Annie.”
“Sometimes I could just smack you.” Annie blew out a breath of disgust. “You have to give him a chance, honey. You told me there was something strong between you. Don’t throw it away because you don’t have the courage to face him. Or are you afraid of what he offers?” She cocked her head. “Are you scared of becoming Music Lady for real? Having something solid with him? Emma, this is your chance. Your big opportunity. Hey, maybe you can even pull out those notebooks you’ve been scribbling in for years and try your hand at writing the way you want to.”
“I’ll…think about it.” She looked at her bedside clock.
Annie eyes took on a thoughtful look. “Here’s another option for you. Keeping your name secret was to give you an out if this fell apart. So you could go back to your old life. No harm, no foul. Is that what you want to do, Emma? Go back to the way things were? Was the new life too much for you?”
Emma looked at her horrified. “Hell, no. That’s like a living death.”
A tiny smile curved Annie’s lips. “Then you aren’t left with a whole lot of options, are you?”
Silence settled over them while Annie waited patiently and Emma churned everything in her mind. She glanced at the bedside clock. “Hey. How come you’re not at work?”
Annie worked as a paralegal for one of the partners in a large law firm in the city.
“When
