by Sydney Logan
“Good. See? You and the groom should be able to handle all of that.”
Lynsey snorts. “The groom? You mean the guy who’s been MIA since the guest list was finalized? You haven’t met him, Skye, but trust me. He couldn’t be less interested in all this.”
“Well, he’s about to become interested, whether he likes it or not. Want me to—”
My mouth snaps closed when I finally spot my nephew. Sitting next to him is a man wearing a leather jacket with a Def Leppard T-shirt peeking through. He’s holding a guitar and showing Eli how to make a chord.
“Skye? Hello?”
“I’ll call you back.”
“But—”
I end the call without even saying goodbye.
My heart starts to pound as I watch the guy interact with Eli and the rest of the kids. He’s soft-spoken and patient, and when the kids strum their guitars in perfect unison, his face morphs into the most toe-curling smile I’ve ever seen on a man. Suddenly, he lifts his head and his eyes find mine.
“Wow,” I whisper.
“Handsome, isn’t he?”
I jump and turn to find Ms. Carol sitting next to me.
“Yeah . . . I mean, who?”
My face feels like it’s on fire.
She laughs. “Please don’t be embarrassed. Look around. Even the married women are having trouble keeping their eyes off my nephew.”
I glance at the women. She’s totally right. Every girl in the room has her eyes fixed on the guy in the guitar section.
“That’s your nephew? The one who’s taking your place?”
“That’s Caleb,” she says, pride lacing her voice. “I know he doesn’t exactly dress like a teacher, but he’s so talented and the kids love him.”
She’s right. He doesn’t look like a teacher at all. He looks like a rock star, with his grungy clothes and his jet-black hair that’s just long enough to curl around the nape of his neck. I can’t help but smile as Eli talks excitedly to his new music teacher, and I’m thankful the uncertainty and anxiety he was feeling yesterday seem to have disappeared. My heart melts as I watch Caleb place my nephew’s fingers on the fret board in some twisted fashion that looks really uncomfortable. But Eli just grins and strums his guitar, and the sound that escapes is almost as breathtaking as the excitement that shines on both their faces.
My phone suddenly vibrates in my hand. I halfheartedly glance down at the screen.
Possible meth bust. Might be late.
With a sigh, I toss my phone into my bag. It’s not like I mind taking care of Eli when Nick has to work late. I love it, actually. But lately, it seems that the station is keeping my brother from his son, and I can’t help but worry. I get that Nick has to work, but Eli needs his dad to do more than tuck him in at night. It’s a constant battle, but I’ll keep fighting, because my nephew needs someone fighting for him.
As class comes to an end, Ms. Carol gathers everyone around to officially introduce Caleb to the parents. Originally from California, Caleb is a graduate of Belmont and teaches high school music. He seems embarrassed as his aunt praises his music degrees and natural talent, but his smile remains on his face throughout her introduction. Caleb’s gaze sweeps the room as if he’s searching for someone, and my breath hitches in my throat when he settles on me.
We both jump when Ms. Carol asks Caleb if he’d like to say a few words. He clears his throat and smiles at the group, telling the parents how happy he is to be working with their kids. When class is finally dismissed, the mothers rush toward the new music teacher, shaking his hand and offering their business cards, just in case he ever needs to reach them. Equally disgusted and impressed with their blatant flirting—and far too shy to participate myself—I find Eli and all but shove him toward the door. He tugs on my hand.
“Aunt Skye, wait . . . I want you to meet Caleb.”
“Could I meet him later? He seems really busy, Eli.”
My nephew shakes his head and pulls me toward the mommy mob. I’m being ridiculous, I know. An hour ago, I was a happy, career-driven woman who didn’t need a man to make her life complete. Now I’m nervous and sweaty and acting like a girl with a high school crush.
Guess it doesn’t matter how old you are. Pretty boys make you stupid.
I sneakily rub my clammy palms on my slacks just as the seas part, and suddenly, I find myself staring into the deep blue eyes of the new music teacher.
Pretty boys are even prettier up close.
And we’re just staring at each other.
My totally oblivious nephew grows impatient with all the staring and starts making the introductions.
“This is my Aunt Skye.”
He offers me his hand. “Hey, Aunt Skye. I’m Caleb.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“Pleasure’s all mine.”
“Eli’s really excited that you’ll be taking Ms. Carol’s place for a while. I mean, he loves her, obviously, but we all understand that she needs this time away, and it’s good to know that he’s in good hands and we just really appreciate . . . everything.”
I’m babbling, but he’s nice enough to stand there and smile at me while I do.
And he’s still holding my hand.
“Do you like music?” Caleb asks.
“She’s obsessed with it,” Eli replies, and I’m suddenly reminded that there’s a ten year old standing between us. Caleb must realize it at the same time, because he loudly clears his throat and let’s go of my hand.
“Well, Eli is an excellent guitarist. I’m looking forward to working with him.”
“Thanks. We’re really proud of him.”
“You should be.”
Eli beams as Caleb pats him on the shoulder.
We stand awkwardly staring at each other for a few more minutes until Eli’s growling stomach breaks the spell. We all laugh.
“I should feed him. It was nice meeting you, Caleb.”
“Burger Palace?” Eli pleads.
Caleb chuckles. “They do have the best burgers.”
“You should come with us!”
Caleb’s eyes dart to mine.
“Umm . . .” Not that I have a problem spending more time with Caleb. I’m just not sure a trip to Burger Palace is his idea of a good time.
“I’d love to, if it’s okay with your Aunt Skye.”
Eli looks up at me with wide, hopeful eyes.
“Is it okay with my Aunt Skye?”
I laugh. “Sure, it’s okay.”
Caleb’s answering smile makes my body tremble in a way that it hasn’t trembled in . . . ever.
I’m in trouble.
We take separate cars to the restaurant. As soon as we pull into the parking lot, I dig my cell phone out of my bag.
“Eli, would you go grab us a table? Something by the window so I can see you. I just need to call Lynsey real quick and check on things at work.”
“Okay. Caleb’s cool, huh?”
On cue, a black Jeep Wrangler pulls into the empty spot next to us. Caleb waves at us. Without another word, Eli excitedly jumps out of the car and sprints to his music teacher’s side.
“Aunt Skye needs to call work,” Eli tells him. “She told me to get a table.”
I wave at the two of them before they head inside. With shaky breath and trembling fingers, I scroll for Lynsey’s number.
“I’m in trouble,” I mutter when she answers.
Lynsey immediately panics, but when I explain that it’s nothing serious—just a small crush on Eli’s music teacher—she screams in my ear.
“Thanks. Now I’m deaf.”
She laughs. “Sorry. It’s just been so long since you’ve been even remotely interested in a guy.”
“Don’t get excited. He could be married. Or gay.”
“Or totally available and straight. You don’t know! You and your glass-half-empty view on everything is exhausting.”
“Well . . .”
“Where are you now?”
I glance towa
rd the restaurant and spot Eli and Caleb through the window.
“We’re at Burger Palace.”
“We’re?”
“Eli invited him out for burgers.”
Lynsey squeals again.
“Okay, I’m hanging up before you cause permanent ear damage.”
“Call me after?”
I promise I will and toss my phone into my bag before walking into the restaurant. Caleb and Eli both jump to their feet when they see me.
“Let’s order,” Eli says, leading us toward the counter. Caleb and I grin at each other as my nephew orders three double cheeseburgers and fries.
“Could we eat outside?” Eli asks.
I glance outside at the deserted playground area. It’s deserted for a reason. It might be sunny, but the temp is barely above freezing.
“I don’t know, Eli. It’s kind of cold.”
“We all have coats.”
I hear Caleb chuckle, and I know I’m outvoted. When our food arrives, Caleb offers to carry the tray while Eli and I follow behind. Frosty air blasts across our faces as we head outside.
“This is very nice of you,” Caleb says quietly.
“I am physically unable to say no to the kid. And he knows it.”
Caleb laughs as the three of us sit down at one of the tables.
“So, Skye, you like music?” Caleb asks.
“She likes 80s hair bands,” Eli says.
Caleb smiles at me. “Is that right?”
I nod. “Anything 80’s really. Power ballads. New wave. I love it all.”
“That’s cool. I have a friend who’s the lead singer in an 80s cover band. They’re playing a set tomorrow night at The Boombox.”
“You should take Aunt Skye,” my helpful nephew suggests.
Is this kid seriously playing matchmaker?
“I should, huh?”
“Yep.” Eli crams the last of his burger into his mouth. “You guys talk about it. I’m gonna go slide. That okay?”
“Um, yes,” I mumble, completely mortified that he’s leaving me to deal with this embarrassing situation all by myself.
We watch as Eli climbs through the plastic tunnel that leads to the slide. He’s probably a little too old for this particular playground, but he’s small for his age. Besides, he spends most of his time playing his guitar or video games. I figure any physical activity is good.
“He’s a good kid, Skye.”
“He is. He’s had a rough year. We’re so thankful for guitar.”
I take a long drink of my soda and keep my eyes fixed on my nephew while he plays. If I’m lucky, maybe Caleb will forget all about Eli’s suggestion and we can finish our meal and pretend it never happened.
“So, about tomorrow night.”
No such luck.
“Eli’s just a kid. Please don’t take him seriously.”
He searches my face. “You don’t want to go?”
“That depends.”
“On?”
“Are you asking out of obligation to my nephew? Because if so, it’s really not necessary.”
“I don’t feel obligated. They’re a good band, and we both like 80s music. We should go enjoy it . . . if you’d like.”
I take a deep breath. “I’d like.”
Caleb smiles. “Me, too.”
It only takes one knock on Lynsey’s door before it flies open and I’m hauled inside. I hear Toby laughing from his desk in the corner as his wife pulls me toward the couch and starts the interrogation.
“What’s his name? What’s he like?”
“Hello to you, too. And yes, a glass of wine would be fantastic.”
After dropping Eli off at his dad’s, I remembered that I’d promised to have dinner with Lynsey and Toby tonight. After my rollercoaster afternoon, all I wanted to do was go home and think. Everything happened so fast, and I had no idea how I went from happily single to OMG-I-have-a-date in the span of a couple hours.
Toby suddenly appears with two glasses and a bottle.
“You talk. I’ll pour,” he says.
I smile in thanks as he fills the glass halfway. After taking a slow slip, I begin to recount the events of my crazy afternoon. The two of them listen intently as I tell them how my ten-year-old nephew played matchmaker and that we’re going out tomorrow night to listen to his friend’s band.
Lynsey screams.
I sigh and turn to Toby. “Does she scream like that in the bedroom?”
“No, and I’m a little jealous, to be honest. But it’s probably for the best. The neighbors already think she’s nuts.”
“They’re so uptight. Who cares if I check the mail in my robe?”
“It was transparent, sweetheart.”
“Once! That happened once!”
I shake my head. They both have ADHD.
“Hello? Skye’s having a nervous breakdown here!”
“Why?” Toby asked, confused. “You’ve dated since . . . him.”
Yes, my ex is like Voldemort. We never ever say his name.
“Because she likes him,” Lynsey says. “It’s been a long time since she’s liked anyone. Of course she’s going to be nervous. Just don’t be so nervous that you don’t have a good time. What kind of music does the band play?”
“It’s an 80s cover band.”
Toby quickly clasps his hand over his wife’s mouth to drown out the scream. I down the rest of my wine.
“You love the 80s. It’s fate,” she whispers.
“It’s not fate. It’s . . . I don’t know what it is.”
Lynsey sighs dreamily. “You really like him.”
“I don’t even know him.”
“And you still like him.”
I can’t deny it, and she grins triumphantly.
“Now, the most important question,” she says. “What are you going to wear?”
“Hmm. I was thinking fingerless gloves and leg warmers.”
Toby laughs as his wife’s face turns pale.
Caleb and I agreed to meet at the club, giving me even more incentive to place this evening in the not-really-a-date category. Lynsey called me a pessimist but agreed that arriving separately was a good idea. If the night is a complete bust, at least I’d have my car and could make a quick getaway.
As I walk toward the club entrance, I wonder what possessed me to think this was a good idea. I hate dating. Absolutely, positively despise it. Dating is full of uncertainty and heartache for everyone involved. Always the romantic, Lynsey truly believes we have soulmates, but if that’s true, why can’t we avoid this whole dating thing and just find The One? If it’s all pre-destined anyway, why can’t we all live happily ever after sooner rather than later?
The brokenhearted cynic in me knows the answer. There’s no such thing as soulmates.
“Hey.”
I gasp and spin around.
Caleb grins. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to sneak up on you.”
He’s just too handsome. No one can possibly look this good in a solid black T-shirt and jeans, but he does.
I try to slow my racing heart. “Hey.”
“You look so pretty, Skye.”
“Thanks.”
I hadn’t really been serious about the fingerless gloves and leg warmers, but after that joke, Lynsey didn’t trust me to dress myself. She raided my closet, and we finally settled on a plum-colored tunic and jeans. Comfortable and casual, just in case this isn’t really a date and simply two people meeting at a club to listen to music.
Caleb places his hand on my elbow and steers me toward the doors. “Have you ever been here?”
I shake my head. My arm is literally tingling where he’s touching me.
“You’re gonna love it.”
He’s right. I love it as soon as we step inside, because Dead or Alive’s You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) is streaming from the jukebox.
Totally appropriate. I do feel a little dizzy.
Without even realizing it, I start to sing along.
“Told ya.�
�� Caleb grins and leads me to a table near the stage.
I’m surprised we get such a good spot, considering the place is already pretty packed. Caleb nods at the bartender before holding my chair out for me. His sweet politeness only causes my dizziness to get worse, so I thank him and take my seat before I fall and make a total fool out of myself.
A waitress appears to take our drink orders.
Caleb looks my way. “Skye?”
“Oh. Um, something diet.”
She nods and shoots Caleb a sexy grin before walking away. My eyes narrow.
“What’s wrong, Skye?”
He isn’t even looking at her. He’s looking at me, and it’s doing crazy things to my heart.
I come up with a lie. “You didn’t order a drink.”
“I’m here all the time and I always get the same thing. You’ll learn quickly that I’m pretty boring and predictable.”
“I seriously doubt that.”
He grins and hands me a menu. “I recommend the chicken tenders, but feel free to get whatever you like. Everything’s good.”
The band takes the stage to warm up just as the waitress returns. It gets a little loud, prompting Caleb to scoot his chair closer to mine. The waitress still tries to flirt, but when he doesn’t even notice—or at least pretends not to—she finally takes the hint and takes our orders before walking back to the kitchen.
I nod toward the stage. “So, which one is your friend?”
“The lead singer. His name’s Jesse. And before you ask, he absolutely refuses to cover Rick Springfield.”
“He’s missing a golden opportunity there,” I reply, nodding toward the group of girls who are practically climbing over each other to get closer to the stage. “I bet somebody in that crowd would love to be Jesse’s girl.”
We smile at each other, and his eyes flicker down to my lips. We’re sitting so close, and it’d be so easy . . .
“I WANNA ROCK!”
Electric guitar chords rip through the air, causing us to jump as the band starts to play. The crowd goes wild as Jesse works the stage while he sings the Twisted Sister song. Talking is impossible, but the music’s decent, so it’s hard to be too disappointed. The waitress arrives with our food just as the song changes to one of my favorites.
Caleb leans close. “Quick. Name the song and artist.”