Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 73930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Why are Kelly and Lindsey here, and where did they go? Did Lindsey come to cause more trouble? I’m reassured by the presumption that Duke is with them. Maybe he told Lindsey to leave, taking on his bouncer role even though he doesn’t work here.
A glance at my watch tells me I have a few more songs to go until I take a break. I get through them, though I’m not as focused as I should be, and I hope it’s not obvious to everyone who’s listening.
There’s more applause when I thank the crowd and tell them I’ll be back shortly, and I’m filled with the strangest combination of a warm glow and cold dread.
Barrett Stone approaches as I’m pulling my guitar strap over my head. “That was great, Autumn! Everyone’s loving the music.”
“Really? That’s good.”
“Absolutely. Before you leave later, come talk to me about future dates.”
Future dates! More performances! My heart is pounding with both excitement and fear as Barrett walks off and I look around the room for signs of Lindsey or Duke.
Trevor and Adrian appear, also full of excited compliments. “Do you want something to drink?” Trevor asks after listing his favorites from the songs I played.
“Where are Duke and Garrett, and what’s Lindsey doing here?”
“You don’t need to worry about Lindsey,” Trevor says.
“Is she still here?”
“I don’t know. We can look.” He turns toward the bar’s front entrance, and Adrian and I follow him, Adrian taking my hand as we navigate through the crowd.
“Over there!” I tap Trevor’s shoulder with my free hand and gesture to the end of the bar, where Duke is in conversation with Lindsey and Garrett is scanning the room. When he spots me, he heads straight toward us.
As soon as we reach each other, I say, “What’s she doing here?”
Garrett looks over his shoulder, then back at me. “Kelly brought her here. I don’t know why Lindsey came, but I think Kelly brought her so that you could talk to her. We got to her first, though.” He looks fairly triumphant.
“And what’s going on? What’s she saying?”
“You don’t need to talk to her now,” Garrett says. “You’re just on a break, aren’t you? Don’t let her mess up your night. Duke and I have it handled.”
“I can talk to her.”
Adrian, who’s still holding my hand, gives it a squeeze. “We’ve got your back.”
“I know.”
Lindsey and Duke are watching me as I march over to them. My emotions are on a roller coaster ride tonight, and right now they’re approaching the peak of anger. The sight of Lindsey takes me right back to yesterday morning when I discovered my ruined guitar.
“Did you come here to admit what you did?” I say, wasting no words once I’m in front of her. Duke and Garrett are on either side of me, and I can feel the presence of Trevor and Adrian behind me.
She has a sheepish expression on her face, but there’s still defiance in her eyes.
When she hesitates, Garrett says, “Go on.” His tone is more commanding than I’ve ever heard it.
“I’m sorry I broke your guitar,” Lindsey says finally, not meeting my eyes.
“Destroyed my guitar,” I clarify.
“Yes, destroyed it. And your new outfit.”
“Why did you do it?” Here, my anger gives way to hurt. I’d known it was her, of course, but the confirmation stings. I’d considered her a friend as well as a roommate, and it’s painful and bewildering that she could do what she did.
With a small shrug and a look to the side, she avoids my question.
“Tell her what we talked about,” Garrett prompts.
“I’ll pay you back,” Lindsey says, sounding like a petulant child.
“We told her how much the guitar was worth. How much does she owe you for the clothing?” Duke asks.
“I spent seventy dollars on the outfit.”
“Add a hundred to the amount we discussed,” Garrett says. “And if Autumn doesn’t see it in her bank account by the end of the month, she’ll take you to court.”
Even with all of the noise in the bar, the whine in Lindsey’s voice comes through. “I don’t have that much right now.”
Garrett glares at her. “You should have thought about that yesterday before you damaged her personal property.” Turning to me, he asks, “Do you have anything more to say to her, Autumn?”
I shake my head. I want to scream at her, but this isn’t the place, nor is it my style. Something will probably come to mind later that I’ll regret not saying, but right now, I’m done with her, and I’m so grateful to the guys for confronting her so that I didn’t have to. As long as she pays me back, I can put this all behind me and try to forget about it.
As if reading my mind, Duke says, “This is a small island. I know your family, Lindsey, and I happen to know the owners of the company you work for. If you don’t pay Autumn for the damage, I’ll have a talk with some people.”