The Rules of Dating My Best Friend's Sister(109)

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The following morning, I was lying in bed, kicking around the idea of driving up to Philly this weekend to lay my heart on the line with Lala, when my phone buzzed from the end table. It was our manager, Daisy. I read the message in preview and frowned.

Daisy: Hope no one has any plans for the weekend…

Lately, her timing had really sucked.

Though if that wasn’t fate telling me not to profess my love to Lala, I wasn’t sure what was. I sighed and went to type back. But when I unlocked my phone and it opened to the full text, I realized there was more to the message.

Daisy: Hope no one has any plans for the weekend. There’s a new club owned by a group of celebrities that’s impossible to get booked at. One of the owner’s daughters saw you play recently and told her father he needs to get you guys on stage.

Before I could respond, my bandmates typed back.

Dylan: I’m in. Where we heading?

Monroe: Could be Pluto for all I care. I’m in.

Our manager responded.

Daisy: It’s a little more convenient than Pluto. It’s in Philadelphia.

I sat up, feeling adrenaline pump through my veins. Maybe fate had other plans after all…

Holden: Definitely in.

Once we’d all responded, Daisy sent through the details for the Saturday-night gig. Still feeling the high of the coincidence, I couldn’t wait to text Lala.

Holden: Hey. We just booked a show for Saturday night in Philly. I’m stoked to play back home, but even more stoked to see you. We’re the first act, so we should be on by nine and done by ten or ten thirty. Come to the show, and we can skirt out.

I didn’t even put down my phone as I waited for her to respond.

Lala: Oh that’s great. I’ll try to make it.

Try?

It felt like I’d been listening to the theme song from Rocky, ready to run up the stairs to grab my girl at the top, when suddenly the needle screeched to a sudden halt.

I typed back.

Holden: Do you already have plans?

I watched the dots jump around, then stop for a minute or two, before finally starting again.

Lala: Just some work I need to catch up on.

At nine o’clock on Saturday night, which was four days away? She couldn’t even figure out a way to free up a few hours with that much notice? Whatever optimism I’d felt sank like lead to the bottom of my stomach.

This is it. The beginning of the end.

She might as well have told me she had to wash her hair. Though something inside of me was afraid to call her out on it, for fear she’d just end things now. I needed to at least see her one last time if this was where it was heading. So I sucked it up.

Holden: Okay. Have a good day.

Her response was a smiley face, a damn emoji.

Over the next few days, I spent a ridiculous number of hours contemplating how I should handle things. I bounced back and forth between professing my undying love and making her life easier by being the one to formally break things off so she could have her freedom. My head was a fucking wreck. The only thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to do the right thing by Lala, not make things harder on her.

In the end, I decided I needed to see her in person to figure out what that right thing was. So I drove up a day early without telling her, hoping that catching her off guard would help me make the decision. I wanted to see how she reacted when she opened the door after not seeing each other for three full weeks.

My heart started to pound when I pulled up in front of her apartment Friday evening. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead and upper lip as I walked up the path, though it wasn’t the slightest bit warm out. Standing at her door, I wiped my hands on my pants and took a deep breath.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

But it wasn’t Lala who opened.

It was…her mother.

I tried to hide my disappointment and act polite. “Oh. Hey, Mrs. E.”

“Holden? Laney didn’t mention you were coming.”

I shoved my hands into my jeans pockets. “That’s probably because she doesn’t know. I thought I’d surprise her.”

“Oh. Well, she’s not home right now. I’m waiting for a delivery that was supposed to come earlier this afternoon, but the shipping company got a flat tire and said they were going to be a few hours late.”

“Is Lala still at work?”

Mrs. E shook her head. “She had a doctor’s appointment and then some errands to run.”

“Oh. Okay.” I forced a smile. “So much for surprises. But I’m glad I got to see you, Mrs. E. You look great.”

“Would you…want to come in for a cup of tea, maybe? It’ll probably be a few hours before Laney is back, but perhaps we could catch up for a few minutes?”

“Sure. Of course.”

I’d practically lived at the Ellison’s house when I was a kid. Yet I suddenly felt awkward. That might’ve had something to do with being certain she’d invited me in to tell me to keep the hell away from her daughter.

We made small talk as she filled the teapot and got everything ready, and I did my best not to sweat rings under the armpits of my shirt.

“Here we go…” Mrs. E set two mugs down on the kitchen table and took the seat across from me. She smiled warmly. “My husband said he might stop by to keep me company. So we might not have too long with just the two of us. I hope you won’t mind if I speak candidly and don’t beat around the bush.”