Reckless Abandon (November Blue, #2)(19)

“I can’t believe how warm the Atlantic is sometimes,” Raven says as she stands to join me.

“That’s because this is Nantucket Sound.” I try to hide my laughter but don’t get very far.

Raven rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “It’s good to know there are some things yoga can’t erase—like your charming sarcasm.

”



*



Bo



“You’re absolutely not going, Bowan!” Rae follows me through the house.

“Get over yourself, Rae. I’m a damn adult and will do whatever I want.”

“I should have never told you she was playing this weekend ...” Rae shakes her head with her hands on her hips.

“No, I’m glad you heard that. I still don’t understand why she needed to have a private chat with Turner after the meeting.”

Apparently, not being at the meeting had its disadvantages.

Rae’s face blanches as she fills her chest with a contemplative sigh.

“What, Rae?” The hair on the back of my neck starts to rise. “Rae, you’re not telling me something.”

“It’s nothing. They’re friends, right? November and Adrian, I mean ...” She bites her lip.

I stand in solid silence, staring through her. My eyes narrow as she fidgets with her hands. Finally, she clicks her tongue in

defeat.

“I think I saw them holding hands.” Her mouth keeps moving, but fury heats my ears and I process nothing else.

“Bo!” Rae hollers as I fling my keys against the wall. “Listen to me. Ember saw me in the hallway after Adrian left. She smiled

and said goodbye. She didn’t look like she was hiding anything.”

Great.I tear my hands through my hair and pace to the kitchen. Rae follows.

“No, Bo. What I mean is, it looked completely innocent. If it wasn’t, wouldn’t she have hidden it or told me not to say

anything?”

She could be right. However, November is one of the most composed people I’ve ever met. If Rae saw something that November didn’t

intend for her to see, she wouldn’t so much as bat an eyelash. That, and anything involving Adrian Turner is far from innocent.

“What the hell am I supposed to do now?” I beg of my little sister as I sit at the kitchen table. I’ve never asked this question

of her before.

Rae smiles and sits next to me. “Leave her alone. You’ve made your intentions clear—you want to right your wrongs. Get out of

her face for five seconds.” She slaps her hand off my thigh. “Go to work Monday like a normal person, and don’t talk to her

again till you see her up here on Wednesday. Just. Relax. She loves you, she’ll come around.”

I know in my head that leaving it alone is the right and wise thing to do. My heart, however, is screaming, “Idiot!” It knows if

I give her space, no matter how small, it could be too much.

“Yo, Bowan, you in there?” Rae jerks my thoughts away from November’s hand in Adrian’s.

“Yeah.” I pull Rae’s tiny body into a hug. “Thanks for talking me off the ledge.” I kiss the top of her head before releasing

her.

“Thank God! What the hell would you do without me, you basket case?” She giggles.

“Ha! I have no idea, Rae.”

She leaves me alone to gather my emotional shit. I’ll dial it down, but I refuse to turn it off. I love November, and I don’t

intend to let her forget it.





Chapter Eight



Ember



“All right boys, what’s our set look like tonight?” I hop on stage and take my seat on the stool. We don’t play for another two

hours, but my parents and Adrian will be here; I want to nail it.

“Just a couple of songs with me, then you and Josh will do your folksy shit alone.” C.J. snickers. He wants to be in a rock band.

I wish he’d go find one.

“Oh, C.J., you know you love my folksy shit.” Josh slaps one of the cymbals as he walks past C.J.’s drum set.

We decide to start with some 70’s and early 80’s rock to appease C.J. before Josh and I take it away with our “folksy shit.” By

folksy, C.J. refers to Indigo Girls, Sheryl Crow, and artists like that. Josh is unbelievably talented at their guitar parts, and I

can hold my own with vocals.

“That was great guys,” Josh encourages as we finish our practice. “Keep that energy going later.”

C.J. and I slip backstage. I don’t want to see my parents before I go on, or I’ll get too nervous. Josh is out front doing his

manager stuff when Adrian sneaks through the backstage door.

“Hey you, what are you doing back here? Talent only.” I smirk as I hug him.

“Your parents are out front, I told them I’d come find you.”

Josh and Monica walk backstage, and Monica gives Adrian a top-to-bottom once over before casting her eyebrow skyward in my

direction.

“C.J., this is Adrian. Monica and I went to college with him.” I deflect Monica’s impending judgment.

“Nice to meet you, man.” C.J. shakes Adrian’s hand. “So, Rapunzel, is that dude gonna be here tonight?” Four of us in the room