Reckless Abandon (November Blue, #2)(73)

“I planned on it, unless you have something else in mind.”

I’ve been signing at a tiny jazz club on the outskirts of Boston on the weekends. I needed something new, something challenging. I

wanted to flex my singing muscles just outside the shadow of my parents. Jazz and soul are the ticket for me. I can still play the

guitar, but it sounds sexier somehow. Our house band took an indefinite break when, as promised, Regan headed back to Ireland two

days after Rae’s funeral. C.J.’s been the only one to speak to him and says he’ll be back eventually, but I doubt he will. I

wouldn’t if I were in his shoes.

Monica smiles and shakes her head. “I’m glad you have that. You’re so freaking good, like you could go on tour with ZZ Ward or

something. Seriously. I can’t come tonight is all. Josh’s brother is coming to town so we’ve got dinner plans.”

“It’s OK. So, what is it, exactly, that we’re doing at the flower shop today? I thought you had all the arrangements and

whatever picked out.” Poor Monica, I’m the least “in-the-know” person she could have chosen for maid of honor.

“I have to choose my flowers for the bouquet toss.” She sighs as though this is something we’ve been over, or that I should

know.

“Your what now?”

“I won’t toss my super expensive bouquet, you nitwit. You pick a smaller arrangement—”

“Ah, yes, to chuck at some unsuspecting girl’s forehead?” I roll my eyes and snicker.

“You laugh now, November. But my friend’s cousin, Daphne, used to catch the bouquet at, like, every wedding she went to.” She’s

dead serious as she tells this story.

“Oh did she, now? And, Ms. Pierce,” I flutter my eyelashes, “did this Daphne girl ever find her happily ever after?”

Monica grabs my face and plants a dramatic kiss on my cheek. “She did.”



*



As I sit amongst leaves and petals, my mind wanders. I try to rein it in as much as possible, but a stroll once in a while is

necessary. I think about Bo. A lot, actually—I just don’t make it hurt. He asked me not to call him, and I haven’t. I have,

however, been in semi-frequent contact with David Bryson for work purposes. Out of respect for Bo, I haven’t directly asked David

about him, but he has slipped unrequested information into our conversations.

“He’s coming along.”

“Yesterday was tough.”

“I sure miss seeing you around here, Ember. You should stop up and see the center again soon.”

Each time David has offered something about Bo it’s been at the end of our conversation, allowing me to deliver a polite “goodbye

” without addressing his information. He hasn’t said anything in a while. I try not to think about why.

I wander through the flower shop as Monica talks about ribbons with the florist, inhaling hydrangeas as I think about Bo’s music.

I hope he’s still playing.

“How about this ribbon, Ember?”

“It’s great, Mon.” I smile.

“OK, one more time with you actually looking at it.” I hear her rolling her eyes.

“Sorry,” I laugh, “let’s see. I love the champagne-colored one.”

“Awesome. Maybe you’ll be the one to catch it.” She winks and shares some sort of private laugh with the florist. I stick my

tongue out at her.

“I plan on hiding in the bathroom during that whole spectacle.”

After Monica finalizes her order, we drive her back to her apartment.

Monica starts to fidget. “So,” she asks nervously, “still no word, huh?” Monica tries not to ask about Bo too often. She fails,

beautifully.

“You say still as if I’ve been waiting around for him.”

“No, that’s not what I mean. It’s just...you are doingso well, I—”

“Spit it out, Mon.”

“I just wonder what it would be like if he...showed up.”

Hope. Her words surge hope through me and it tugs a cautious smile across my lips. I take a deep breath.

“It would be ...”

Monica places her head on my leg. “Yeah. That’s what I thought.”





Chapter Thirty-Four



Bo



I park in front of the tiny brick building and double-check the sign on the door.

Delta Blue. This is it.

I called earlier today to see when their open-mic acts go on. She won’t go first—she doesn’t like that—but I get here in time,

just in case. I don’t think I’m ready to see her face-to-face yet. Dr. Brown says I shouldn’t feel shitty about the way I

suspended things with us, but I do. Neither one of us wanted her to leave that day.

My days since then have gone back and forth between being a total mess and being functional. I still haven’t gone into Rae’s

room. I opened the door once—the day Ember left—but I slammed it shut and haven’t been back since. It was too much, seeing her

stuff just...there, and knowing she wouldn’t be. Anymore. Aside from the absolute f*cking hole my baby sister’s death has left,