Reckless Abandon (November Blue, #2)(81)

“Mmhmm.” I drink down some of the warm coffee.

“Do you want to talk about what happened between the two of you?” He sits back and crosses his arms with a cautious grin on his

face.

“Eh, I happened. He happened. He’s not a bad guy, we were just all wrong for each other.” I don’t need to force my indifferent

tone. Adrian made it clear he didn’t want me in his life in any capacity when I left his apartment three months ago. My heart made

it clear long before that. Out I’ve stayed. “And,” I add, “you know...you.”

A full smile takes over his face. “Fair enough.”

“Can I ask what happened with you and Ainsley? Apart from the night of the concert...I still don’t want to know about that.”

Bo rolls his eyes and gives me a heavy sigh. “Nothing of consequence happened with Ainsley, November. She was there ...” He

shrugs.

“Fair enough.” I mock with a smile.

“And,” he teases, “you.”

“You’re good, Cavanaugh.”

“Also, your parents sent me a really nice card.” He smiles.

I smile. “They didn’t tell me that.”

Bo leans forward and places his elbows on the table. “When’s the last time you talked to them?”

I shrug. “A couple weeks, I guess? They’re writing songs for their album, recording, you know ...”

“Call your parents, November.” His eyes are sad. I nod.

“I will.”

I stand and walk over to Bo, who suddenly looks grey. Cautiously placing one hand on his shoulder, I breathe a sigh of relief when

he leans into it.

“You OK?” I ask softly.

“Yeah,” he sighs, “I just...sometimes I get these moments where I feel it all at once, you know? My parents...Rae...everything.

Sorry—”

“Don’t apologize, Bo. Rae just died,” I choke up as I continue, “it’s going to take a lot of time.”

“She loved the shit out of you, November.”

“I know,” I smile, “I loved the shit out of her, too.”

“Nice cuff, by the way,” he teases, rubbing the leather around my wrist.

“Hey, your drunk ass left it at my place, finder’s keepers. Do you want it back?”

“No. Rae got it for me for my birthday a few years ago. She’d love that you’re wearing it.”

Jesus.

“Are you sure?” I ask, suddenly uncomfortable.

Bo turns, kisses my wrist, and looks up at me with his absurdly beautiful blues.

“I’m sure.”

A few minutes later I’m standing at my car, delaying leaving. Last night and this morning were wonderful—everything I always

wanted for Bo and me. Now, I have to slip back into real life and hope this wasn’t a fluke.

“Hey, dream girl.” He snaps his fingers to pull me away from my daydream. I smile, thinking about him calling me that when we’d

only known each other for a few days. I was lost in a daydream then, too.

“Sorry, just a busy week ahead. Hey,” I bite my lower lip and smile, “do you wanna be my plus one for Josh and Mon’s wedding?”

Bo reaches for my waist and pulls me roughly to his body, laughing.

“I’ll be your plus one for a hell of a lot more than Josh and Monica’s wedding, November.”



*



The phone rings six times while I twist the cuff around my wrist.

Damn landlines without answering machines ...

“Blue Seed Studios, this is Willow.”

Of course it is.

“Hi, this is November Harris, I’m wondering if you’ve seen my—”

“November Blue?”

“Um, yes?” Isn’t it funny, when someone sounds overly enthusiastic you start to question yourself?

“Willow. Willow Shaw!”

“Hi Willow. Oh my gosh, how are you?”

Willow Shaw is the daughter of two of my parents’ bandmates, Solstice and Michael. Yeah. Michael Shaw. Bet his parents didn’t see

Solstice coming from a mile away. Anyway, even though the band was largely apart when we came along, our parents still traveled a

lot together. Willow and I spent a good part of our childhood as the only constant for each other. I haven’t heard from her since

my freshman year of high school.

“Excellent. Holy shit, yeah, your parents are in the studio, I’ll go get them. Hey, when are you coming out here? Your parents

have gone on and on about your voice, you’ve got to jam with us.”

As irritated as I would have been a few months ago by her voice and her general enthusiasm, she invigorates me somehow.

“Soon, I hope. That’s what I’m actually calling to talk to them about.” I can’t keep the smile off my face.

“Sweet, I’ll go get your parents.”

After a few seconds, my mom picks up. “Hey you!”

“Hey Mom.” My lip quivers instantly.

“What’s the matter, Ember?”

Breathe.

“I was hoping to come out and see you guys soon.”