Page 46 of Last Night Was Fun

“Okay, so. Since the wedding is now short notice and a travel commitment, you need to lead with that. Obviously, you guys are going to need to meet in person before you bring him as a guest, so it will be a natural progression.” Beth sipped her red wine that was the same color as her leggings.

“But what if he wonders why I waited so long?” Emmy asked, her voice full of nerves. “The last conversation we had was me telling him I’m not ready to meet, and now I’m asking this enormous favor of him at the last minute.”

Beth held out a hand, considering. “True, but you said he said he’s willing to go door-to-door to find you, so I somehow doubt he won’t jump on a romantic getaway.”

“Favor,” Emmy corrected.

“Mm-hmm. Call it what you want,” Beth said with a casual flip of her hand. “Now, let’s do this.”

Emmy took a steadying breath. “Okay. Where do I suggest we meet?”

Beth held up a finger and sipped her wine again. “Someplace public, obviously. Neutral territory. Safe. I mean, the guy’s name is Axe Murderer, so there’s a chance this could all still go to shit.”

Emmy frowned at her. “That name was a joke.”

“You invited me over for my expertise. Take it or leave it.”

“Fine. I agree. Public and neutral is a good idea. How about Balboa Park?”

“Perfect.”

“But he’s not going to murder me. I know him too well for that now.”

Beth did a little shimmy dance on her way to the couch. “Well, then let’s do this so you can get to know him even better.” She sat beside Emmy and encouragingly nudged her with her shoulder.

Emmy took a deep, full breath, centering herself for one of the most frightening things she’d ever done, and unlocked her phone screen. She tapped the message icon with a shaking thumb.

“Come on, you can do it. Just like we practiced,” Beth hummed in her ear.

Emmy braced herself and typed out the message they’d planned.

Hey, Axe Murderer. So, I need a favor. Absolutely no pressure to accept, but I need to travel to a wedding this weekend and I’m wondering if you’d like to come as my date.

She hit send and immediately locked her screen and threw her phone across the room.

“Hey!” Beth cried and went to retrieve it from the armchair where it had landed. “That wasn’t part of the plan!”

Emmy flopped over and buried her face in a throw pillow. She groaned into it. “Ugh, Beth! I can’t do this! What am Ithinking?” She wanted to take it back. She wanted to unsend the message and pretend it had never happened.

Beth clucked, and Emmy felt the couch shift when she sat back down. “Well, you have to do it now because he already responded.”

Emmy sat up with a start. The pillow had filled her hair with static that left strands floating eerily beside her head like she’d been electrocuted. “He did?”

“Yep. Now unlock this thing so we can see the rest of the message.” She shoved Emmy’s phone in her face so she could see the message preview. Her heart lifted at the sight that at least the first few words weren’t an immediate no.

Emmy took the phone and unlocked it. Beth rested a calming palm on her arm that was visibly shaking with nerves.

“You’re doing great, Em.”

Emmy took another breath and opened the message.

Hey, Bird Girl. I’ve missed you. This certainly sounds intriguing.?

Emmy read it and immediately turned to Beth to interpret.

“Um, hemissed you? Em, if you don’t land this guy, I will,” she said from where she leaned over her shoulder.

Emmy huffed a little laugh, feeling her heart swell at his message.