Page 81 of Embracing the Beat
“No. I took a few others, but this one has never worked out, especially when I lived in Pittsburgh.”
I cover his hand with mine, interlacing our fingers. “I’m excited to do this with you.”
He stares at me, eyes sparkling. “Me too.”
The tour is mostly families, and West and I appear to be the youngest adults in the group. He knows the tour guide from a seminar they both went to, and he spends most of the walks between the stops discussing some of the new tours being planned and even gets invited to join a historical society group on Facebook.
He glows with joy when he talks about the history of each building, of the places we pass by. He laughs when one of the little boys asks him if he’s a tour guide too, the rich sound unfurling warmth in my belly that spreads to my heart.
As a child, I loved West, the older brother figure who was always nicer to me than my actual older brothers. But this is different. After spending time with him like this over the last few weeks, I can’t help but fall in love with West, the man. I suck in a breath as the word takes shape in the swirling emotions. Love.
The man in question meets my eyes, studying me like he knows what I’m feeling, what I’m thinking. Like my innermost thoughts are written all over my face. When my phone pings with a text, I step away from the rest of the group to read the message from Mia.
MIA: You have an appointment next week with Michael Pryce of Allied Entertainment Law.
MIA: Wednesday at 11:00 AM.
MICHAELA: What?!
MIA: I asked Garrett to look into entertainment lawyers in LA since I’m not there. We need to get you away from Reverb.
The sting of tears burns my nose. Mia doesn’t even know the full story, and she’s fighting for me. Sniffling, I key in a response.
MICHAELA: Mi! You didn’t have to do that.
MIA: I know I didn’t have to. But you’re my friend. And that place is making my friend miserable.
MICHAELA: Thank you.
MICHAELA: Is there a number I need to call Wednesday or are they calling me or…?
MIA: It’s a lunch meeting at California Burger Bar.
I’m already working on my response when she texts me the address.
MICHAELA: I don’t have a way of getting to LA. And my credit card will have a stroke if I try to charge a ticket this close.
MIA: Already took care of that too. Check your email for your ticket information.
MICHAELA: MIA!!! I’m paying you back as soon as I can. You shouldn’t have done that!
MIA: Evie found the deal on the ticket, so thank her. And as for the money, no, you’re not.
MICHAELA: Yes, I am.
MIA: We can argue about it in person later.
MICHAELA: *eye roll emoji* Don’t think I won’t.
MICHAELA: In person?
MICHAELA: Are you back in LA?
MIA: No. *sad emoji* And Garrett is out of town next week too.
MIA: I didn’t want you to be all alone at the house, so I booked you a hotel room.
MICHAELA: Mia. I can find my own place to stay.
