Sway (19 page)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

The smell of burnt vegetables infused the air of the kitchen. I opened a window and tried to shoo the smoke out with my hands. Staring at the blackened mess of a pan on the stove, I sighed. After Eric and I broke up a lifetime ago, I’d decided to stop being the spoiled little rich girl and learn to cook for myself.

I tossed the pan into the sink. I still sucked at cooking. Abandoning the recipe that was obviously way too gourmet for me, I searched through the fridge and decided on deli sandwiches and fresh veggies. At least I couldn’t burn anything. Probably.

Bach’s “Cello Suite” resonated through the kitchen. The song reminded me of Kaz. I could picture him with his eyes closed, manically stroking the cello strings with his bow. He used to say that “Cello Suite” was overdone and cliché, but that didn’t stop him from playing it in the privacy of our home.

My cell rang, interrupting the music. Juggling mustard and mayo in one hand, I picked up my phone to see who was calling. It was the home number at Kellynch.

“Hello?” I said, expecting to hear Sophia on the other end.

“Ava?”

The mayo and mustard bottles fell to the floor. The cap of the mustard popped open, squirting yellow sludge across the kitchen tiles.

“It’s Eric.”

My hands started to sweat. I gripped the phone tighter, worried it too would slip from my fingers.

“Oh, hi.” I grabbed some paper towels and bent down to clean up the mess.

“Hi.” He paused. “How are you?”

“I’m good.” I was anything but good. “You?” The mustard swirled into a Van Gogh night sky under the napkin.

“Yeah, great.” His voice picked up speed. “Listen, the band’s playing at the Santa Monica Jazz Fest. Will you come?”

It took me a second to process his question, what with his rapid-fire speech combined with my molasses-soaked brain.

“Yes. Definitely. I’d love to come see you. Guys. The band.” I closed my eyes and scrunched my face, wishing for more cool and less stupid.

“Great.” I couldn’t tell whether he meant that or not. “Sophia and Richard will be there. And Lacey, of course. She’s never seen Sam perform.”

I tossed the paper towel in the garbage and grabbed a cloth instead. “He’s back in the band?” I asked, running the cloth under water.

“Yep. Adam too. He was waiting until Sam was ready to come back.”

“Is Lacey up for it? Crowds and noise and all that?”

“From what Sam and her parents said, it sounds like she’s recovered.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. I was so worried about her.”

“Me too.”

I waited for him to say how upset he was for losing his girlfriend to someone else. The mustard all cleaned up, I rinsed the cloth and replaced the bottles on the counter.

“Charlie and Mari will be there too,” was all Eric said.

“Okay.”
Tell me how you feel about Lacey
, I begged with my mind. He didn’t get the memo.

“You can… You can bring someone if you want.” Eric’s voice had gone low, uncomfortable. “Richard’s going to reserve a section up front for everyone. It’s standing room only so there’ll be room for…whoever.”

“Oh.” I fiddled with the mustard bottle. “Lexi would love to go, I’ll see if she’s free. And I should probably invite my sister, Beth, just because.” She had invited me shopping after all. I didn’t want to stop the flow of this newfound if awkward sisterly love.

“Great.” This time he sounded like he actually meant it. He gave me the details of the jazz fest and I jotted them down on a notepad.

“I guess I’ll see you then,” Eric said.

“Yeah.” We were both silent. There was so much I wanted to say. “Hey, Eric?”

“Yeah?”

I paused. “Thanks for inviting me. I’ve always wanted to see you guys live.”

He didn’t respond. I ached to know what was going through his mind.

“So, um, thanks again. Bye.”

“Bye, Ava.”

* * * * *

My nerves on the morning of Eric’s concert were out of control. Shaky hands, sweaty palms, heart beating at hummingbird speed. It felt like I was the one about to perform in front of thousands instead of watching from the audience.

I took an early morning swim in the ocean to help calm down. The cool water shocked my skin as I propelled my arms forward and kicked my legs, swimming out to the endless middle. Even though my heart pumped just as fast as before, my mind emptied, and I was able to forget about Eric for a while.

Beth agreed to come because she had “nothing better to do anyway.” Even though she seemed to have lost some of her enthusiasm for Shelby, her friend was still around, living at our house, mooching off us, and of course coming to the concert too. When I found out, I let it go. At least Shelby wouldn’t be home alone with Dad. Beth thought she had a secret boyfriend, but Shelby hadn’t quit fawning over my dad or parading her skimpy outfits past him.

Beth sped her convertible down the Pacific Coast Highway, from Malibu to Santa Monica. I let her drive because I was too high strung to take the wheel. Of course, the way she drove didn’t calm me down any. When we arrived, we flashed the passes Richard Croft had couriered over, allowing us into the private section up front. We were the last of our group to arrive.

“I can’t believe you haven’t come with me to get a dress yet,” was the first thing Mari said. “It’ll be all your fault if I end up looking hideous.”

I wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into something that was almost a choke-hold. “You never look hideous. Besides, isn’t Lacey picking out the bridesmaids dresses?”

“She’s letting us choose. It’s way too much pressure.”

Charlie rolled his eyes.

“How’ve you been?” I asked him. He groaned.

“Nice of you to grace us with your presence,” Mari said to Beth, ignoring Shelby.

“Weddings are the devil,” Charlie said. “It’s been awful.”

“Awful? Awful?” Mari’s voice rose in pitch, threatening to drown out the band currently on stage. “You just hide out all day playing your games while my fingers have cramped from tying thousands of bows on those chocolate boxes.”

“You mean,
we’ve
been playing video games,” Charlie said. “You got the nanny to tie bows for you last night, remember?”

“What?” I asked. Mari hated video games.

Mari looked a bit guilty at being outed. “Yeah, Charlie got this game where you start with one small store but then you can build more until you have an entire shopping mall.” She waved her hands about as she explained. “You attract customers and you can choose what to buy and sell, put on sales, and you can play against other people. It’s really cool.”

“Really,” I said.

“He’s getting another one he said I’d like, but I want to get higher up on this one first.”

Charlie looked pleased with himself, but he deserved to. This game didn’t sound like his usual thing, but at least he’d found a way to connect with his wife—doing something he loved but that she could enjoy too.

“It’s too bad all this wedding stuff is getting in the way,” Mari said, “or I’d be on level twenty by now.”

“The Musgrove’s didn’t hire anyone?” I asked.

“A wedding planner. But she can’t do everything and Lacey’s all about doing things organically. Whatever
that
means,” Mari mumbled. “It’s a wedding, not a produce aisle.”

“Where is Lacey?” I asked, searching the crowd.

“She’s with the band, with Sam,” Sophia said, joining our group. “Richard’s there as well.”

Around us, crowds of people sat on the grass bobbing their heads to the music, while others stood and swayed back and forth to the beat. A few couples were even swing dancing, a group of spectators gathered in a circle around them to watch. The band on stage was an all-female jazz trio, the girl at the piano belting out “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing” while the other two worked the double bass and drums.

I took a deep breath, taking in the atmosphere and the California heat sticking to my arms and legs. As my family chatted around me, I settled onto a blanket. My face lit up. It was going to be a perfect day.

Sophia sat beside me, stretching her legs out in front of her. She had on fitted capris and a white tunic, and I admired her outfit choice—not overdone but still beautiful. Tasteful.

“Eric will be on last,” Sophia said. “Richard booked them the prime spot.”

“That’s not a big surprise,” I said, perusing the flyer of musicians and bands performing at the festival. “They’re probably the most successful act here.”

Sophia nodded. “Are you a jazz fan?”

“Not really. I mean, I like it, but I’m not die-hard or anything.” I held up the flyer. “I haven’t heard of most of these bands.”

“A lot of them are quite successful in the jazz world, but they don’t share the same commercial success as The Eric Wentworth Band.”

Beside us, Mari leaned on Charlie and snacked on chips. Beth sat alone on a blanket, her long legs crossed at the ankles while she played on her phone.

When the next act took the stage, I lay back on the blanket and closed my eyes, letting the sound of the instruments ooze into my ears and fill up my body. My fingers twitched to the notes of the piano, but otherwise I was still. The music was like liquid butter, flowing over my skin and through my blood. My body melted into the blanket, into the ground, until I felt like nothing more than a puddle of smooth notes.

“Ava, are you sleeping?”

Mari’s voice crashed through me. I sat up and squinted at her.

“I can’t believe you, of all people, would sleep through this.” She had her arms folded across her chest. “I thought you were supposed to be some music connoisseur or something.”

“I wasn’t sleeping,” I said. “I was actually
listening
to the music.”

“I’m listening,” Mari said but her eyes were scanning the crowd, probably for something more interesting to occupy her attention. “I’m thirsty. Let’s get a drink. Come on, Charlie.”

Sophia turned her head to look at me. “I’m heading backstage to say hi. Do you want to come?”

My previous calm shattered from the wings of thousands of butterflies fluttering in my stomach. “Sure.”

Sophia led me through the crowd and around the stage. “I’m sure Eric wants to see you.”

I tripped, grabbing onto Sophia’s shirt to steady myself.

“Are you okay?” she asked, turning around to peer at me.

“I’m fine.” I felt anything but fine. “Heels on grass. Not a good mix.”

Behind the stage, buses and semi-trucks stretched over the vast parking lot, people filling the spaces between. It looked more like a tailgate party than a backstage. All that was missing were mini-barbecues and giant foam fingers. The Eric Wentworth Band took up the largest space in the lot. The band members had parked their cars and trucks in a huge circle, leaving an open space in the middle for sitting, eating, and quiet practicing. I spotted Lacey next to Sam, their chairs smushed together, their faces just as close. They were in their own little world, unaware or uncaring of the happenings around them.

“Excuse me a sec,” I said to Sophia.

As I headed toward Lacey, it struck me how plain she looked now. Shorts, a t-shirt, and flip-flops made up her entire outfit. The only makeup she wore was mascara and her only jewelry was a small round-cut diamond sparkling on her finger. For the first time since I’d known her, she didn’t look like she’d just come from a cover-shoot.

“Lacey,” I said. She looked up and smiled. No, she glowed. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

She stood and I hugged her. “Thank you, Ava.”

“We were all so worried about you.” She nodded. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stay in Vegas. I really wanted to.”

“Don’t worry about it. I had Sam.” Lacey beamed at Sam, her face plastered with love. It was a soft look, not the stare of desperation she used to throw at Eric.

“Congratulations,” I said and I meant it. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Thank you.”

I marveled at the soft tone of her voice, her composure, her serenity. She really had changed, but how deep did it go? How long would it last? This Lacey was so different, I hoped she hadn’t lost her optimism and enthusiasm—it was something I’d always admired in her.

I looked over her shoulder. “Hey, Sam.”

“Hey.” The smile he gave me was a bit sheepish. Lacey reached down and grabbed his hand.

“I gather your playlist has changed lately?” I asked.

“A bit. I still listen to Adele though.”

“We love Adele,” Lacey said, her eyes glued to Sam’s face.

I said my goodbyes, knowing there was no room for me in their little bubble right now. When I turned around, I caught sight of Eric. Surrounded by his band mates, he sat with a bottle of water resting on one knee.

I headed toward him, praying my shaky legs wouldn’t cause me to trip again.

He stood when I came near. “Hey,” he said. Conversations around us died out. Eric cleared his throat. “Guys, this is Ava.”

A loud chorus of ‘hellos’ greeted me. I stood there, uncertain what to say or do, when I felt an arm around my shoulder.

“So glad you could come.” Richard squeezed my shoulder with his hand. Eric glanced at us and then away. He looked embarrassed. “Are you enjoying the festival so far?”

“What I’ve seen of it,” I said. “Can’t wait for you guys, though.”

“We’re gonna blow your mind,” one of the band members said, grinning. I grinned back.

“Have you seen us before?” another asked, standing beside me.

I shook my head. “No, I haven’t.”

“Why not?”

My eyes flicked to Eric. “I haven’t had the chance. But I’m a longtime fan. Since the beginning.” Before the beginning.

Adam and Britt appeared, interrupting the conversation. “Did you see the game last night?” Adam asked. Immediately, every guy there started to talk at once, their voices attempting to rise over each other’s.

“It’s good to see you again,” Britt said. She motioned for me to follow. We walked away from the larger group but stayed within the circle of cars.

“You heard about Lacey and Sam, then.” She leaned against a blue Toyota.

“I heard.” Britt raised her eyebrows. I didn’t know what more she wanted me to say. Afraid she was going to ask me about Eric, I said, “How do you and Adam feel about the whole thing?”