Derailed (Clayton Falls #1)(37)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

“It kind of sounds like a stripper name. Like the librarian type that goes from serious to sexy when she takes off her glasses and shakes out her hair.”

“Wow, you’re really weird, Jake.”

He laughed. “Come on. It does sound that way, doesn’t it?”

Never, in all of the hundreds of times I’d doodled that name all over my notebooks, had I ever thought that. “Like I said, you’re really weird.”

“Now you’re going to think it too. Admit it.”

I decided to play along with the ridiculous conversation because it beat fighting. “So, is the name a good or bad thing?” We hit traffic, and as the Jeep slowed down, we no longer needed to shout.

“Good. It can’t hurt for an attractive girl to have a name that brings up those kinds of images. Well, Ben might not think so. He’d keep you covered up and tucked away if it was up to him. You saw how he freaked out the other night. He goes psycho over anyone coming near you.”

I decided to indulge my curiosity even though I wasn’t sure I was going to like the answer. “Did he go crazy when he found out I had a new college boyfriend?”

“Yeah. I was kind of waiting for him to go up to Boston and drag you back.”

“But he didn’t.”

“Because he still blamed himself. I also think he always assumed you’d come back to him.” Jake never took his eyes off the road.

“Yeah…” My phone rang, interrupting the suddenly serious conversation. “Hey, Kelly.”

“Are you on your way to Ben’s show?”

“Yeah, why?”

“We got done with the caterer early. We’ll meet you there.”

“Awesome.”

“So did you really go with Jake? Are you guys killing each other yet?”

“We’re both alive so far.”

Jake laughed, probably guessing what the conversation entailed.

“All right, see you soon.”

“Bye.”

“So, Kelly and Tom are coming?” Jake asked.

“Looks like it.”

Jake took the exit ramp faster than he needed to. “Tom wouldn’t have invited Gavin, right?” Jake sounded worried.

“I hadn’t really thought of that. Wouldn’t Kelly have mentioned it?”

“I don’t know. Would she have?”

Jake parked, and we walked into the Soapbox. I ran my hands through my hair, trying to repair the damage caused by the wind. The Soapbox was nothing like I’d expected. It was actually a converted Laundromat—complete with the machines. The place kind of had a dated look, but the couches and lighting gave it a comfortable feel. I had never seen anything like it. I flashed my ID at the bouncer when he asked for it.

Jake snickered. “You’ll be showing ID for the rest of your life, you look so young.”

“I’m legal now, so I don’t care. Besides, a woman always wants to look young.”

“It’s still funny.” He smirked again. “What do you want?” He gestured to the bar.

“Oh, just get me what you’re having.”

“I love how you just assume I’m going to buy your drink.”

My jaw dropped. “You just asked what I wanted.”

“It could have been rhetorical.”

I was tempted to smack the smirk off his face. “Fine, I’ll get my own.”

“No way. My mother taught me better than that.”

I laughed. “Do you enjoy fighting with me so much that you’re trying to start an argument?”

“It’s good entertainment.”

“And they’re at it again.” Kelly appeared beside me, putting an arm around my shoulder to give me half a hug.

“Hey, how’d the tasting go?”

“Great, Tom got his steak, and I got my buttercream frosting.”

I smiled. “Can’t get better than that.”

Tom caught me looking over his shoulder toward the door. “Don’t worry, he’s not coming. I’m not that much of an idiot. Inviting Gavin to Ben’s show wouldn’t go over well.”

“Probably not.”

We grabbed some beers and took a seat at a front and center table to watch the show.

The Grizzlies were good. Really good. Last time, I had been so focused on my nerves about seeing Ben that I couldn’t fully concentrate. This time I really got to listen—and watch.

Watching Ben was always fun. He got so into his music. The intensity was awesome. I used to sit and listen to him play for hours. I rarely went to his rehearsals, but I liked watching him write songs. It felt like I had a secret view into genius or something.

I loved how, even though Ben was playing to a large crowd, sometimes it still felt like he sang just to me. He looked over at me more times than I could count. By the end of the set, I was in a really good mood. I forgot that listening to him could have that effect. I hadn’t even gone beyond two beers. For me that was good.

Ben walked toward us with the rest of his band, and out of instinct, I stood up and rushed over to him. “You were amazing!”

“Was I?” Ben hugged me before kissing me on the lips. “I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed having you in the audience.”

“Ahem.” Greg, the drummer cleared his throat. “Nice to see you, Molly. I guess some things never change.”

I hadn’t really thought about whether it would be awkward to see the rest of Ben’s band. I’d taken it for granted that Aaron was glad to see me, but hadn’t really considered the others. They just seemed relieved that Ben was in high spirits.

“Hey, guys.” I waved, letting Ben pull me onto his lap as he took a seat at the table.

“There are plenty of seats,” Kelly teased.

“Molly’s just fine where she is.” He wrapped his arms tighter around me. Ben could clearly tell I was letting a wall down, and he was taking full advantage.

“How was the drive over?” Ben asked Jake and me.

“Fine,” I said quickly. As upsetting as parts of it had been, it was nice to have things out in the open.

“She’s in one piece, isn’t she?” Jake added.

Ben whispered in my ear, “I’m not sure about that. I might need to do a more thorough examination.”

I swatted him away. “You have a dirty mind.”

“You’re sitting on my lap, what do you expect?”

“All right, I’ll just get up then.”

“Nuh uh. I like you right where you are.”