Something In Between: Sequel to On The Edge of Tomorrow

Chapter 23

I hadn't realized I didn't silence my phone until the beginning of Cheap and Cheerful blared from my bag. The mad scramble to quiet it and the glares from the surrounding library patrons tempered my excitement that it was Tess' ringtone.

"Hey, hold on a sec. I'm at the library, and I've pissed off everyone enough," I explained without letting Tess interject as I pulled on my coat and headed outside. "Hey," I said again when I was ready to talk.

"Hello to you too. Do I want to know why you have an entire library angry with you?" She had a melodic cadence to her voice.

"Forgot to silence my phone, and your ring tone is Cheap and Cheerful."

"I'm not cheap and rarely cheerful, but excellent song, so I approve." She let out a laugh that made me miss her more. "So, I have exciting news, I hope."

My mind swirled. Tim had proposed, but I bit my tongue.

"We're coming to Maine!"

"What?" Genuine shock filled my voice.

"We're coming to Maine a week from Saturday. Please tell me you can carve out time in your busy schedule of holiday balls and falling hopelessly in love with your Mr. Charming," she teased.

"Of course," excitement filled my voice, but my mind quickly tempered it. "Who is 'we'?"

"'We' is Tim and me." She deliberately clarified. "Billy will also be in town, but I think he'll be otherwise engaged.

"Why are you coming?"

"Um, well; if you peeked out from the rock you live under, you'd have heard that Billy's playing a show at some theater there." Tess' words were distant as she fought to recall the name.

"The State," I answered for her. I'd told Billy about it. Bob Dylan played a series of shows there years ago when it was on the brink of closing.

"Yeah, that's it. Billy was booked on one of those late-night shows, so he and Tim figured they'd play a couple of shows in the Northeast to flush out the weekend. We're in New York on Wednesday, Connecticut on Thursday, Boston on Friday, and then we'll wrap up in Portland on Saturday before flying home. I guess Billy has always wanted to check out this venue; something about Bob Dylan." Tess was babbling more to herself than me.

"So, when do I get to see you?" I prodded, trying to push past all the Billy in the conversation.

"Lunch on Saturday? I think the boys are planning on driving to Portland right after the Boston show versus the next day so that we can get lunch! Please tell me you're free!"

"Of course, I'm free."

"Good, because I'm dying to meet your man!"

"I can't make any promises for him, but I'll check with him tonight." Secretly, I was hoping he'd have plans. I wasn't sure if I was ready for Sam and Tim to meet. It was too close.

"I have a feeling he'll be free. From the picture I saw, you have him wrapped around your little finger," Tess teased.

"I'll ask him, but I have to go because it's freezing out here! I'll text you tonight!" I was eager to get off the phone; my head was swimming from the turn of events.

I struggled through the afternoon at the library as my excitement mixed with nerves. I gave up at 3 pm and returned to my place, where my roommates sprawled across the couches.

"Hey, stranger," Carrie yawned from the couch. "Do you still live here?"

"Mmhmm, it's a nice storage unit," I shot back. I'd started staying at Sam's even when he was gone; it felt more like home.