excuse always worked at keeping curious friends at bay. It was a trick Kim herself had taught me when we were in cosmetology school.
I tiptoed to the exit, examining each and every face as I went. The music rose, the crowd applauded appreciatively, and I stepped back in the shadows to clap. Straining my eyes to find Gabe amongst the sea of faces, I tried my very best to stay in the darkness as much as I could, in case it was Alicia I spotted first.
I quietly slipped up toward the balconies and private boxes to search, still using my lost excuse as I popped my head into small groups of patrons that were seated in private sections. When a third usher asked me if I needed help locating my seat, my phone buzzed in my purse. It was a text from Kim.
WHERE THE HECK ARE YOU?? DID YOU FALL IN? YOU’RE MISSING EVERYTHING.
I smiled at the usher, who was eyeballing me curiously, and slunk around a corner to type out a response.
SORRY. THINK MY CHINESE FOOD CAME BACK TO HAUNT ME. BE BACK IN A JIFF.
I crossed to the upper level, where the posh boxes were. Leave it to Alicia to get tickets for the expensive seats. I peeked into the first section, only to be glared at by a woman wearing a fur. With every section I examined, it became clearer and clearer just how insane this plan was. What the hell was I going to say when I actually found Gabe?
Um, I realize that I just hunted you down like a dog at the philharmonic, but I have some serious gossip about your fiancée. Oh, and you know that groomsman in your wedding? Yeah, he’s actually Satan disguised as a sports writer. Say, are they playing Oberan Overture?
My palms sweated as I approached the last box. What if their plans changed, and they weren’t at the philharmonic at all? Or worse yet, what if he’d just given me a random excuse in order to avoid me? Maybe I’d just dropped ninety bucks for no reason.
I rubbed my temples. This was classic Violet Murphy. Acting without thinking. Leaping without looking. I was standing outside a VIP box at the philharmonic looking for my opportunity to spill my guts and possibly ruin Gabe’s wedding. When the fact was, I had a loving boyfriend packing for our first weekend getaway together.
My phone buzzed again, and I turned on the backlight with an exasperated sigh. It was an e-mail from Landon:
Hello, Beautiful
Wanted to tell you how much I miss you tonight, and how I hope you’re having a great time with your friends. I love you and can’t wait to see you tomorrow.
—Landon
That was it. The confirmation I needed. I dropped my phone into my purse and closed it with a snap. I had to return to my seat. I would ambush Gabe at his apartment next week and force him to hear me out. In the meantime, it was time to stop sneaking around like some sort of overdressed super sleuth.
A tiny old woman emerged from the box and walked headfirst into my boobs. “Oh, excuse me, dear.”
“Sorry.” I jumped out of her way and into the view of the open curtain.
I caught Gabe’s attention, and his eyes widened. Just as the curtain fell closed again, he cast a nervous glance to his right, where Alicia was sitting, leaning in close to an older gentleman. And holy crap, they really were sitting with the mayor of Seattle.
My cheeks grew hot, and I darted around the old woman toward the stairs. I took the stairs two at a time in my heels, slipping and sliding on the polished tiles. Gripping the railing as tightly as I could, I prayed that Gabe would assume he’d mistaken someone else for me.
“Violet?” Gabe called out behind me.
I froze with my hand poised over the handle.
His shoes squeaked on the marble floors as he approached. “Is that you?”
Cringing, I turned around. Totally busted. “Uh…yeah. Hi.”
Gabe’s face broke into a grin. “What are you doing here?”
I gestured at the door I was about to go through. “I’m here with Kim and Betsy.”
He shook his head, still smiling. “I took them for rock and roll people.”
“W-well.” I shifted between my feet. “Betsy enjoys it. But Kim just likes an excuse to dress up.”
He eyed me up and down. “You look great.”
I was glad I’d chosen to wear the retro fishnets. “Listen, it was good to see you.