should ask, “Do you like
it?”
His voice was high and wavering when
he answered, and that made Savannah think he was probably lying. “Yeah, it’s
very…mesmerizing. I usually prefer music with a stronger beat, but this is
nice.”
Chris was now at the microphone
introducing the next song. As much as she wanted to listen to what he was
saying, she just couldn’t let herself. “You seem like the kind of person who
would like classical music,” she said, to block out Chris’ voice.
With a nod, Eric said, “Yeah, I do,
but if I had to choose a favourite it would be old school rock.”
“How old school?” Savannah laughed.
“Like Great Balls of Fire or like Smoke on the Water ?”
Eric laughed. “ Smoke on the Water ,
I’d say. Or, I don’t know…I mean, The Doors would be the ultimate, right?”
“Well, is this stuff so far off from
The Doors?” Savannah considered. “I mean, really, it’s not…”
When the band started their next song,
Savannah went instantly silent. Though she hated to do it, she turned away from
Eric to watch, and picked food from her plate without looking in his direction.
It wasn’t just Chris who had her so entranced—it was the sound of Circle Six.
She’d never heard anything exactly like their music. Bands like theirs didn’t
get much press, or any radio airtime. If you wanted to listen to this type of
music, you really had to seek it out. Savannah was glad she’d stumbled upon
this group, even if it was populated by freaks, geeks, and the guy who’d so disappointed
her.
By the end of their set, Savannah had
enjoyed her fill of fries, salmon, and ginger ale. Eric had cleaned his plate
long before, and was obviously holding on for Savannah’s sake. Even the
waitress had pushed the bill in their direction. She obviously wanted to seat
drinkers of alcohol, who would be inclined to leave her a larger tip. It seemed
strange to Savannah, to think that her entire meal cost about the same price
other people were willing to pay for one cocktail or glass of wine. But
whatever. It was their money.
“I guess Stacy’s too busy with the
band to come over and give her old dad a hug,” Eric said, gazing at his
daughter as she climbed up on stage to embrace the band’s three members.
Savannah retreated behind the wall of
their booth when Stacy started talking to Chris and pointing in their
direction. Her heart thumped against her ribs. Were Stacy and Chris talking
about her? Or was Stacy just saying, “Hey, look, that’s my dad over there”? Or
were they speculating about why, exactly, Savannah and Eric were eating dinner
together? What were they saying?
She wasn’t going to wait to find out.
Glancing at their bill, Savannah threw a pile of cash down on the table and
tossed her bag over her shoulder. Without turning toward the stage, she slipped
out of the booth and said to Eric, “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
“Oh. Okay, sure.” He appeared
understandably confused, but shuffled out of the booth and followed her quick
steps toward the door.
The sweet aroma on the night air
calmed her buzzing head. For a moment, she simply stood on the sidewalk outside
Kingsley’s and wondered what to do. Right was the direct route home. Left was
the scenic path along the river. There were plenty of benches under trees and
burnt-out path lights, perfect for making out in public. It was such a romantic
walk, that way. Midweek, she’d imagined she’d be taking it with Chris, but
Chris was, apparently, indisposed.
Savannah looked both ways, and then
turned toward the river.
Chapter Eight
“I hope you won’t find it churlish if
I throw a little cash your way,” Eric said, taking his wallet from his back
pocket and pulling out a few bills. “To cover dinner, I mean. It’s not because
you’re a girl…I mean, a woman…or…well, it’s only because you’re the student and
I’m the one with the full-time job, and it’s only fair. Right?”
Savannah stopped walking
it?”
His voice was high and wavering when
he answered, and that made Savannah think he was probably lying. “Yeah, it’s
very…mesmerizing. I usually prefer music with a stronger beat, but this is
nice.”
Chris was now at the microphone
introducing the next song. As much as she wanted to listen to what he was
saying, she just couldn’t let herself. “You seem like the kind of person who
would like classical music,” she said, to block out Chris’ voice.
With a nod, Eric said, “Yeah, I do,
but if I had to choose a favourite it would be old school rock.”
“How old school?” Savannah laughed.
“Like Great Balls of Fire or like Smoke on the Water ?”
Eric laughed. “ Smoke on the Water ,
I’d say. Or, I don’t know…I mean, The Doors would be the ultimate, right?”
“Well, is this stuff so far off from
The Doors?” Savannah considered. “I mean, really, it’s not…”
When the band started their next song,
Savannah went instantly silent. Though she hated to do it, she turned away from
Eric to watch, and picked food from her plate without looking in his direction.
It wasn’t just Chris who had her so entranced—it was the sound of Circle Six.
She’d never heard anything exactly like their music. Bands like theirs didn’t
get much press, or any radio airtime. If you wanted to listen to this type of
music, you really had to seek it out. Savannah was glad she’d stumbled upon
this group, even if it was populated by freaks, geeks, and the guy who’d so disappointed
her.
By the end of their set, Savannah had
enjoyed her fill of fries, salmon, and ginger ale. Eric had cleaned his plate
long before, and was obviously holding on for Savannah’s sake. Even the
waitress had pushed the bill in their direction. She obviously wanted to seat
drinkers of alcohol, who would be inclined to leave her a larger tip. It seemed
strange to Savannah, to think that her entire meal cost about the same price
other people were willing to pay for one cocktail or glass of wine. But
whatever. It was their money.
“I guess Stacy’s too busy with the
band to come over and give her old dad a hug,” Eric said, gazing at his
daughter as she climbed up on stage to embrace the band’s three members.
Savannah retreated behind the wall of
their booth when Stacy started talking to Chris and pointing in their
direction. Her heart thumped against her ribs. Were Stacy and Chris talking
about her? Or was Stacy just saying, “Hey, look, that’s my dad over there”? Or
were they speculating about why, exactly, Savannah and Eric were eating dinner
together? What were they saying?
She wasn’t going to wait to find out.
Glancing at their bill, Savannah threw a pile of cash down on the table and
tossed her bag over her shoulder. Without turning toward the stage, she slipped
out of the booth and said to Eric, “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
“Oh. Okay, sure.” He appeared
understandably confused, but shuffled out of the booth and followed her quick
steps toward the door.
The sweet aroma on the night air
calmed her buzzing head. For a moment, she simply stood on the sidewalk outside
Kingsley’s and wondered what to do. Right was the direct route home. Left was
the scenic path along the river. There were plenty of benches under trees and
burnt-out path lights, perfect for making out in public. It was such a romantic
walk, that way. Midweek, she’d imagined she’d be taking it with Chris, but
Chris was, apparently, indisposed.
Savannah looked both ways, and then
turned toward the river.
Chapter Eight
“I hope you won’t find it churlish if
I throw a little cash your way,” Eric said, taking his wallet from his back
pocket and pulling out a few bills. “To cover dinner, I mean. It’s not because
you’re a girl…I mean, a woman…or…well, it’s only because you’re the student and
I’m the one with the full-time job, and it’s only fair. Right?”
Savannah stopped walking
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