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Poppy narrowed her eyes. “I hate all y’all.”
Everyone laughed except Aiden.
“I’ve never been to open mic here,” Rowan said, looking at the stage. “Are they any good?”
“It depends,” Poppy said. At the rate she was going, she’d finish her drink before the first act. “We have some decent musicians in town, but we also have some tone-deaf ones with zero self-awareness.”
“I hope Dr. Evers does his magic act tonight,” Lauren said with a smile. Aiden shifted in his seat and stared at the napkin in his hands.
“I didn’t know Dr. Evers was a magician,” Rowan said, pushing her glass toward me. It tasted better than beer, and I enjoyed another sip before sliding it back to her.
“It’s more comedy act than magic,” I said. “Mrs. Evers is his assistant. She’s the real comedian of the pair.”
“Oh, I hope they’re here tonight.” Rowan scanned the room, but the bar was so crowded it was impossible to see everyone. “I haven’t seen Mrs. Evers since I’ve been back.”
“Check her Insta,” Poppy said, eyeing her empty glass. “She usually posts if they’re performing.”
“You follow Mrs. Evers?” I asked.
“Of course,” Rowan said with a smile. “She was my favorite teacher in high school.”
“She hated me,” I said, taking a sip of my beer.
“I doubt that,” Rowan said. “I bet she just didn’t worship you like all the others.”
“That’s an understatement,” Theo said.
I shot him a look to shut the hell up. I’d just gotten back in Rowan’s good graces. I didn’t need Theo telling her about all the stupid shit I’d done in high school or how I almost flunked English. Luckily, he took the hint and asked Poppy about her current sculpture.
While Rowan rooted in her purse for her phone, I leaned over to Lauren and whispered, “Bring Poppy some water with the next round. She took that down pretty fast.”
“I don’t know,” she whispered back. “Looks like someone will take care of her if she overindulges.”
Poppy and Theo had started an animated conversation about some art exhibition in Charlottesville they both wanted to see, and he’d moved a couple inches closer.
“What’s he drinking?” Lauren asked, looking at the can in Theo’s hand. “I think they both need liquid courage, but I’ve never seen that before.”
I shook my head. “He’s straight edge,” I said, pointing to the elaborate X tattoos on Theo’s hands. Several lines appeared on her forehead, and I could tell she had no idea what I was talking about. “It means he doesn’t drink, smoke, or do drugs.”
“Never?” Rowan asked, leaning into the conversation.
I shook my head.
“What about sex?” Lauren asked.
“Let’s just say I haven’t seen him with a random hookup since he got those tattoos,” I said.
“Damn,” Lauren said, leaning back.
“Seriously, boss bitch,” Poppy said to Lauren, holding up her glass. “What is this? I’ll grab another round.”
I laughed.
“Bet you wish you could call Dr. Cohen that,” Rowan said, chuckling beside me.
“I got it,” Lauren said, sliding from the booth, though she and Rowan still had half a drink each. “Can I get you anything, gentlemen?”
“We’re set,” Aiden said, and I realized it was the first words he’d spoken since Theo saw Poppy.
