Bab 36: Chapter 36
Pearl was freaking out. This was not what she was prepared for. She should have been. It had been her naivety about the entire thing that got her here. She didn't see him as a celebrity even though she knew he was one. She pulled out her phone and called Janie. No answer. She pulled up her texts to send so thing to Dylan. He would help. But then she remembered and reread the text he sent last night that she didn't respond to. She was so exhausted after all she had dealt with yesterday. She felt horrible now rereading it. "Hey Pearl, hope you have a great night. I'll be awake for a little while if you want chat."
She texted and tried to call him. Nothing. Ugh. She walked back to her Jeep and drove to the brewery where Dylan worked. It was a half hour drive from her place but she needed to talk to him. She also had this feeling she needed to explain herself to protect him in some way. She arrived at the brewery to see Dylan sitting at the bar, with a cup of coffee. "Thank GOD I found you. What a day!" Pearl exclaimed as she walked in and sat next to him, slamming the magazine on the bar. Dylan looked at the bartender in an apologetic way and kept his head down into the book he was reading. "I tried to text and call you. I need some advice." Dylan didn't respond. "Dylan! What's up man? Listen, I just found out I'm on the front page of the National Inquisitor! Look at it! Oh my god. I don't know what to do!" Pearl slapped his arm and asked for a beer. "Yes I saw it, and your pomposity and obstreperousness is embarrassing." He replied quietly and grabbed his book and jacket and walked out.
What was that? Pearl was so confused. Maybe she was being a bit dramatic but she was front page news and seriously freaked out. Why was he being such a dick? This was the Dylan she remembered and it sucked. She texted him "Dylan, I have no idea what that was about but I'm sorry. I just wanted to talk to you."
She got back to her apartment and was ready by 7. Her hair was still a little wet but it would do. 7:01 there was a knock on the door. "Hey Pearl with the pretty eyes, ready?" Rhys was dressed like he was the first day she met him. Jeans and white shirt. He was wearing a beanie and he looked adorable. "Yes, I am. Where are we going?"
"I have a couple of surprises for you." He said, with the grin of a god.
They arrived at small pub off the Main Street in town. Fancier than she was expecting. "I'm under dressed." She said, looking down at her jeans and floral kimono style blouse. "All good, we're only here to have drinks. And to meet someone." He replied. Who? Pearl wondered.
They walked to the bar and sat at a small high top by the window. The bartender rushed over and said the first drink was in the house and asked if Rhys would sign an autograph for their wall. "Sure, no problem." He said. A few minutes later, a man approached. "Holden! Great to see you man! Glad we could connect on my way to Detroit. This must be Pearl." And he shook Pearl's hand. "Pearl, this is Jason Robertson. He works for Epic records, assistant to their CEO. He's a friend of mine and he's in town til Sunday. I invited him to your show Saturday night. I told him there might be some potential there to sign a new band. Your band, that is. Hope that's ok?" Rhys said, obviously proud of himself. Oh my god, Pearl thought.
"I...ummm...wow! Thank you! And it's wonderful to meet you, Jason. Thank you so much for taking the time to meet me and come see us. I'm sorry, I'm a bit taken a back by this." No way they were good enough to be considered for any kind of recording deal. She loved her band and the music but this was....insane. "I'm always happy to scout for new talent." Jason said as he ordered a drink. They chatted for a little while before Rhys told Jason we had to be somewhere for a reservation. Pearl thanked him again and they made their way out. They were standing in front of the building when a limo pulled up to the curb in front of them. "Another friend of yours?" Pearl asked sarcastically. "Not exactly" Rhys smiled as the driver walked around and opened the door for them. Rhys motioned her inside. "A limo?"
Pearl asked. She had never been in a limo in her life. "Yep!" He said "would you like a glass of champagne?"
"Sure! Why not, let's ride out this Cinderella fantasy. Got any glass slippers in here?" She couldn't help herself. "Not exactly. How about some books instead?" Rhys replied as the limo stopped and parked. The driver opened the door and they stepped out onto the sidewalk right in front of Frank's bookshop. "It's past their closing time, Rhys. Great idea, though." Pearl said. "Ah yes, but I get celebrity hours, you forget." And he opened the door for her. There were only a few lights on inside. The smell of old books was mixed with the smell of flowers. And food. She looked down the main aisle and there was a path of roses leading to the back poetry section. The stacks of books that were normally on the floor had been cleared to make room for a table and two chairs, candles and a side table with what looked like a bottle of wine and Chinese food boxes.
"What is all this? I don't even want you know how much you had to pay Frank for this." Pearl put her hands over her mouth in awe. It was the sweetest gesture anyone had ever done for her. "He did it for free. I told him it was for you. I did promise him I'd plug his shop the next time I did an interview on the local news about my charity. He wants to donate too and he thought the publicity might help his shop to be able to do more of that." Unbelievable. They sat down and Rhys poured her a glass of wine. "I had the food delivered before Frank left. Hopefully it's still hot. I know it Chinese take out, but given the circumstances, it was the best I could do."
"It's really wonderful, Rhys. I'm in shock a little. This whole day. Just. Wow." She said.
"So there's this girl I met. I met her right where you are sitting, to be exact. And she has been on my mind every day since, every minute almost, to be more specific." He said.
"Lucky girl" Pearl said, looking around and smiling. "Lucky me" he replied.
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