Jude could see the wheels turning in her head. “Is there a payphone around? Let me call my roommate Megan. She has tonight off, maybe I can convince her to cover for me,”shesaid.
“Yeah sure, just up ahead by theshops.”
Reaching the payphone, they pooled together all the change they could find. She dialed the number and hoped Megan would be home to answer. She picked up on thethirdring.
“You freaked me out. I thought you weren’t home,” Zoey said. “Listen, I’m on a payphone and don’t have much time. Can you cover for metonight?”
“Are you kidding me, Zoey? This is my first night off in over a week!”Megansaid.
“Please? You know I never ask you to cover for me, and I’ve covered for you before. I’m at the Santa Monica Pier. I had to talk to that drummer, remember from a couple weeks ago at PayForPlay?”
“The sexy one? How could I forget? He’s there with you now? So that’s why you were looking all cute when you left earlier, you’re onadate!”
“It’s not a date, it’s work. I kind of got a job doingA&R.”
“For real? What about college? I thought you were all gung-ho about going toschool.”
“I am and I will, but I couldn’t let this opportunity pass by.” Zoey heard a click on the line, meaning that her money was running out. “Please Megan, my time is up. Please say you’ll coverforme.”
“You owe me, but yes. Have fun onyourdate.”
“It’s not a date!” Zoey said as the linewentdead.
She turned around and smiled as Jude grinned. “This could be a date, you know,”hesaid.
Her cheeks turned red and she looked away. “I can’t believe you heardallthat.”
“Now about Seattle, I really want you there. Say you’ll go with me. It’s work, remember?” He stepped closer to her, feeling the heat of her body near his. “I’m not going unless you gowithme.”
“But you have to go! This is your bigbreak.”
“Then you’re just going to have to come, too. I’m destined for better things, remember? That’s what you said. I think you’re part of that, too,” Jude said. “Say you’ll comewithme.”
She nodded slowly, meeting his gaze with a smile. “Okay, I’ll go toSeattle.”