Eli's question had brought her up short, making Clare lose the ability to think let alone answer. Her mouth opened though not a single sound came out before she closed it and searched his teasing eyes. He was up to something, that much was apparent but Clare didn't have the slightest clue what he had in mind.
"I trust you well enough, I suppose," she said, confusion coloring her tone as she looked at him. "Eli, what's going on? What are you thinking?"
A slow smirk spread across his lips as he remained quiet, simply grabbing a hold of her hand and pulling her from her bar stool.
"You want to try something new, right? Have you ever done karaoke before?" he asked, his hand still gripping hers as he navigated through the throngs of people.
Since they'd arrived more patrons had showed up, kicking off the usual rush of Friday night bar hoppers. As was customary for the start of the weekend at Wylie's Pub, Friday nights were filled with the drunken sounds of karaoke. There was one night Eli vaguely remembered where he found himself wasted enough to stand before the crowd, crooning to 80's rock classics until Adam took mercy on him- and possibly everyone in attendance that night- and ushered him off the stage. But he distinctly recalled the resounding applause from the audience.
Clare's eyes were wide with fear, the color draining from her face. "I can't do this. It's so packed…there's too many people. I'm sorry but no," she whimpered, her brows furrowing as she pouted.
While the sight was adorable, admittedly, Eli refused to let her get away that easy.
"Did you or did you not just say you want to forget everything for a bit? What better way than possible public humiliation and scrutiny?" he joked, earning a groan from Clare. "Come on, it'll be fun. We can do a duet together then so you don't have to go it alone. Would that make you feel better?"
"I did but I wasn't expecting that change to happen right now. I don't want these people laughing at me or thinking I'm a horrible singer," she said as they reached the lineup stand. "Only marginally better, it barely even counts for anything."
"No time like the present, right? Besides, you don't know anyone here. What are the chances of ever seeing them again? A good chunk of them are drunk off their asses and probably won't even remember stepping foot through the door let alone your performance. When you're up there, you won't be Clare. You'll be the anonymous girl singing beside a stud," he mused. "We'll pick a decent song. Get in the spirit, Edwards," he coaxed, playfully nudging her shoulder.
"Funny you should ask that. Or are you forgetting that I met you here and oh, look! We ran into each other again. I'm thinking the odds are looking pretty good, speaking from personal experience. I don't know. I just…don't do well in front of crowds. You should have seen me back in school. Any class presentation I was too shy, too nervous and it took everything in me to pull through it." Rolling her eyes at his joke, she laughed in spite of herself. "Someone thinks very highly of himself, hmm?" Biting back on her lower lip, she pulled the binder of songs towards her, moving in closer to Eli so he could see too. "Um…you can pick. There are so many choices, goodness."
"Alright, we're the exception to the rule apparently but who cares what anyone thinks? We're all here to have a good time. Don't psyche yourself out. It's just karaoke. I'll be right there with you and if you decide you've had enough, I suppose I can be nice and let you cop out. But you have to at least get up there with me and sing a verse," he insisted. "Hey, when you've got it, you've got it," he continued in jest, happy to see his teasing had earned him a smile from her. "Okay, we'll go with something I'm betting you know and if not, I'll have to question your life choices."
Flipping through the binder, Eli browsed the list coming across tracks like Livin' on a Prayer, (I've Had) The Time of My Life, Ain't No Mountain High Enough and a slew of other noteworthy songs to choose from. But seeing as though Clare was nervous, he wanted to pick something he figured might be a small comfort to her.
"Clearly. I still can't believe we were able to have a friendship out of that night but I am glad for it. I know you're right, I do. I just second guess myself a lot sometimes. I might take you up on that get out of jail free card but I promise I'll give it a shot…even if I'm freaking out now and nothing has even happened it." Scoffing, Clare crossed her arms over her chest, fighting hard against smiling. "There's this little thing called being modest. You might want to learn it some time." Peeking over to the binder, she skimmed along for something to do. "What song are we going with?"
"I'm happy for it too. Now I get to spend my Friday night dragging you along for my impromptu schemes. It'll only get worse from here. You've been warned. There's no reason to stress it, I swear. It's all about having cutting loose and enjoying the night. You've been dealing with a lot lately. It's about time you give yourself a break." He looked back at her, wiggling his brows. "Modesty? Hmm, never heard of it but maybe I'll look it up one day. In the meantime, I'll continue just as I am. I think you like it anyway." Turning to the next page, Eli smiled as he found a song he thought would fit the bill. "You'll see," he said simply. "I'll be right back. I have to put our names down." Smiling warmly, he left her there, heading over to the karaoke operator and signing the book with their name and song.
"Because that just sounds so comforting," she quipped, sarcasm dripping off every word. "I trust your judgment on this. I guess it couldn't hurt to step outside my comfort zone just a bit. I'm sure glad Alli isn't here now. She would never let me live this down," she said, shaking her head at the thought of her best friend bearing witness to her up on stage. "Keep dreaming, Goldsworthy."
She wouldn't admit it to his face but he was absolutely correct. Once more is charismatic personality was shining through. She didn't know just how persuasive a person could be but in what felt like no time at all, Eli was getting her to put down her walls and do something so out of character for a wallflower like herself. But he was right. She needed a break and trying something she never had before was sure to do the trick. It was already working; her thoughts now free of reflecting on Jake. Eli kept her fully engaged like nothing else could these days.
She nodded her head as he left, deciding to be sneaky and see if she could guess what song he had picked from the open binder before her but he was back in the blink of an eye and her detective skills had failed her miserably.
"My, aren't we slick? I should have known the reporter in you would go snooping around. Hopefully you didn't see what song I picked. I want that to be a surprise."
"You should have been smarter and closed the book. But luck is on your side tonight and the mystery around the song is alive and well."
"I'll keep in mind to cover my tracks around you. It's always the quiet ones you have to look out for but good. I'm hoping you'll like it. I can admit it's actually a guilty pleasure of mine. But if you ever share that little tidbit with anyone, I will deny it until I'm blue in the face."
"Smart boy," she said, patting him on the head and giggling as he turned up his mouth. "Consider my curiosity piqued. Don't worry; I'll keep it under lock and key. Or find a way to blackmail you at some point down the line," she shrugged nonchalantly, shooting a sideways glance at him.
"Patronizing me and so shamelessly at that. What have I gotten myself into tonight?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest. "Crazy thing is I can actually see you using that information to your advantage. But if it makes you happy and keeps a smile on your face, then I guess I could live with it." Pausing, he cleared his throat before looking away. "We should grab a table. They'll be starting soon," he said, ushering her to step before him to the row of empty seats in close to the staging area.
"A world of trouble, Mr. Goldsworthy," she replied assuredly. She was left speechless at the last sentence he spoke, taken aback by it. It was clear he was caught off guard too, covering his sentiment with a quick change in topic. "Okay, sounds good." Taking a step forward she led the way to a small table set for two, pulling out her chair and taking a seat.
Following after her, Eli sat beside her, cracking his knuckles. It was a nervous habit, a telltale sign of his that he was feeling anxious. But he was glad for the fact that he and Clare were still in the beginning stages of their friendship and that knowledge wasn't known to her as of it.
A silence fell between the two, neither of them touching base on what happened moments before. Relief came in the form of the emcee for the night, a middle aged man speaking directly into the mic in order to be heard over the distinct chatter of patrons. He called the first performer up to the stage, a guy who clearly had one too many to drink. He was met with wolf whistles from a group of guys, Eli assuming they were all buddies in university.
He went up to the stage, staggering a bit and bumping into tables.
"Five bucks says he doesn't make it halfway through this song," Eli said, leaning in to Clare so she could hear him.
She hadn't been expecting him to be so close to her, Clare fighting hard against the blush that overtook her cheeks as he spoke.
"I'll have faith in him. You're on."
Shaking on it, Clare was glad to see that the mild flub was now forgotten, the energy between the two of them slipping right back into the comfortable pattern she had grown so attached to since they'd started talking.
The opening of Don't Stop Believin' played, the drunken co-ed swaying from side to side as he waited for his cue. He slurred the first few words to the point where if someone had never heard the song before, it would have been impossible from them to decipher. But still he soldiered on, gripping the microphone stand as he powered through, thrashing his head around during the instrumental break. For someone that was wasted, Eli had to give him credit for his showmanship. The audience cheered him on, curious as to what he would do next. As the bridge approached, he marched in place to match the quick beat.
He had passed the halfway mark, Clare turning in her seat and looking at him expectantly, blinking her big blue eyes at him. "Pay up, Goldsworthy," she said in a low tone but loud enough for him to hear.
"How silly of me to trust this guy. I thought for sure he'd be blowing chunks by now. I'm actually a bit disappointed," he said as he reached for his wallet.
"I was kidding! I'm not really going to take your money but it's nice to know you're a man of his word," she noted, her attention breaking as the guy on stage got winded by his own theatrics.
The song began to fade and he let out an obnoxiously loud, "Woo-hoo!" into the microphone before slapping a hand over his mouth and racing to the bathroom.
"I knew it!" Eli said excitedly, laughing as Clare cringed while looking after him.
"That's awful. His friends should go check on him," she said, actually worried about this perfectly good stranger.
Eli watched her quietly, how her mouth grew tense and her gaze was focused as well as the sigh of relief she made as two of his pals headed to the restroom for him. She was compassionate and it wasn't a trait he saw all too often in people. That genuine factor she had naturally was quickly becoming one of his favorite things about her.
He turned his head back to the stage as the next act was called up, a group of girls who looked as if they had barely made the legal age requirement to be in the bar at all. Eli was almost afraid of what they chose, assuming they'd do something cheesy like a Spice Girls number or some other famed girl group.
Their song started right off the bat, one girl taking the lead.
"I…want…you to know/ I'm ha..ppy…for you," she began.
It was the ultimate hell hath no fury like a woman scorned song, You Oughta Know by Canada's very own Alanis Morissette. The girl on stage sang with such raw passion that Eli felt safe in guessing she had all the reason in the world to be pissed off, most likely newly single. Her friends chimed in on the chorus, the angst coming from the group enough to make his eyebrows rise.
He shot a glance at Clare who wore an amused expression before meeting his gaze and smiling. Eli had already lost count of how many times she was able to practically take his breath away with each grin or laugh that escaped her. This wasn't supposed to be happening but it was clear there wasn't much he could do to stop it now.
He smiled back at her before they both looked away and back at the group of girls on stage, all but screeching into the microphone at this point. Eli was all too relieved when the final note played, bringing an end to their performance.
"Up next we have Clare and Eli singing Summer Nights," the emcee announced, Eli automatically looking to Clare who was seemingly frozen in her seat.
Eli stood up and held out his hand to her, silently willing her to follow through. As she rested her hand in his, Eli gave it a light squeeze which reassured her. "You can do this," he promised and those four words were enough to pick Clare out of her seat.
Her heart thudded rapidly in her chest but now she couldn't decipher which was more so the cause: the fact that she was about to sing in front of a crowded room or the realization that he was still keeping a hold of her even after they made it to the stage.
Brushing his thumb along the back of her hand once, he reluctantly let go and held onto his microphone and nodded once to her. With the way the lights were hitting her, she all but glowed and Eli found himself having a hard time looking away. It wasn't until the opening note dropped that he snapped his attention forward and began.
"Summer lovin' had me a blast," he sang as he looked over to Clare, hoping she would push her nerves aside and just go for it.
"Summer lovin' happened so fast," she continued, clutching onto her microphone for dear life.
Eli couldn't help but smile at her as they alternated before singing in unison. The longer they sang for, the more at ease he could see she was and Eli was glad for the fact. Her eyes were trained on him and that suited Eli just fine. It was easy to forget there were other people in the room as they continued their duet, Eli winking suggestively at certain lyrics on Danny's part.
Clare was the quintessential Sandy, wide eyes and sweet disposition and Eli fit the part of Danny quite well all clad in his usual black attire. It was the perfect song choice in Eli's eyes and with how comfortable she was now, Eli was all the more assured in his selection.
As they hit the final high note of the song, Clare buried her face when it was over, shaking her head in disbelief. The audience, though mostly intoxicated seemed to appreciate it, giving them a round of applause. Eli joined in as well, though giving all the praise to Clare who blushed profusely and mouthed a silent thank you before returning to her seat.
"I cannot believe I just did that," she whispered, gripping the table and smiling.
Settling in beside her, Eli laughed. "Not only did you do it but you did a damn good job and everyone in here agrees. I'm proud of you, Edwards."
"I couldn't have done this without you. And who knew you could sing? You're a man of many talents."
"I'm decent. My shower head makes for a good enough microphone," he mused. "But you have a great set of pipes yourself. Who would have known?"
"No way. I think these people are just too drunk to realize how terrible I was but that's fine by me. I had a great time tonight. I don't even want to go home," she laughed.
"You're selling yourself short, I swear." His eyes squinted a bit before he started again. "Well, who says the night has to end just yet? We could stick around here a bit longer if you want," he suggested as the next act went on. "Or we could get out of here and get a change of venue. Lady's choice."
Clare bit back on her lower lip as she mulled it over, glancing to the stage as the intro to Sweet Child O' Mine began to play overhead.
"As much as I do love this song, I'd like to see where the night takes us. So I vote for a change of scenery. What'd you have in mind?"
"You like Guns 'N Roses?" he asked, unable to mask his surprise. He wouldn't have pegged her as the type but it seemed as if it was best to expect the unexpected when it came to Clare. She kept him guessing, constantly on his toes and that was a sense of feeling he hadn't experienced in ages.
Her words struck him, recalling it as the last minute advice Adam had given him before the very start of the night.
"We're going to be spontaneous and see how it goes. No planning, no rules. Just you, me and the city."
"Who knew spontaneity would lead to a twenty four hour diner," Clare laughed as they approached the establishment with its glowing neon signs that were spotted down the block.
"I wouldn't have guessed it but I could sure as hell go for a burger and shake right now," he said, opening the door for her.
"Ooh, that sounds really good. I think I'll have the same."
The diner was a typical one complete with checkerboard flooring and vinyl record decorations. As cheesy as it might have been, Eli liked the 1950's set up. It seemed to be the theme of the night, oddly enough.
A waitress greeted them, decked out in a poodle skirt and cardigan with a ponytail complete with a ribbon. Even though it had to be past eleven, she was perky as ever with a bright smile on her face as she directed them to a booth.
"I'm Megan and I'll be your waitress tonight," she said as she set their menus down. "Can I start you all off with drinks or do you need a minute?"
Eli looked to Clare to go ahead of him.
"I'll just have a chocolate shake, thank you."
"Make that two, please," Eli tacked on, smiling to Megan who nodded and left them to themselves.
Clare sighed contently before opening up her menu and browsing the options just in case something else caught her eye. She wasn't aware of Eli looking at her, seemingly engrossed.
The diner was relatively empty but given the late hour, it was to be expected. After how loud the bar had been thanks to karaoke and sheer drunkenness, Eli was enjoying this slower pace for them.
They'd spent an hour walking about aimlessly, learning about each other's pasts- mostly their upbringing. It was clear they had two very different lives. From what she shared she'd grown up in a devout Christian home whereas religion was a non-factor to him. He learned about her family and interests. No detail was too small in his eyes and it felt as if he couldn't get enough of what she had to say, hanging onto her every word.
Her personality was simply infectious and Eli didn't stand a stand against repelling it. It felt natural to ease up on constantly worrying and actually take in the night with his new friend. But somewhere in the back of his head, he knew this was far different than sitting down to lunch with Fiona or someone else from the theatre. But he did a decent job of keeping that in the recesses of his mind.
"Okay, I think I'll just with the burger and call it a day. Nothing else looks as good as that sounds," Clare concluded, closing her menu.
"I'm really glad you aren't one of those salad eating girls. There's nothing wrong with being healthy but at a diner? It's practically mandatory you get something bulky."
"There's lettuce and tomato on the burger. That's healthy enough, right?"
Eli let out a laugh and nodded his head. "You're absolutely correct."
A short pause fell between them as Clare pushed her menu aside and looked at him. He held her gaze but decided to stay quiet, instead wondering what thoughts crossed her mind. Her expression was soft, thoughtful as if she were trying to make up her mind about something but kept her findings to herself.
"You know, when I was in grade nine my school put on a performance of Grease but I was too scared to audition so I joined the crew and worked on props," she said, a timid smile on her lips.
"Seriously? You should have gone for it. Clearly your Sandy is good."
"Alli tried to convince me but I chickened out and decided that if I couldn't be on stage that I'd still lend a hand and help out. Turns out I actually had a knack for creating great props."
"She's always been your right hand, huh? At least tonight you got to make up for missing out on the play. If you're still interested in making props, let's just say I know a guy that could set you up at a theatre," he mused.
"It's hard to remember life before Alli. She's been there through everything and continues to be. She's like a sister to me," she said softly. "I did! And it was a blast. I can't thank you enough for making me get up there. Tonight has been amazing…still is." Tucking a lock of her behind her ear, she laughed. "Funny how these things work out, eh?"
"I think everyone can benefit from having someone like that in their life. I'd be completely lost if not for Adam back then. He's definitely the brother I never had," he mirrored. "There's no need to thank me at all but you're welcome. You stole the show, Miss Edwards. I'm really glad we did this but you're right, it's too soon to speak of the end." Shrugging his shoulders, he made an innocent face. "Life's tricky that way."
Just then Megan returned with their shakes, setting them down in front of them.
"Are you guys ready to order?" she asked, pulling out two straws from her apron and handing them over.
"I'll have a cheeseburger, please," Clare requested.
"And I'll have a bacon cheeseburger. No tomato, thanks," he ordered, getting his menu and Clare's to give back to their waitress.
"Coming right up."
Once Megan walked off again, Clare brought her attention to Eli.
"You don't like tomatoes?"
"Ugh, no. It's weird. I've hated them ever since I was a kid though I don't even remember if I've ever eaten one," he laughed. "It's just this quirk, I guess."
"How can you know you don't like something unless you give it a try? You're going to have a tomato tonight, Mr. Goldsworthy. If I have to try something new, you do too."
He saw a double meaning to her question but didn't speak on it, instead sighing and looking at her. "When you put it like that, I guess you have a point. Alright, I think I can survive that."
Clare smiled brightly in approval, clapping her hands together before picking up her straw and unwrapping it. Helping herself to her shake, her eyes flickered to Eli who was watching her all the while.
"How's the shake?" he asked, hoping to cover up the fact he'd been looking at her.
"It's perfect. You're going to love yours, I guarantee it. So, let's play a game, shall we? We can do a round of twenty questions. I think a get-to-know-you game should be fun, if you want to."
Sticking his straw into the frosty glass, Eli took a sip and gave her a thumbs up. "Twenty questions? I'm game. I'll start us off then. If you could book a flight right now to anywhere in the world, where would you go?"
"Ooh, that's a good one. I would love to go overseas, maybe to France. French is my favorite language and I love the culture and of course the great food. If you were a superhero, what would your power be?"
"Tu parles trop français? Another thing we have in common. As much as I love French as well, I'd go over to England first and then make my way over eventually." He paused to mull over her question. "Probably the ability to read minds. All too often people don't say what they really mean either out of fear or just blatantly lying. At least that way I'd know for sure. What's your favorite flower?"
"Je fais en effet. Why England exactly?" she asked, curious as to what his possible attachment could be. "I think I'd like that power too or telekinesis. It's a tie for me because it depends on the day. But I love sunflowers and white orchids. What's the best trip you've ever taken?"
"Well, both my parents are huge on music. I grew up listening to so many bands and artists from there that it's probably safe to call it a mild obsession at this point. One day I'll pack my bags and head out but for now, I'm enjoying life here." He made a mental note of her favorites, storing the information away. "Duly noted. Hmm, best trip. I've only ever left the country to New York but that was for school so I don't count it. I'd have to say…this road trip I took with Adam before we left Toronto for college. It was our last hurrah before we had to go our separate ways. We drove all the way to Vancouver. Our car broke down twice and it was just a mess all around but a fun story to tell in the end. That was the greatest summer, without a doubt. If you're feeling stressed, what's the one thing that can calm you down?"
"I think that's wonderful. My parents are far too conservative at times but it's great that your folks influenced you that much. From the way you speak about them, you three are very close. I'm sure you'll make it out there and fall in love with the country." She smiled in spite of herself, drinking more of her shake as he spoke. "You boys and your adventures, oh goodness. It sounds like you all made the most of what little time you had together. Usually I just listen to music and read. But if I'm too preoccupied, I write it out in my journal or talk it out with my human diary Alli," she joked.
Before she could ask her next question, Megan was walking towards them with two plates full of fries and burgers. "Is there anything else I can get you guys?" she asked as she gave them their respective plates.
"No, I think we're fine for now, right?" Eli said, looking to Clare who nodded in agreement.
"Okay, great. Enjoy your meals. I'll be around if you need me."
Reaching for the ketchup, Eli poured it over his fries, his eyes flickering to Clare when he felt her looking at him.
"What?"
"You'll use ketchup and yet you say you don't like tomatoes? Speaking of which," she said seriously, removing the bun off her burger. "It's the moment of truth." Picking up the slice of tomato, she held it out to him.
"This had better be good." Taking it from her, he bit into it, his face scrunching a bit before he chewed. "Not too bad, I guess. But the little kid in me still doesn't approve."
Rolling her eyes, Clare popped a fry into her mouth. "You're hopeless."
They ate their meals, talking here and there and continuing the game they'd started. Clare was glad she had introduced the game, getting the chance now to learn even the smallest things about him like his pet peeves and favorite movie. It was easy to talk to him and even if she found herself blushing like mad, the way he would look at her erased any doubts she might have had. She wanted to believe that maybe he was growing to like her in the same way but she knew it would be pointless in the end. But for now it was nice to sit down with someone and not have a single thing to worry about.
With their food done, clean plates and drained glasses, Megan returned with the check. Eli picked up the tab and took out his wallet and extracting a few bills to cover the cost and tip.
"I can pay for my half," Clare said, clutching her own wallet.
Eli looked at her almost incredulously as if she had revealed something shocking.
"It's fine. I don't mind paying for us. Your money's no good here, Edwards," he insisted, closing back the casing.
Judging by the look on his face and the finality of his gesture, Clare put her wallet back into her purse and shook her head.
"I take it resistance is futile. I know a lost case when I see one. Thank you, Eli."
Reaching over, he patted her head just like she had done back at the bar. "Smart girl," he quipped, winking at her. "It's my pleasure." Glancing at the clock on the adjacent wall, his eyes widened. "It's officially a new day," he noted, realizing it was thirty past twelve. "We should get out of here."
Clare scoffed and swatted his arm though she couldn't keep from laughing. "Giving me a taste of my own medicine, huh?" Clare followed his line of vision. "Oh, wow. I didn't realize we've been together for so long. But yeah, I guess we should head out."
Sliding out of the both, Clare squared her shoulders and walked alongside Eli as they exited. "So, we'll catch up soon, yes?" she asked expectantly, peering up at him.
"Oh…well, I was going to ask if I could walk you home since it's late and all."
"Of course, no. I mean, I just thought maybe you wanted to get back. Sorry, I'm rambling a lot." Nervously, she bit on her lip. "Well, I do live just a few blocks that way," she pointed out up ahead. "I'd like it if you did walk with me."
"I wouldn't leave you out here by yourself. What kind of guy do you take me for?" he joked. "Lead the way, mademoiselle."
"And they say chivalry is dead," she said softly, taking the first step and heading in the direction of home.
"It might be a lost art but there are still a few good guys left."
"You all are a rare breed but I'm lucky for knowing you then, clearly."
A comfortable silence lingered between them, neither feeling a need to fill the walk with mindless chatter. Just simply walking beside each other was enough and both of them felt perfectly content in the moment.
Occasionally Eli would sneak a glance at her, only getting caught looking twice. Both those instances made Clare's cheeks flush and even in the darkness of night he could see her blush. It was rewarding to gain that reaction from her and it was without a doubt a sight he was sure he'd never grow tired of.
As they reached her complex, Clare let them both inside and headed for the elevator. She felt silly for how much her heart was racing with him standing so close to her. It was like being in high school all over. It had been such a long time since she got a feeling like that and with Eli, it was always a constant.
Stepping into the lift, she pushed the button for her floor, watching the numbers climb higher, Clare let out a breath as they reached her floor. Wordlessly she got off, glancing to him briefly before fishing for her keys in her purse as she walked.
"This is me," she said finally, breaking the silence as she came to a full stop. "Thanks for walking me and inviting me out tonight. I really needed that."
Eli leaned against the wall right beside her door and smiled. "Don't mention it. I had a lot of fun too. We should definitely do this again sometime. I'll have a whole list of things waiting for you to try."
"That sounds daunting and exciting all in the same breath."
"It's a specialty of mine, I guess you could say."
Dropping her gaze, Clare cleared her throat and let out a breath. "We'll be in touch, right?" she asked, fiddling with her keys.
"Of course we will," he said, cupping her chin and raising her face to look her in the eyes. "I'm already looking forward to the next time." Lowering his hand, he stood up straight, tucking a curl behind her ear. "Sweet dreams, Edwards."