Chapter 25

April 19th

Good friends are there for you when you're passed out from carbon monoxide and they're there for you when you're high as a kite—not on carbon monoxide but on life!

Paige had been working nonstop since the announcement went live. Top authors and some fabulous new ones had all reached out to her. Griffin Romance was going to succeed in a big way. But tonight was Eli's big night. He'd gotten moved up to a larger role in his show after a cast member broke his leg tap dancing too close to the stairs leading down to the platform of the M train. Leah learned two days ago that she'd gotten the promotion at work, and now she and Paige stood watching Amelia as she walked slowly toward the counter at the café.

"She's going to flake," Leah whispered.

"No. We have to think positively. She's going to do it." Paige closed her eyes and sent up a prayer. Then she crossed her fingers and knocked on wood for luck. "Here she goes."

Paige watched Amelia stop at the counter. It was busy and Felix had his full staff running the counter. But as soon as Felix saw her standing slightly off to the side, he handed the cash register off to one of the employees and joined Amelia.

"He's smiling," Leah whispered, smacking Paige on her arm.

"Hi Amelia. Do you need more whipped cream?" Felix asked.

"Is that sexual?" Leah whispered.

"At this point, it could be," Paige replied.

"Um," Amelia got out before she started to shift from foot to foot. "No?"

"She's going to run," Leah whispered as Amelia glanced back at them.

Paige gave her an encouraging smile and two thumbs up.

Amelia looked to the door, but then slowly turned back to Felix. "Eli got a bigger part in the show. Paige launched the romance line and Leah got a promotion. We're, um, going to Eli's show and then out to celebrate."

Felix's smile grew and he leaned eagerly forward. "That's wonderful and sounds like a lot of fun."

Amelia froze.

"She's like a deer in the headlights when Felix smiles at her and uses those bedroom eyes," Leah whispered. Paige had to agree. "Stay away from the light!" Leah suddenly yelled.

Felix looked up at her with curiosity, and Amelia shook her head, coming back to life.

"I was just curious who made this lamp." Paige reached for the nearest lamp and devoted all her attention to it. "We didn't mean to interrupt. Go back to your conversation."

Paige glanced up from the lamp to see Amelia straightening her shoulders and taking a deep breath. "I taught her that," Paige whispered to Leah.

"I know it's busy tonight, but Paige was able to get four tickets to the show so we could surprise Eli. Then Leah was able to get us into the VIP section of WET, which is only the hottest nightclub in New York, or so I've been told. I don't go to nightclubs very often." Amelia took a deep breath and Paige and Leah clung to each other in anticipation. This was the longest Amelia had ever spoken to Felix, and she only had one more sentence to say. Paige and Leah held their breath and watched, waiting.

"Would you like to go with us?" Amelia blurted out.

Paige and Leah's hands tightened on each other to keep from jumping up and down in celebration. All fake interest in the lamp was lost as they leaned forward and waited for Felix's response.

"I'd love to go with you. Let me run upstairs and change."

Paige and Leah rushed to the counter the second Felix disappeared in the back to head upstairs to his apartment above the shop. They wrapped their arms around a stunned Amelia and jumped up and down.

"You did it!" Paige said with a giggle.

"What happened?" Amelia asked. "I think I blacked out."

"He said yes," Paige said as she and Leah continued to jump around Amelia.

"He said yes to you, not to us," Leah clarified.

Amelia went white and then flushed red. "He said yes," she whispered, "I did it. I asked him out and he said yes."

Paige and Leah nodded as Amelia processed it all and then started jumping up and down. "He said yes!"

"Okay, okay," Leah said once they all stopped jumping. "Let's be cool. Take a deep breath and go over the plan for tonight."

"I ordered a car and it'll be here in five minutes," Paige told them. "We go to Eli's show, cheer him on obnoxiously loudly, and then take him to WET for all of us to celebrate. I hope you don't mind, but I did invite some more people. I told them we were VIP and I didn't know if I could get them on the list, but they're at least meeting us there."

"A man?" Leah said wiggling her eyebrows at Paige.

"Two. And a woman. They're my furry friends, Griz, Roman, and Moxie. I went out with them the other weekend and I thought it would be fun to introduce you all to each other."

"Confession," Leah said, dropping her voice. "Noah will be there too. He's the one who got us on the VIP list. He ran their last advertising campaign and the club manager was so happy he said Noah just had to call anytime to get the VIP treatment. We can ask him about getting your friends on the list, too."

Amelia and Paige shared a look and then turned back to Leah. "You so like him," Paige said as Amelia nodded.

"Big time," Amelia added.

Leah frowned and looked away. "We've gone over this. He's not my type. I'm used to bigger, more muscular romance cover men. Men who are more wild and less nerdy."

"So, he's not as tall or super muscular. But he's really handsome. He thinks about you. Respects you. Treats your friends well. Plus, I bet he does his own laundry and knows how to use a dishwasher, and that's sexy. Plus, I think he's capable of doing all we read about, especially considering he belongs to The Red Door," Paige told her. "Don't get so blinded by who you think you should end up with superficially that you miss a potential soul mate."

"Look beyond the hook-up," Amelia advised and then clammed up with Felix joined them.

"Hey, Felix," Paige said as they walked to the cab. "What do you think of Noah?"

"Leah's Noah?" Felix asked, and Paige gave Leah an I told you so look.

"Yeah. And truthfully, what do you think of him?" Paige asked again.

"I haven't gotten to spend much time with him but he seems like a good guy. He already knew Leah's favorite drink after being at the café just once, so that tells me he pays attention and wants to take care of her. I appreciate that as your friend. Sometimes men show they care by the little things they do, not necessarily what they say. Like, picking up your favorite drink before work every morning this past week like Noah has been doing, or say, putting extra whipped cream on someone's drink."

Amelia stumbled, but Felix steadied her before opening the door for them to the minivan cab Paige had ordered.

Leah, Felix, Paige, and even Amelia talked for most of the cab ride to the show. The more they talked as a group, the more relaxed Amelia seemed. By the time they arrived at the theater they were a very happy group, even if Leah still refused to admit she had feelings for Noah.

Eli was fantastic. The group cheered him on as he gained his first solo speaking, dancing, and singing role. He lit up the stage as he performed. This was only the beginning of great things for him, and Paige and all their friends saw it happening. It was truly special to see someone you love making their dreams come true.

"Does Eli know we're here tonight?" Felix asked as the curtain closed and before raising for the two leads.

"No," Paige told him over the cheers. "It's a surprise."

Then the curtain rose again and Eli came out with four other cast members who had smaller parts. As he and the others took a bow, Paige and her friends cheered as loudly as they could. She saw Eli's face light up into a tremendous smile. When he stood, he put his hand over his heart and looked in their direction before running off stage.

The group made their way to the lobby where they'd wait for Eli after Paige sent him a picture of the four of them standing in front of the stage before the performance started. He'd know they would be waiting for him.

"Paige! I thought that was you guys all cheering for Eli."

Amelia squeaked and stood closer to Felix as Max approached them.

"Max?" Paige looked around to find his girlfriend, but Max was alone. "What are you doing here?"

Max grinned and rocked back on his heels. "Didn't take me for a theater guy, huh?"

Considering he looked drop dead gorgeous, even if he did show up in jeans, the answer was no. He didn't. "I see you dressed up for the show," Paige teased.

Max looked down at himself with a self-deprecating smile. "Yeah, I don't come to many shows. I thought I dressed it up with the button-down shirt." Max then looked at the group and his eyes landed on Felix. Max snapped and then smiled and held out his hand. "Max Caldwell. I've seen you at Café Felix a couple of times."

Felix reached out and shook his hand. "Felix Zayas. I own the café."

"Nice to meet you. It's not on my side of town, but I stop by every time I'm over that way, which seems to be when I'm getting these guys out of trouble."

Felix laughed as Paige rolled her eyes. Leah looked ready to tell him off. Amelia hid farther behind Felix. "It's a full-time job looking out for them, but it's worth it." Felix looked down at Amelia and winked.

"Ha-ha," Paige said with no humor even though it was kinda funny. "What are you doing here?"

"I saw the announcement in the news about Eli replacing one of the secondary characters. It's not every day I arrest someone for being a pimp and then can come see him on Broadway. I thought I would come to support him. I know he must be nervous and, don't tell him, but I like him. He's a good guy. You have good friends, Bookworm X."

Paige blushed to the roots of her hair. She felt her cheeks heat to near boiling, but she was saved by Eli screaming as he raced through the lobby at them. "You are the best! I didn't know you'd be here!"

Paige, Amelia, and Leah wrapped Eli in a big group hug. They were all talking at once telling him how amazing he was as he talked about how much of a rush it was to sing for the first time.

"We have to celebrate!" Eli said as they finally took a breath. "Leah's promotion, Paige's promotion, Amelia's... success," he said with a quick glance at Felix.

"We are on the list for the VIP section of WET tonight," Leah said, looking smug.

Eli slapped her arm. "Shut up."

"Want me to arrest Book Pimp for assault?" Max asked Leah from where he stood with Felix.

Eli laughed and finally turned to the two men. Paige and the girls joined them too, to form one big group. "You're funny, Hot Cop."

"So, you think I'm hot?" Max looked surprised then very pleased.

"Don't pretend you're not. But you're not my type."

"Aw, why not? And, if not me, then who?" Max was completely relaxed with Paige's friends and she had to admit it was really hot. He fit in just like Noah and Felix.

"You're straight as an arrow, and," Eli dropped his voice, "he's my type."

Everyone turned at once to see Kenneth walking out with another member of the orchestra.

"He thinks Eli's a player and won't give him a chance," Leah confided to Felix and Max.

"If I were gay, I'd totally hook up with you," Max said, suddenly louder than anyone expected. "Alas, you're wanting something serious so I can't even be your boy toy."

The whole group was stunned, but then Eli burst out in nervous laughter. "Hot Cop, you really are pretty cool. You better be going to WET with us tonight."

"I don't want to impose. It's your night to celebrate, Book Pimp."

Paige saw Kenneth stop and say something to the guy he was walking with. The man stayed where he was as Kenneth started to walk toward them.

"It's not just me celebrating," Eli said, ignoring Kenneth as he joined them. "Paige and Leah both got promotions."

"Congratulations tonight, Eli. You were wonderful," Kenneth said, casting a quick glance at the group.

"Thank you," Eli said, but stopped short of saying anything else. Instead, he closed his mouth and smiled at Kenneth. Eli had told them he was done trying to impress Kenneth. He was just going to be himself.

"I have to ask... Book Pimp?" Kenneth asked with a curious smile and showed no intention of rushing off.

Max laughed and slung an arm around Eli's shoulder. "This guy is always trying to get me to read these hot romance books, but I'm not cool enough for their book club. Well, should we head out to WET? I'm already trying to think of all the single guys I know who would be good enough to set you up with. I know, I know," Max said, holding up his hand to stop anyone from saying a word. "They have to be looking for a committed relationship, they have to like to read, have a good sense of humor, and they have to like your friends. Is that right?"

"And support his career," Paige added as she looked at Max as if he was her hero. Max had always been nice to her friends, but this was next level. He'd come, by himself, to a Broadway musical to support Eli. And now this.

"That goes without saying," Max said as he turned his back on Kenneth and led the group toward the exit.

"Shouldn't we invite—" Eli whispered, but Max cut him off.

"No way, Eli. You leave him wanting more. Paige," Max whispered, "glance back. Let us know if he's watching Eli walk away."

Paige did a move where she flicked her hair over her shoulder and glanced quickly back. "Oh my gosh. He's totally watching. He's just standing there staring at Eli and looking as if he's thinking hard about something."

"Because Eli is not chasing him and we just blew up his preconceived notions about Eli. He's trying to reconcile it. Then it's the basic, another man is showing interest and nature wins out. If he's man enough, he'll instinctively be more interested."

"That's not true," Amelia laughed.

"Oh, it's true," Felix answered for Max. "It's the same instinct as when someone tries to take someone we want, even if we're not formally together."

"You mean, jealousy," Leah said with a chuckle.

"It's more an instinct to protect what you want because you already care for them," Max said as Felix nodded.

"Exactly. You want to protect them because you know no one can love them like you can and you don't ever want to see them hurt." Leah, Eli, and Paige all stared at Felix as he placed his hand on the small of Amelia's back and led her to the door. "Let me get that for you, Amelia."

"That is totally hot," Leah said with a sigh.

"Totally," Paige agreed. "I mean, books talk about it, and sometimes it can come across as possessive, but that's not possessive."

"I told you," Max said, opening another door for them. "It's protection. I may say you're mine, but a real man means that you're theirs to cherish and protect, not to own. When it's possessive, it's jealousy and treating you as property. That's not love."

Eli looked up at Max and sighed. "Are you sure you can't be gay? Want to give it a try?"

Max laughed and slung his arm around Eli. "Sorry. But I can totally be your wingman."

"You're coming to WET with us, right?" Eli asked again.

"Sure. I'll meet you all there. Thanks for the invite. And great job tonight, Eli." Max thumped Eli on the back and headed off down the street.

"You're totally staring after him like Kenneth was doing to Eli," Leah said to Paige with her I told you so voice.

And then Max looked back and smiled at Paige and she about died on the spot having been caught longing for something she couldn't have.