Page 116 of That Friendzone Feeling

“Welcometo theToastedTomatoHornbyIslandResort,” she says with a giant smile and an outstretched arm.

Noone cheers louder than me.

Thewarm orange sun dips behind the stage as the members of the cool hipster band wave goodnight to a standing ovation.

Emilytrots to the front, taking their place, to wrap up what has been a fantastically successful evening.

Witha jitter in my stomach,Islip away from the family and make my way through the applauding, smiling, slightly tipsy crowd to the steps at the side of the stage.

“Weren’tthey amazing?”Emilyasks over the cheers. “Thankyou so much for traveling all the way out here to make our opening night the most special, magical evening.Weappreciate you all so much and wish you a very good ni—”

“We’renot quite finished yet,”Icall toEmilyasIjog toward her.

Shedrops the microphone to her side and mouths, “What?” with an expression of shock and bafflement.

Ipeel the microphone from her hand. “Weactually have one more act.”

There’ssome jumping in the audience and a few whoops.Theyclearly don’t want the night to end.Notleast because the servers who were about to carry trays of food and drink inside turn back to the crowd.

“Whatare you talking about?”Emilywhispers.

Irun my fingers down her back, take her hand, and walk her to the far side of the stage.

Sheshrugs dramatically at the audience, arms extended,palms to the sky, letting them know she has no idea what’s going on either.

“Okay, folks,”Isay to the audience.Everyonefalls silent, desperate to discover what’s about to happen. “AndEmily.Mostof allEmily.Wehave one more musical act this evening.It’staken some doing to get them here because they’re working so hard on their new album.Butthey’re doing me an extra special favor.”

Ilook atEmily, who, thankfully, is smiling, and put the mic behind my back so the audience can’t hear. “Youreally have no idea?”

“Nota clue,” she says. “Whatthe hell are you up to?”

ThankGodfor that.I’dbeen convinced there was no wayI’dbe able to keep this under wraps.

Iput the mic back to my mouth and turn to the crowd. “Pleasegive the biggest, most appreciative welcome you can, to…”Ipause for dramatic effect.

Emilyslaps me on the arm. “Comeon.Stopwith the suspense.”

Ipoint dramatically toward the welcome center. “TheDreamtownBoys.”

Theglass door swings open, and the five guys jog out.Thecrowd goes wild.

AsdoesEmily. “What?”She’sactually bouncing. “Areyou kidding me?”

“Nope.”Hergiant smile and childlike glee make the weeks of undercover arrangements worthwhile.Ifit hadn’t been forChaseknowing the lead singer so well,Idon’t know ifI’dhave been able to get them here.

Shescrews up her eyes, trying to focus on the men as they trot across the lawn toward us. “Isit really them?Nota tribute band or something?”

She’sfucking adorable. “It’sreally them.”

Theyleap up the steps and onto the stage.

“Holyshit!”Shejumps up and down next to me, clapping over her head. “Itis!”

Theguys take their places at the five microphones the crew has just lined up at the front.

Iraise my mic to my mouth again, and need to raise my voice to be heard over the crowd. “Andthey’ll be accompanied by a very special guest.”

“More?”Emilysays, like her brain might explode with another surprise.