The Impostor, A Love Story by Tiffany Carmouche Page B

how your face lit up when I gave it
to you.”
    I took the rose in my hand and smelled it.
Its gentle fragrance filled my nose as I walked over to Dylan.
“Thank you for the flowers. They are beautiful.”
    “You are beautiful.”
    Every time he looked at me, I forgot how to
exhale. Finally, I managed to ask, “What are we doing
tomorrow?”
    “It’s a surprise.”
    “How do I dress?”
    “You should let me stay over, and I’ll help
you pack for the day.” He smiled.
    “Dylan, you’re so bad! I don’t think Emily
would like that too much. ”
    “I was just joking. I know; no meaningless
sex. Although, I have to say, with you it wouldn’t be
meaningless.”
    “No sex,” I playfully smacked him. “Look,
Dylan, I don’t want to waste your time. I’m not going to change my
mind. If that’s what you’re after, I am the wrong girl.
    “It’s fine, it’s fine. I’ll behave. Truth is
I haven’t been with anyone since Rita.”
    “Her psycho-obsession made you wake up?”
    “No, it was more this sassy brunette who
ruined me for all other women.” He winked at me.
    In my head, I knew how this story was going
to end and that I was ultimately going to get hurt, but I finally
decided to go along for the ride anyway.
    “What if I don’t bring the right
clothes?”
    “We’ll have to take you shopping.”
    “No, you don’t have to do that. Just tell me
what I should bring.”
    “I’d love to take you shopping. I have a
little less than a month to spoil you.”
    I felt like I was dreaming. Take me
shopping? The band can’t make that much money yet . I hadn’t
heard of them before they started working here.
    “Need you for a sound check, Dylan,” Justin
called him over. The night had flown by.
    “I’ll be right there.” He leaned over and
gave me one last kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see you after.” He
squeezed my hand as he began to walk away.
    “We’ll see,” I managed out. I got a weird
knot in my stomach. At the table, it felt like he was all mine; on
stage, he was everyone’s.
    Once he left the table, Katie snuck over and
leaned in as if she was telling me a secret.
    “Such a hottie.”
    “Katie, did you call him?”
    “Yesterday, he begged me to call him when you
got in today. I figured it wouldn’t hurt anything. Besides, it
gives me an in with Justin. Dylan really likes you. I can tell you
like him too. Every girl in this place would die to be you right
now. Aren’t you having fun? You sure seem like it.”
     
    I decided to wait at the bar and talk with
Brad since business hadn’t picked up and there was hardly anyone in
my station. The band hung out behind the stage while the tech tuned
their instruments for their set. Chris came in to see Emily since
he was in town, so I figured I’d leave them alone. Emily deserved
someone like him. I hoped they would end up together, but she was
like me. After your heart has been broken, it’s hard to jump back
up and trust again.
    That is when I had my perfect idea. I ran
over to their table. “What are you doing tomorrow, Chris?” Emily
glared at me like she was going to kill me. I didn’t give him a
chance to answer. “I actually have a date.” I perched on my seat
like a peacock—proud, because I wouldn’t be the tag along. “Emily
is going to be my bodyguard. She is a light-weight, and I thought
maybe you would like to come as her back up.”
    “So, who is the lucky guy? I want to shake
his hand.” Chris laughed.
    “Dylan.”
    He motioned toward the stage. “Dylan
Richardson, the guitarist?” He nodded, pointing Dylan out on stage.
“You’re going out with Dylan?”
    “You all are friends right?”
    “Yeah, we go out together when he’s in town.
I’ve known him for years. He grew up in Anchorage.” He took a sip
of his beer. “Our fathers do some business together sometimes. They
live in Washington now.” He hesitated for a moment and then spit it
out. “He’s a great guy, but a bit of a ladies’ man.”
    “I