All Shook Up Read online

  “Tonight is the finals of the ultimate Elvis tribute contest,” she explained. “The guys are from all over the world and have been competing all week. So this is the best of the best as far as impersonators go. There will probably be some depicting Elvis as he looked when he first started out and others who will be in the traditional white jumpsuit with rhinestones.” She grinned. “So just think of tonight as a little walk down memory lane, Elvis-style.”

  He chuckled. “Wow.” He held the door open for her at the Orpheum and they followed the crowd inside.

  She pulled two tickets out of her purse and handed them to the doorman.

  He scanned the tickets and handed them back. “Enjoy the show.”

  Suzanne gestured at a huge, red-carpeted staircase. “We’re up in the balcony.” They climbed up the ornate staircase and headed toward their section.

  His cell phone buzzed just as they got to the door that led to their seats. He pulled it from his pocket. It was Richard, his editor. “This is work. Do you mind if I take it? I’ll only be a second.”

  She shook her head. “Take your time.” She handed him a ticket. “I’ll see you inside.”

  He hit the button and raised the phone to his ear. “Hey, Richard.”

  “What’s going on down there, man? I haven’t heard from you in a week.”

  “I’m still in Memphis. My grandmother’s surgery has been postponed, so it looks like I’ll be here awhile longer. But you’re not going to believe where I am.”

  Richard groaned. “Do I even want to know? Probably some backwoods Tennessee place that would scare a city boy like me. Am I right?” he asked with a laugh.

  “It’s Elvis Week here,” Nick explained. “Thousands of people descend upon Memphis to celebrate the life and career of Elvis. It’s held every year around the anniversary of his death. It’s serious business.”

  “So what, you’re at Graceland or something?” Richard asked.

  “Actually I’m downtown at the ultimate Elvis tribute contest.” The lights in the hallway flashed. That usually meant five minutes until show time. “So these guys will be like the best Elvis impersonators in the world.”

  Richard guffawed. “That’s too much, man. Hey, you think there’s a story down there for Elvis Week? Like what makes people still care or how nuts do you have to be to attend? Something like that?”

  “I was hoping you’d think so. I’ll get on it.” The lights flashed again. “I’ve got to run. They’re about to start. I’ll be in touch soon.” He ended the call and set his phone to silent. Now to find Suzanne. He showed his ticket to the woman at the door and she motioned for him to follow her. She guided him to the center of the building and pointed at one of the roped-off boxes. “Thanks,” he said. He walked down two steps and settled into the seat next to Suzanne. “Nice seats.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “Job perk.”

  The house lights went down and the crowd cheered. If they were this excited about fake Elvises, Nick couldn’t imagine what a real Elvis show had been like. Must have been crazy. He’d have to ask his grandmother.

  Two hours later, he and Suzanne shuffled their way down the stairs. The crowd pressed in on both sides and, without thinking, he reached down and took her hand.

  She glanced over at him, a startled expression in her eyes.

  “Hope this is okay. I don’t want you to get crushed or anything.” He grinned, enjoying the feel of her hand in his. She had dainty hands. And he appreciated that she had painted fingernails. It was a little thing, but so feminine.

  “It’s fine.” She squeezed his hand. “In fact, I kind of like it.”

  They followed the crowd out into the hot Memphis night. Despite the late hour, downtown was crowded. Nick tugged on her hand. “You mind if we stroll down Beale Street? I haven’t been there in forever.”

  She smiled. “Fine by me. But I can’t stay out late. I’m running in a 5K tomorrow morning.”

  They sauntered past the parking garage where Nick had parked. “Let me guess. Is it an Elvis-themed 5K?” he asked.

  Suzanne giggled. “Guilty.”

  Nick thought back to his conversation with Richard. Surely the Elvis 5K would be full of interesting tidbits he could use in an article. “How about we make it interesting?”

  She stopped on the sidewalk and narrowed her eyes at him. “What do you mean?”

  He smirked. “I’ll run, too. Loser has to buy dinner one night next week.”

  Suzanne cocked her head. “Why do I get the feeling that I’m going to see a lot of you while you’re in town?”

  He pulled her closer to him. “Because you are,” he said softly. He wanted to kiss her, but it wouldn’t be right. That would only bring real feelings into their relationship and that was the last thing either of them needed.

  They walked hand-in-hand to Beale Street where the bright lights beckoned. “It’s awfully crowded tonight,” Suzanne remarked. “Don’t these people know how late it is?” She giggled. “Clearly I’m not much of a ‘stay out late’ kind of girl.”

  The Beale Street crowd was a mix of college students, bachelorette parties, and music lovers. When Nick lived in Memphis, he’d been too young to get into many of the establishments on the famed street, but several restaurants offered live music and welcomed all ages. They walked past B.B. King’s Blues Club, a restaurant and blues club. The façade of the place was often depicted in movies or TV shows set in Memphis. “I’m guessing most of these people will be here until all the places shut down. And I agree. I think my staying out all night days are behind me.” Nick chuckled at a kid turning flips for a small crowd and dropped a dollar in his tip bucket. For more than twenty years, kids had been turning flips on Beale Street to entertain the crowds and pick up some extra cash. A few years ago, a group of them even competed on a talent search TV show and showcased their acrobatics.

  “Are you a big music fan?” Suzanne asked as a blues riff blared out of a dive bar they walked past.

  Nick shrugged. “I don’t play or anything, but I love live music. I grew up on the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. My parents always had music playing. Dad used to say that every life had a soundtrack.” He’d forgotten that until just now. It was funny the things he’d forgotten over the years and the way those memories floated back at unexpected times.

  “I like that,” Suzanne said. “And it’s so true. I have music playing almost all the time. At work, in my car, even when I run.” She grinned. “My life’s soundtrack is kind of eclectic.”

  Nick sighed with relief as she let the mention of his parents pass by without commenting. He wasn’t trying to be deceitful with her, but he wasn’t ready to share that much of himself with anyone. And he wasn’t sure if he’d ever be. It had nothing to do with Suzanne and everything to do with his own fear of getting too close to someone. Because once he let someone in, they’d have the capacity to hurt him. And he didn’t like that lack of control. Nick preferred the upper hand. “Eclectic, huh? So what’s on your soundtrack?”

  “A little country. Mostly old-school stuff though. George Strait. Alabama. Maybe some Taylor Swift thrown in to keep it current. And then a little Jimmy Buffett for days I feel like the beach.” She grinned. “Huey Lewis is my favorite to sing along to in the car. And I think I own pretty much every U2 song ever recorded, so a lot of those would be on my soundtrack for sure.” She tugged on his hand. “How about you?”

  “A lot of the same.” He was surprised at how in sync their taste was. “Except for the Taylor Swift.” He shot her a smile. “And then I’d add the Beatles and a couple of big-haired 80s bands.”

  She laughed. “Right. I left off the big-haired bands.”

  Nick shrugged. “I’ve always had hair envy. Maybe that’s why mine is a little longer than it probably should be.” His grandmother had given him a hard time this morning about his shaggy hair. He figured as long as it barely grazed his collar, he was still okay. “Guess we should go. Especially if I’m going to get over there in th
e morning in time to register to run.”

  She glanced up at him. “So you’re really coming in the morning?”

  He nodded. “Yep. And remember. . .loser buys dinner.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  He enjoyed the feel of her hand in his as they strolled back to the parking garage. The ease in which they related to one another worried him.

  But not enough to decide not to see her again.

  Chapter Nine

  Suzanne pulled into the designated parking lot at Graceland. It was already boiling hot outside, and the prospect of running three miles didn’t sound nearly as appealing today as it had yesterday when she’d signed up. But she hated to back out, especially since Nick was supposed to run with her.

  Or at least he’d said he was going to show up. For all she knew he’d hit the snooze button just like she’d wanted to do.

  She hid her purse and keys beneath the passenger seat. She’d tie her spare car key on her shoestring. She climbed out of the SUV and walked around to the back of the vehicle. She quickly pinned her race bib to her T-shirt and put the timing chip on her shoe.

  Once she was finished stretching, she headed toward the starting line. No sign of Nick yet, but fifteen minutes remained until race time. Surely he’d show.

  Suzanne put in her ear buds and opened an app on her phone. She’d made a special playlist for the 5K. She did a few more stretches and glanced around at the growing crowd gathered at the starting line. She whirled as someone tapped her on the shoulder.

  A grinning Nick stood before her, his race bib slightly crooked on his T-shirt.

  Suzanne pulled one of the ear buds out of her ear. “Hey there. I wasn’t sure if you’d show.”

  “Are you kidding? And miss the chance for you to buy me dinner.” Nick lunged forward to stretch his leg.

  “You’re certainly confident. I didn’t realize you were a runner.”

  He smirked. “Well, I’m not a runner per se, but I spend a lot of time at the gym. I figure if I can handle the elliptical, I can handle a few miles.”

  “The gym is air conditioned”—Suzanne waved an arm around—“The great outdoors are not.”

  Nick laughed. “You’re right about that. I admit, I’m a little worried about the heat. But I heard a lady at the registration table say that a lot of the homeowners in the neighborhood we’ll be running through will have their sprinklers turned on and put out at the curb so we can cool off as we run.”

  “Gotta love that good ol’ Southern hospitality, right?” She asked with a chuckle.

  A man with a loudspeaker began to make announcements at the front.

  Suzanne nudged Nick. “I’m going to run with my ear buds in, so don’t expect me to talk to you.”

  He laughed and pointed at his own phone attached to an armband on his arm. “I doubt I could talk and run at the same time anyway, so I brought mine, too. In fact, I made a special playlist.”

  “Full of big-haired 80s bands, no doubt,” Suzanne teased.

  Nick nodded. “Yes, Ma’am. Everything from Bon Jovi to Night Ranger with a little bit of Poison thrown in for good measure.” He smiled and looked her up and down. “You look pretty cute as a sporty girl.”

  She adjusted her Memphis Tigers baseball cap. “I figured this was the best way to keep my hair under control.” She was in the process of deciding whether to keep her hair shoulder-length or grow it out again, but there was no reason to let Nick in on her internal debate.

  “It’s cute.” He reached out and tapped the brim of her cap. “I always did like a girl who could rock a baseball cap.” He jerked his chin toward the front of the line. “It looks like we’re just about to start. See you at the finish line?”

  She nodded. “You got it. May the best runner win.”

  He laughed. “And may the worst runner choose dinner wisely.”

  The guy with the loudspeaker counted them down and blew an air horn.

  Suzanne stuck her ear buds back in her ears and turned up the volume on her phone. She fell in line behind an older lady in head-to-toe spandex and then jogged over the starting line. The instructions on the timing chip had said that each person’s time would start once the chip crossed the line. Which meant she was officially on the clock.

  She kept a slow and steady pace for the first three songs on her playlist, but realized she was going to have to walk for a couple of minutes. She jogged over to the far side of the crowd and slowed to a walk. She’d lost sight of Nick almost immediately. He’d gone on and on about the loser buying dinner, which she was fine with. She wasn’t really in a competition with him, but with herself. She knew it would do a lot for her confidence as a burgeoning runner if she could complete the 5K with a decent time.

  Ever since she’d gotten up this morning, a verse from the fourth chapter of Second Timothy had been running through her head. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There had been so many times in the past when she’d seen her faith falter. When good things happened, it was easy to have faith. But when the hard times came, that’s when it was tougher.

  Suzanne felt a sense of accomplishment once she passed the first mile marker. Her goal was in reach. I have finished the race. She couldn’t wait to prove to herself once and for all that she could finish. And she couldn’t help but think about the rest of her life as she ran toward her running goal. Was it time to seriously consider becoming a homeowner? Could she finally let go of the fear that held her back and finally trust that the Lord had a plan for her? And would she ever be able to trust anyone enough to make them a permanent part of her life?

  Only time would tell.

  ***

  Nick slowed his pace after he grabbed water from the water station at the two-mile mark. He’d lost sight of Suzanne in the crowd, but every now and then he thought he saw her bright blue cap in the sea of people. This race was much harder than he’d anticipated.

  He pulled his shirt away from his body and waved it back and forth to let in some air. He should’ve worn one of those moisture-wick shirts instead of just a regular T-shirt. Next time he’d know better. Next time. Maybe there wouldn’t be a next time. He didn’t stay in one place long enough to get to know the 5K calendar.

  A group of guys dressed like Elvis, complete with sideburns, jogged past him. That is definitely going in the article. He shook his head as the morning sunshine glinted off of their rhinestone jumpsuits.

  He approached the three-mile mark and the runners in his group kicked it into high gear. Only two-tenths of a mile left. Nick pumped his legs and broke into a full speed run.

  Suzanne appeared out of nowhere, her blue cap bobbing. She flashed him a smile as she drew up beside him.

  No way was he going to let a girl beat him, even one who’d been training when he hadn’t. He matched her stride step for step and they crossed the finish line at the same time.

  Nick ran through the queue for male runners, and once he was through, he stopped. He put his hands on his knees and tried to take a few deep breaths.

  “Good form out there,” Suzanne said, coming up next to him. She held out a cup of water she’d grabbed from the table at the finish line.

  He took the water from her. “Thanks.” He tossed back the cup and drained the water.

  “There’s quite a party set up in the plaza,” she said.

  He motioned toward the sidewalk. “Lead the way.”

  They headed toward the plaza. “I guess it was a tie, huh?” he asked.

  Suzanne burst out laughing. “You really are competitive, aren’t you?” She bumped him with her shoulder. “Actually, if you must know, I’m pretty sure you beat me by just a hair. But I think they’ll post the official times soon.”

  Nick chuckled. “Yeah, being competitive is one of my bad habits.” He’d grown up playing sports, and the drive to win had been present from an early age. Even though he’d stopped playing team sports when he was a junior in high school, he’d still competed in othe
r avenues. In college it had been grades. Now that he was an adult, he wanted to be the best at whatever he did, whether it was writing an article for a magazine or investing in the stock market.

  “Nothing wrong with a little competition as long as you keep it in check.” Suzanne motioned toward a huge tent with tables set up. “Ooh, it looks like they have Krispy Kreme doughnuts for us. I think I could run a 5K every day if it meant I could eat those without any guilt.”

  Nick nodded. “Me, too.” He motioned for her to enter the tent first and followed behind her in line. He filled his plate with a chicken biscuit and two donuts. He grabbed a bottle of Gatorade from an ice chest and followed Suzanne over to a sidewalk where a number of runners were sitting and eating. “Man, if I’d known 5Ks came with a spread like this, I’d have started running a long time ago.”

  Suzanne giggled. “No doubt.”

  Nick appreciated the way her makeup-free face glowed from the exertion of the run. Her eyes were nearly as blue as her cap, and her full, pink lips didn’t need any lipstick to make them as enticing as any he’d ever seen.

  Her mouth curved into a smile. “Are you checking me out?”

  He laughed. “Maybe a little.” He cast her a sideways glance. “Just mentally comparing the woman I was with last night to the one sitting next to me today.”

  “And? Which do you prefer?” she asked teasingly.

  He shook his head. “Tough call. I mean, last night’s date was all decked out in a dress and heels and all. But I have to admit there’s something alluring about running shorts and no makeup.” He threw his hands up in surrender. “It’s a toss-up I guess.”

  She laughed. “Well, to be honest this is more me.” She gestured at her exercise clothes. “But getting all fixed up is fun every now and then, too.”