Desperate Chances

“Happy to see you too,” I chuckled, closing the door after Maysie followed her inside.

Riley rolled her eyes and gave me a stiff hug. She wasn’t the touchy feely type so I purposefully wrapped my arms around her and gave her a squeeze.

“Aw, you’ve missed me,” I simpered, kissing her cheek nosily.

“Ugh. Enough with the hugging and kissing and squealing,” Riley said, pushing me away good-naturedly.

I grinned. “It’s been months, Ri, you need to prepare yourself for tons of cuddles. Maybe I can do your hair for you and you can paint my nails. We can make it a real girls’ night!” I enthused sarcastically, knowing the response I’d get.

Riley made a face. “Has hell frozen over? No? Well then fuck off.”

Maysie grabbed my hand and pulled me forward. She slung her arm around my shoulders while doing the same to Riley. “The gang’s all here! It’s been too long!”

“Well except for Viv. Let me guess she’s giving herself a Brazilian in the bathroom,” Riley guessed.

“I heard that!” Vivian called from the other side of the bathroom door and we all laughed.

“You’re coming over to sound check with us, right?” Maysie asked.

My stomach knotted, but I pasted a smile on my face. “Sure.”

“We thought we’d all go get something to eat before the guys have to be back for the show,” Riley suggested and I simply nodded.

Eating and food was the last thing on my mind.

But taking a drink of something in the mini bar was right at the front of it.

I felt jittery and apprehensive.

Get a grip! I scolded myself. I’d seen Mitch many times since sleeping together. Why was I getting so worked up?

There was absolutely no reason for me to feel this way. I seriously doubted Mitch would bother speaking to me at all.

It’ll be just as it had been for the last year; pretending the other doesn’t exist. Pretending I didn’t feel like bashing my head against a wall every time I heard Sophie’s voice.

Sounds like a super duper time!

The idea of actually trying to speak to him had been dashed the moment I decided not to return his text.

Why did I have to go and send that stupid message in the first place?

I had just resigned myself to the level of discomfort that I continuously felt in his presence. Now it would be so. Much. Worse.

Vivian finally came out of the bathroom and struck a pose in front of the mirror. She ran her hands down her sides while twisting her body left and right as she looked at her reflection.

“Damn Viv, are we hittin’ the clubs before dinner? Do I need to dig out my hoochie gear?” Riley asked blandly.

“Some of us like to look good for our man,” Vivian snipped, fluffing hair.

“And some of us wait to show off our lady bits until after the sun has set,” Riley responded.

“Ladies, ladies. Come on. Let’s just get over to the bar. The guys should be about finished.

“Let’s go then,” I said with pep in my voice.

Riley lifted her eyebrows in surprise. “Wow, someone’s excited to listen to sound check.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh snark, how I’ve missed you.”

I looped my arm with Riley’s and walked out into the hallway, Maysie and Vivian following us.

“How’s the job going?” I asked my friend as the four of us piled into the elevator and headed to the lobby.

“Long hours. Crap pay. It’s great actually,” Riley grinned and she meant it. She had graduated in the spring from grad school and was now working for one of the biggest newspapers in Boston. So yeah, I was a little bit jealous. I was happy for her most of all, but I could admit that I wished it were me working as a cutting edge reporter and not writing about people’s landscapes for a low budget magazine that sat at the back of the rack at the dentist’s office.

A. Meredith Walters's books