“Give it a rest, Monica,” I sigh.
Her sideways glance says more about her feelings than her silence does.
*
“Ember, I’m glad you came!” Josh jumps off the stage and greets me with a hug.
Things are better than normal between him and Monica. The two-day separation is never discussed, and their beautiful love story has resumed.
“Of course I’d come, this is a great idea!”
“Where’s your guitar?” Josh asks as we head up on stage.
I give him a cautious smile. “Funny. Unless you were planning on having us play the single song I know, my guitar playing is out of the question without lessons. Do you want to teach me?”
He slaps my back. “Of course I’ll teach you, November. What’s taken you so long to ask?”
Josh and I go over the playlist for tomorrow with C.J., the drummer. C.J.’s our age and has lived in Barnstable since he was ten. When he holds a pair of sticks it’s pure magic. With hands and abs like his, he could have any girl that graces this bar. I think he does, too—one night at a time, anyway.
“Josh, did you tell November about my cousin?” C.J. asks as he moves parts of his drum set around.
Josh turns to me with giddy hope in his eyes. “C.J.’s cousin, Regan, lives in Ireland. He’s flying in tomorrow to spend the summer here. He plays the fiddle like nothing I’ve ever heard—we Skyped the other night.”
My eyebrows shoot up excitedly. “Really? Is he interested in playing with us?”
“Yeah, Rapunzel, he is. That’s why we’re talking about it.” C.J. shakes his head. He’s called me ‘Rapunzel’ since we met last winter and I don’t know why. I think it has something to do with my hair, but who knows? I hate it. He knows that. He’s a bit of an ass—as any good drummer is, I suppose.
“Call me that again and I’ll send you on a self-guided cavity search for your sticks.” I throw his sticks at him.
“Guys, let’s not have ‘Behind the Music’ drama on our first night, K? Let’s play.” Josh teases as he takes his seat on the stool and starts strumming his guitar.
It’s the first time I’ve heard a guitar since the night Bo and I played together on stage. I feel my brow furrow for a second before I discard the memory. Music was in my bones long before Bo Cavanaugh, and I won’t let one fracture ruin it for me.
We go through a few Sheryl Crow, The Script, and The Avett Brothers songs before calling it a night. C.J. and Josh have played together for years, and I know all the lyrics to the songs we sing. It seems like it’s a good fit. When C.J. leaves, and Josh and I are alone in Finnegan’s, the awkward silence takes its toll on me.
“It’s OK to talk about it, Josh,” I offer.
“I don’t really know what to say. I’m sorry.” Josh hands me a beer and we sit on the stage, our legs dangling over the edge.
“I just want you to know it’s fine. Bo and I just went way too fast and ignored important things. We just got...wrapped up. He’s my superior now, lines are clearly drawn, and we can each move on.” Each time I say it, I’m reminded of its truth.
Josh puts his arm around my shoulders. “I think you’re right, about it moving too fast. That was fucking intense with you two—” he cuts himself off as the main door opens. Just as he’s about to launch into his “Hello, we’re closed!” speech, in walks Adrian.
“Adrian?” I slide off the stage and walk toward him.
“Hey you.” He smiles broadly and pulls me in for a hug. Mmm..
“What are you doing here? I thought you were coming down tomorrow.” My mile-wide grin doesn’t shock me. Things feel so comfortable with him, so easy.
“I have some time and didn’t want to wait till tomorrow to see you.” As we pull away from our hug, he slides his hand down my arm and brushes my fingertips.
“I’ve got to finish cleaning up with Josh, I’ll be out in a minute.” I turn and walk back to the stage, noting the question on Josh’s face.
“I’ll wait outside for you. Nice to see you, Josh,” Adrian says as he exits the bar.
As soon as the door clicks, Josh’s eyes nearly bug out of his head.
“Shut up, Josh. It’s just Adrian.”
Just Adrian ...
“What’s with the hugging and hand holding and all of that?” Damn Josh, he’s not afraid to just get right in there and ask what every other guy might be thinking.
“I don’t know.” I don’t really know what I’m doing. I don’t know why being around Adrian feels good. “Don’t you dare say a thing to Monica about this.” I never keep secrets from Monica, but I don’t know yet if Adrian is a secret.
Josh puts his hands up in mock-defense. “Your secret is safe with me…Rapunzel.” I punch him in the arm as he laughs.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. What time should I be here?”