"I got the message," he holds up his hands, "but you need a place to stay, and I have an empty room. You'd just have to pay our man here the other half of the rent."
A lot really has changed if Carlos is renting out his house. I need to ask Delilah for all the details on what has happened in the last six months.
"Or you can stay with me." My entire body stiffens at the sound of his voice. I knew I'd run into him eventually. What I didn't expect was for him to invite me to stay with him in front of my friends and former coworkers. What the hell is he thinking?
2
Devin
This is a happy surprise.Delilah told me Lisa was back in town. That she was here to stay. A small part of me hopes I'm the reason. I handled things badly the first time around, and I want another shot. But based on her reaction...that will not be as easy as I hoped.
It took me a second to realize what they were talking about. I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but it was hard since they are seated in the chairs directly in front of the door. My only purpose today was to talk to Angie and make sure I'm good to perform this weekend.
I wasn't expecting to see the one I let slip away sitting in front of me, looking for a place to live. The question slipped out of my mouth before I even realized it.
Her back stiffens, and she doesn't budge. Eric and Carlos turn toward me. Carlos with his brows raised, and Eric with mistrust written all over his face. I don't blame him; he doesn't really know me. And as far as I know, Carlos knows nothing about the relationship Lisa and I hid from everyone.
"No offense, Devin, but you don't exactly have room for her either." Carlos isn't delivering a jab, just a statement that he knows to be true. I have what amounts to a tiny home beside my parents' house. It has one bedroom, and instruments cluttering up the space.
Honestly, I don't know how we didn't get caught dating when she was here. It's not like my parents couldn't look out their window and see her car parked by my house. Or, maybe they did, and decided not to say anything. Who knows...
"You're right." I nod in agreement. "But if it's short term, we could work something out."
I'm waiting for Lisa to turn around. To acknowledge my existence, but she's not making a move. I've definitely fucked up before I've had time to fix things between us.
Finally, she turns around. "Thanks for the offer, but I think rooming with Eric may be better. I'll have my own space. Besides, I wouldn't want to disturb your writing process."
Great, that's what she thinks is going to happen. I've written some of my best songs when she was at my place. She's my muse, and she doesn't realize it.
I can argue my point or let it rest. It could work in my favor, but Lisa is stubborn. Once she's decided something, that's it.
"Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find me." I don't want her to stay with Eric. He's flirty and it's only a matter of time before she falls for his charm. I turn toward Carlos, "Is Angie in the office?"
"Yep." He nods in the direction of the hall before taking a sip of water. "Just knock before you go in. She's not getting along well with the computer and I think she's ready to chunk it."
"Will do." I glance at Lisa one last time before heading toward the office, hoping she'll say something else. But she doesn't.
Angie is stabbing at her keyboard when I knock on the open door, muttering something under her breath. She doesn't realize I'm there, and I knock again. Still nothing. "Angie," I call out as I knock for the third time.
She jumps back in her chair and almost topples backward before regaining her balance. "You scared the hell out of me, Devin."
"Sorry," I hold my hands up in surrender. "I knocked a couple of times, but you didn't answer."
"It's fine. I need to take a break from this, anyway." She stands and comes around the front of the desk. "What can I do for you?"
I step inside the office and make my way toward her. "I just wanted to double check my performance schedule and make sure everything is good with it."
"As of right now, yes." She glances at her desk behind her. "Stella is looking for more acts to book. I think she's trying to get Crooked Halo to come back in the next few months if their touring schedule allows it. But the weekends are wide open right now."
"Awesome." Crooked Halo coming back will do great things for the bar since they are an upcoming act. One day I hope to have as many people filling the crowd as they do. "I can keep an eye out for other bands if she wants some help."
"Really?" She stares at me in disbelief. "I figured you'd want the monopoly on playing time."
She's wrong. I'm not that kind of person. Well, not completely. "I do like having the stage whenever I want it, but the more bands that play here, the more people come in. And that's good business for both of us."
Not to mention if more acts come in here, especially bigger ones, people in the music industry will take notice. It's a chance for me to get a break. To make it big doing something I always treated like a hobby, but want to make my career. Being an artist isn't easy.
"You have a point." Angie nods. "I'll let Stella know you want to help."
