“I’m just burnt out.” I sigh. “Too many late nights this week.”
Andrew makes atsksound, like he’s thinking. “I’m sorry,” he says. “I’ll be around more next week.”
I give him a smile that doesn’t quite reach my eyes. “I’m good. I just need a few minutes.” The words taste automatic—the kind of thing I’ve said to him a hundred times before. I walk away before he can answer, the weight of my own honesty pressing in as I close the office door and relish the solitude.
I plop down in the chair and check my phone. No messages. I open Instagram, searching for Josh’s profile. I haven’t looked at it in ages. I’m not even following him. The first photo on his feed is a picture of him and a girl with a familiar face. She’s some celebrity, but I can’t place her. The post is two months old and there are no other recent ones. I tap the follow button and swipe out of Instagram. I open Google and type “Josh Cote’s girlfriend.”
The headlines that come up surprise me:
Josh Cote and Keira Muller Split
Josh Cote Single After a Year with Keira Muller
Keira Muller Crushed Over Split with Country Star Josh Cote
Rising Music Sensation Josh Cote: Alone After Split with Girlfriend and Band
I don’t bother to click on any of them. Looks like he’s single. The thought of a very single Josh Cote sleeping on my couch while I’m just behind a wall makes something bubble in my belly. Desire? Curiosity for sure. I force myself to push it aside. Josh clearly doesn’t want to talk about these things, or he would have told me.
There’s a knock on the office door and Andrew pokes his head in.
“Mel, how about instead of cutting one of the bartenders, you just call it a night? I got it from here.” He offers me a reassuring smile.
It’s only ten thirty and I’m off tomorrow. Freedom is so close I can taste it.
I chew on my lip. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure,” he says emphatically. “You have been covering for me a lot lately.”
I nod in agreement, a rush of relief loosening my shoulders.
Andrew cocks his head toward the front of the restaurant. “Get outta here.”
He doesn’t have to tell me twice.
Then
Josh,
What do you think of this?
Your fingers strum in the summer breeze,
I wonder if you ever think of me.
Harmony’s easy, but love’s out of tune (is this lame???)
Still, I’d play forever if it’s next to you.
M
Strawberry Girl,
Are these lyrics for me? jk jk. I like it. I don’t know about that line though. Here’s what I got:
If the world says no, then let ‘em talk,
We’ll find our song in the quiet spots.
