“Don’t you remember how good it used to be?” he whispers, never letting his gaze fall. “Think about it Mel, please?”
I swallow the knot in my throat. “I’ll think about it,” I murmur. “But I can’t make any promises.”
Josh smiles then, showing his dimples under his honey blond stubble speckled with gray. Another reminder of how much time has passed between us. He brings my hand to his mouth and kisses it softly, his mouth warm. “That’s all I ask.”
* * *
Hours later,I’m alone and feeling emotionally drained. Josh left me to meet up with some old friends from high school and frankly, I’m thankful for the space to think. That doesn’t stop me from laying on his pillow on the couch though. I push the side of it over my face and inhale. His scent is ingrained in the flowery pillowcase. Something musky, cedar wood maybe. Definitely not the same smell high school Josh had, but so much better.
I close my eyes and before I know it, I’m remembering.
“I think it’s ready,” Josh says, putting down the open notebook and picking up his guitar. “Let’s play through it.”
I wince. “I don’t know… The harmonies are rough.” I chew on my lip. Over the past couple of weeks, working on this song has become more than just a song. It’s everything I’m feeling inside for Josh…my best friend’s little brother. Except he’s hardly little. No, Josh is filling out—he’s all lean muscle and patchy stubble.
“Come on, let’s just try it in unison,” Josh urges. He strums the first chord and wiggles his eyebrows at me. He grins and shows me both dimples.
“Okay, fine,” I roll my eyes.
Then we’re playing together, Josh taking the lead on guitar and singing backup to my melody.
Your fingers strum in the summer breeze,
I wonder if you ever think of me.
Harmony’s easy, but we’re out of tune,
But, I’d play forever if it’s next to you.
We keep it quiet, keep it cool,
But every note bends the rules.
If you knew what I felt inside,
Would you stay, or would you hide?
Don’t call it a summer fling
I’ll give you my paper ring.
I scribbled your name on my notebook page.
It’s wrong, it’s right, it’s something new,
I don’t know chords, but I know you.
Midnight tides, moon on the sand,
Sneakin’ out with guitars in hand.
Strawberry girl, sing me a tune,
I'll play forever if it’s next to you.
When the song ends, Josh’s eyes lock with mine. He sets his guitar down, and I do the same. Suddenly I’m hyper aware of how close we are. Goose bumps prick my arms and before I know it, only an inch separates us. Josh leans closer to me. “That was amazing,” he murmurs, entangling his fingers with my own.
I nod and a sound similar to “Uh-huh” escapes me.
