“Good man,” Mark says, taking a sip of his own drink. “So, I’d love to know what you’ve been working on these past couple of weeks.”
Josh chuckles, sipping his water as soon as the bartender sets it down. “Cutting right to the chase, I see.” The men lock eyes, and it’s only now that I realize they may not be as friendly as I originally thought.
“Well, Mark, as you know, I’ve been trying to write an acoustic EP. Something totally different from what I’ve done before.” Josh runs a hand along his jaw.
Josh begins to tell him all about Cara, and Mark visibly softens. Josh fills him in on her death and scratches the surface of our history together. He talks about the old songs we wrote together. “I think I’m going back to my roots. Writing with nostalgia. The first song I’ve finished, I co-wrote with Melanie when we were teens. We’ve given it a refresh, and I’d love for it to be the first single.”
Mark’s smile is slow to form. Standing, he drains the last of his drink in one gulp. The way he is eyeing the two of us sends pins and needles straight up my spine. He nods and then taps the bar. “Tina,” he calls, gesturing to the bartender. “Close my tab. Put it on my room charge.” He rises to his feet, throwing a couple of bills on the bar and gestures to the lobby couches. “Let’s hear it.”
“O-okay.” Josh nods and suddenly seems nervous.
We brought both guitars. They’re leaning in their cases on the other side of Josh. He grabs mine first and passes it to me. We follow Mark out to the center of the lobby. I can feel the pulse in my neck as we settle in, guitars in hand. I’m used to singing alone in my apartment, not in hotel lobbies full of people. I look to Josh, and he offers me a reassuring smile.
There’s a curved beige couch with a black armchair across from it in the center of the lobby. Mark takes the armchair and gestures for Josh and me to sit. We take out our guitars and Mark is eerily silent, watching us. Josh catches his bottom lip with his teeth. “You good?” he murmurs.
“Yeah,” I breathe. “Let’s do this.”
We play through the song, and it’s even more natural than the last time. Our voices melt together like butter. Several people stop to watch—something that would normally give me pause—but all I have to do is look at Josh and everything feels right.Thisfeels right.
“Wow,” Mark says before we’ve strummed the last chord. “That’s fabulous.”
The look of relief that crosses Josh’s features cracks open something inside me.He was worried, I realize.
“Thank you.” Josh nods, flicking his gaze my way. “Mel is the one who had the old lyrics. We reworked them together.”
I feel my face heat, and all I can do is smile.
“So, is this going to be a duet album?” Mark arches his eyebrows, looking between us.
“Oh, uh—we hadn’t really discussed that,” I mutter.
“But we are putting on a memorial concert on Labor Day Weekend, for my sister,” Josh adds. “I figured I’d see where the wind takes me.” He crosses his arms, his gaze flicking between me and Mark.
Mark chuckles and there’s something intimidating behind it. “The wind better be taking you to Melanie. You two are fantastic together.”
I blush, peering up at Mark through my lashes. “Thank you. But…I don’t know. Josh is the star here.”
“Tell you what, you two get this recorded and get it over to Gary and John. We’re going to talk about this.” Mark points at us. “This is good stuff.”
Josh drops his arms and nods, relaxing. “Thanks, man.”
“I’ll be in touch.” Mark stands, preparing to leave. Josh and I follow suit, shaking his hand.
As soon as Mark is gone, Josh throws his arms around me, peppering kisses all over my face and neck.
“Oh my god,” he murmurs. “I thought he was going to hate it.” He kisses my forehead and pulls back to look at me. “I’m so relieved.”
“I’m relieved for you.” I grin, fighting the urge to kiss him on the mouth in this lobby full of onlookers.
“I guess we’re doing this?” Josh asks, his eyes lit with something electric.
One look at him, and I already know. My answer is yes.
20
JOSH
Idon’t know what I was thinking trying to be a solo artist. It doesn’t make any sense. I’ve never been a solo artist. I’ve had my band and before that, it was Melanie. It wasalwaysMelanie. I have to pinch myself to believe she’s actually going to do this with me. Our relationship is complicated and yet, she’s still willing to do this with me. The way she took me in and gave me a place to crash, and now it’s as if we were never apart. It doesn’t feel real, and I will not let myself take her for granted.
