I sniffle, wiping my eyes with a napkin. “Because what happens next? This is fun and I’m having a great time, but at the end of the summer, Josh will leave, and I’ll still be here. Doing what? Tending bar.” It tastes bitter coming out of my mouth.
My dad’s face falls. “Melanie, I’m not saying you shouldn’t think about the future and what will make you happy, because eventually you should. But are you happy right now? Getting to know him again and making music?”
I nod, hugging myself for comfort. “Yes, of course I am.”
“Then focus on thenow. Enjoy itnow. Or it will pass you by and you will miss it. Be where your feet are.” My dad gets out of his chair and wraps his arms around me, offering comfort in the way only a parent can.
“Be where your feet are,” I repeat.
“Yes.”
I sigh, leaning into his embrace. “I’ll try.”
24
JOSH
Melanie is at her dad’s house for a while. At first, I think I’ll wait for her but as time goes on, I give up waiting and focus on our evening plans. I prep the appetizer we’re bringing over to Miles’s and Jenna’s place. I walk to the liquor store on the corner and pick up a bottle of wine that I think Jenna will like and a case of Miller Lite for Miles since I’ve never seen him drink anything else. Melanie is right—the town is packed. Luckily, we can park at their house and walk up to the beach to watch the fireworks later on.
When I get back from the store, Melanie still isn’t back so I get out my guitar and play through “Every Song” a couple of times, adjusting the pre-hook the way we talked about. Then I open my notebook and make a list of the songs I’ve got so far for the EP.
1. Every Song
2. The Sound of Her Name
…
I’ve got…two. To be fair, I don’t even have that. I have a title for “The Sound of Her Name” and a few chord progressions I think could work. I haven’t even shown it to Melanie yet. And if I don’t get going, I’m not going to have enough for an EP. I’d like to present them with at least four songs by the end of the summer.
I pick up my guitar and start strumming the chords I’ve been tossing around in my mind. I hum it before I bring myself to sing the words. Once through, and I think maybe I’ve got something here.
“The sound of her name, soft in the air. Melody fading, but she’s still there,” I sing softly. I’m so lost in the music that I don’t hear Melanie come in.
“What’s that?” She startles me from behind and I jump.
“Geez,” I hiss. “You scared me.”
Melanie ignores me and picks up her guitar before plopping next to me. “I like it. What is it?”
“I was just fiddling with a song for Cara.” I shrug. “It’s nothing yet.”
“Well, come on.” Melanie nudges me with her knee. “Let’s write it.”
I grin. “Yeah? You really want to?” I thought Melanie was pulling back from collaborating on new stuff with me. Today she seems energized, and I find it irresistibly sexy.
“Yeah, I told you I want to.” She locks her eyes on me. “Unless you have other ideas for how we could kill time before the party.” She bites her lower lip, eyeing me teasingly.
I let out a chuckle. “I think we can make time for both of those things.”
“Let’s do it,” Melanie chirps. She strums a G major.
I laugh, shaking my head. “I don’t have any words yet. I was playing around with C-G-Am-F in the I-V-vi-IV progression.”
Immediately, Mel starts strumming, before I’ve had the chance to show her. She picks it up right away, and my heart jumps to my throat watching her. I watch her play through it a few times before she glances up at me. “Like this?”
“Exactly,” I say, finally strumming along. “The sound of her name, soft in the air. Melody fading, but she’s still there,” I sing. “I don’t know what should come next,” I admit, continuing to strum.
Melanie looks thoughtful as she repeats the chord progression. “How about this…” She licks her lips. “No answers come when you scream at the sky. Some get forever, some say goodbye.” Her voice is melodic.
