I sigh, knowing he’s right. “I’ve just… retreated into myself the past twenty years or so. This feels foreign.” I bite my lip, exhaling as my reluctance slips away. “What are they saying?”
Josh chuckles. “That’s my girl.” He picks up my phone and starts to scroll through the comments, reading them aloud.
“Wait… Why is this actually a BOP? ”
“THE COMEBACK WE DIDN’T KNOW WE NEEDED. ”
“Not me adding this to my breakup playlist immediately.”
“This man took a two-year nap and came back with the hit of the year and a hot girlfriend? Fire duo. ” He smirks at this. “Nap?”
“Hotgirlfriend? Let me see that.” I snatch the phone from Josh’s hands, my eyes skimming the comments. “There’s so many…” We scroll together, our heads tipped together as we slowly read.
“Bet he was washed-up to y’all till this hit 1M views overnight ”
“Country radio better clear a lane…HE’S BACK! ”
“2 years off and he comes back with THIS? Music industry take note.”
“He really said ‘miss me?’ and dropped a heater. ”
“It’s giving ‘took a step back and found the sound again’ and I am HERE FOR IT.”
“Y’all were calling him washed but he was just marinating. ”
Most of the comments are about Josh, rightfully so, but as I scroll through, there are a few that mention me. Instead of sending me into a spiral, something blossoms inside me. Something that may just convince me that this is really within reach. When I get to the first one that mentions me, I read it aloud.
“Okay, but who issheand where has she been hiding? ” I giggle. “They put a hot emoji.”
“That’s because you’re hot,” Josh says, kissing my temple.
I make apshhsound and keep reading. “She’s not just harmonizing, she’s healing souls. ”
“I came here for him but I’m staying for HER. ”
“SOMEONE SIGN HER ALREADY. ”
“Not the vocals aging like a fine wine. ”
“She’s the reason this man remembered how to write a love song. ”
I look over at Josh, but he isn’t looking at the phone—he’s looking at me.
“That one’s true,” he rasps.
A chill runs up my spine and I suck in a breath, telling myself I’ll only read five more comments and then I’ll forget about this silly little TikTok.
“I smell a CMA comeback performance,” Josh reads with a snort. “I doubt that.”
“Okay but this better be on Spotify by Friday or I’ll riot (respectfully).” I laugh. “That one’s funny.”
I scroll down once more. “This is giving, ‘we broke up but still did the duet at church’ energy.”
“Oh my gosh, people are wild.” Josh chuckles. “But look at this one…” he points to the comment at the bottom of the screen and reads: “This feels like sitting on a porch swing with someone you love and a secret you’re not ready to share yet.”
I feel Josh’s gaze on me, and I turn to meet it.
I lick my lips. “Well, damn.”
