My hand is shaking as I strum the first chords to an old Dashboard Confessional song Josh has never heard me sing. It comes back to me, and I remember how to play it in the same way that I remember to breathe. Second nature. Suddenly, I’m right back there in the Cote’s living room, playing with Josh for the first time. Halfway through the song, I look toward him. He’s in the same position, but his blue eyes are piercing straight through me, and I wonder if he’s remembering the first time too. I force myself to look away. I can’t sing the songtoJosh. That would be weird.
When I finish, everyone left in the bar claps and cheers. The men in the corner start shouting “Encore, encore!” to which I roll my eyes and shake my head.
I pull the mic to my mouth murmuring, “This was a one-time gig.” I grin and lean my guitar back against the wall, brushing past Josh with a teasing glance. “I hope you’re happy.”
He follows me back to the bar, perching again on his stool. “Happy doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
I duck back behind the bar and pick up his glass, refilling it with Coke. I set it in front of him and turn to check on my three regulars.
“I can’t believe you’re still here,” I tease them.
“Yeah, well, we can’t believe you can sing and have never gotten up there before.” Carl, the older man in the middle says with a finger wag in my direction.
“I just don’t sing too much anymore,” I say, waving him off and diverting my attention to their empty glasses.
“Didn’t look like that to me,” Bob, the balding grandfather type says.
I decide a change of subject is needed. “You boys ready to go home and go to bed?” I give them a pointed look.
They all laugh. Carl groans with a stretch. “Yeah, let’s cash out boys.”
“I’ll be right back,” I smile and turn toward my kiosk.
It’s nearly one a.m. before the rest of the patrons leave, and Josh and I are the only ones left. “You don’t have to wait for me, I’m going to be at least an hour,” I say cautiously. “Maybe I could give you my key.”
Josh waves his hand. “Naw, I’ll help you. I’ve worked in my fair share of bars. Just tell me what to do.”
I hesitate, bite back a grin, and finally hand him my sticky, laminated closing task checklist and a wet rag. “You can start by wiping down the counters and the bottles back behind the bar.”
Josh cocks his head at me. “You’ll let me back there with you?” There’s a sultriness to his voice that sounds vaguely flirtatious. I force myself to ignore it. Josh couldn’t possibly be interested in me, and I don’t dare let myself hope otherwise.
I roll my eyes, stepping around him. “I’mgoing to dry storage to get some more bottles for tomorrow.”
Lexi is in the back, perched on a stool, rolling the last of the silverware. Her eyes flick to me and she grins when I push through the door. “Who’s your friend?”
I frown. “I’d hardly call us friends now. We were a long time ago, in high school… He moved away. I haven’t seen him in years.”
“Doesn’t look that way to me—he’s hanging on your every word,” Lexi says with a smirk. Leave it to the young twenty-something to pick up on everything I don’t. The truth is, I thought Josh seemed interested, but I don’t want to let myself go there. All it will do is give me false hope for something that died a long time ago.
“Pshh, he is not. We’re just catching up.”
“What’s his name?” Lexi asks, and it sounds like a challenge.
I whirl on her just as she’s putting her last roll of silverware in the bin and standing.
“Josh Cote,” I say, silently wondering if the name will ring a bell. I head for the walk-in.
Lexi follows me. “Josh Cote?” Her jaw falls slack in disbelief.
I spin around and narrow my eyes at her.
“The country singer?” Lexi asks, her eyes bulging out of her head.
“Maybe?” I push my lips together. Is Josh really that recognizable now? I mean, I know all about him, but for Lexi to know who he is? That’s…unexpected.
“Maybe? Melanie. He’s like…a celebrity. Maybe like a C-lister, but still. Tell me you knew this.” Lexi puts her hands on her hips.
I fumble for words. The truth is, I paid attention to Josh’s career for a long time when he first moved to Nashville. Then I stopped because seeing him follow his dream when Isolacked the courage to follow mine was just too painful. I guess I hadn’t realized just how famous he is.
