“Text Merrick and see what’s goin’ on,” Jordy says. “We can hit up the usual spots if he won’t be joining us for a while. If he’s about to head over, we can go somewhere he’ll be more comfortable.”
“It’s not about comfort,” I say.
“I know, but just text him.”
Me: Hey, are you gonna make it out here soon? Jordy’s trying to make plans.
I put my phone down and finish my food. As we’re waiting for the bill, I check my phone and don’t find a response from him.
“Let’s just head to Mad Minnie’s,” I say.
Jordy gives me a look, but surprisingly he doesn’t say anything.
The four of us go on about our night like we usually do when we decide to bar hop, but I continue to check my phone every ten minutes.
Merrick never mentioned that he might not be able to make it, but I try not to think too much into him not responding to me. Maybe he’s busy. He might be deep in a writing session with Sky, or preoccupied with his family. I would’ve thought he would at least let me know if something came up, but it’s not like it’s too late yet.
Jordy keeps eyeing me as I check my phone, and I’m sure he’s already planning his I told you so speech.
At our second bar of the night, I check the time, noticing it’s already nearing eleven o’clock. I wonder if another text would be too clingy, but it’s been hours. Maybe I’ll just keep it casual.
Me: Hey, we’re at the second bar of the night. I probably won’t stay out too late. You gonna be able to come?
While Dennis and Charlie are dancing, Jordy sidles up to me and bumps my shoulder with his. “You okay?”
“Huh? Yeah, I’m fine.”
“He’s not responding?”
I shake my head. “It’s okay. I’m sure he’s busy.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
“Wouldn’t he text to let me know though?”
Jordy frowns. “I don’t know.”
“I’m not really sure why I got my hopes up.”
“Because you like him.”
“I shouldn’t have let him in so soon. I was worried this would happen.”
“What’s happening exactly?”
I rest my elbows against the bar top as I stare at the group of swaying bodies in front of us. “He’s making me fall head over heels again, just to disappear.”
Jordy sighs. “Well, it’s only been a few hours. I wouldn’t say he disappeared.”
“I haven’t talked to him since yesterday. He could be in New York or fucking Paris for all I know. It’s not like he has the best track record for filling me in on things.”
“I’d give him some more time. Don’t count him out yet.”
I cock my head at him and narrow my eyes. “What’s gotten into you? You were just telling me to be careful, and now you’re Team Merrick?”
Jordy looks away from me and focuses on the people dancing. “I just want to believe in true love.”
Jordy doesn’t have the best dating record. He seems to always choose the guys who aren’t ready to be out or the ones who don’t want a relationship.
I nudge him. “Fuck it. Let’s get drunk, okay?”
He grins. “Yes, please. Drinks on you?”
“Whatever,” I say, spinning around to get the bartender’s attention.
I don’t check my phone the rest of the time we’re out. When I finally stumble into my house, I shove my jeans off so I can flop into the bed, and my phone falls on the floor. That’s when I see the screen again. It’s free of any messages.
33
Merrick
Present Day
When I wake up, I can barely turn my head. My neck and shoulders are stiff as a board. I unfold myself off a small couch and look around to see the rest of the guys sprawled out in equally uncomfortable looking positions.
Me and the guys ended up crashing in this small studio Sky rented out. He wanted to put a few songs together, so from about nine to two in the morning, we were re-writing songs, putting them to music, and recording a couple.
I make my way to Sky who’s sitting in a rolling chair with his head resting on his folded arms on top of the table.
“Sky,” I say, hitting his arm. “Sky, wake up.”
He groans and lifts his head. “Oh, fuck. Ow.” Sky rubs the back of his neck as he glances up at me. “What?”
“Where’s the phones?”
Sky has a rule that we have to put our phones away when we come to work, mostly because Carlos wouldn’t focus because he was always on his phone.
“By the door. There’s a big vase on the table. They’re in there.”
“All right, well I’m gonna head out. I need to shower and head to Elijah’s.”
He holds his fist out for me to hit. “Good session last night, don’t you think?”
“Yeah.” I turn to leave then spin back around. “You aren’t gonna leave town soon are you?”
Sky cranes his head from shoulder to shoulder while he grimaces. “Uh, probably tomorrow or the next day. I think we’re gonna need to be in New York at the end of next week, so I wanna fit some more fun into my time off before I have to deal with Evan.”
“But we’re not due to have the album done for a while, right? And we just got off a long ass tour, I can’t imagine them wanting to do it again already. What the hell does he want?”
Sky shrugs. “You got me.”
“All right then, I wanna talk to you before you leave. All of you,” I say.
Sky spins around in his chair to face me, his brows furrowing slightly. “Do I need to be worried?”
“I don’t think so.”
He cocks his head. “Doesn’t sound promising, Kingston.”
“I’m not trying to quit or anything,” I say with a forced laugh.
“Well, shit. You should’ve started with that. Text me whenever.”
Before I leave, I grab my phone and then head out the back door of the building and jump into my car.
