I force myself to eat toast just to have something in my stomach when I swallow down three Tylenol.
It’s just past one o’clock when I pull my phone out to text Merrick back.
Me: Okay, I’m hungover. We can talk later.
Was I short? Yes, but honestly, regardless of his excuse, I’m still upset. Mainly at myself. I know what Merrick does to me, and I should’ve known better than to have things get physical. My heart is already making plans my brain knows won’t come to fruition, but my body still craves his.
As soon as I put the phone down it starts to ring.
“Hello?” I answer.
“Are you mad at me?” Merrick asks.
I release a heavy sigh as I lie across my couch. “What happened last night? I thought you were coming out with us.”
“Yeah, I remember when Jordy asked me, but then we never discussed it again. I didn’t know what the plans were or when.”
“You said you’d text me yesterday. I thought it was about our plans.”
“No, I just meant I’d text you because I like to talk to you, I really forgot about the plans, and you never mentioned it. But I ended up getting so caught up with the guys in the studio yesterday, and Sky keeps our phones hidden away when we work. We all passed out in the studio after two in the morning. I’m sorry, Ali. I didn’t mean to ditch you.”
I guess he’s right. I suppose I assumed he remembered the plans, but maybe I should’ve reminded him. He does have a lot of stuff going on right now.
“It’s okay, you didn’t miss out on anything except a potential hangover.”
He chuckles. “Poor baby.”
“I was looking forward to seeing you, though.”
“You like me or something?” he asks, and I can tell he’s smiling as he questions me.
“Anyway,” I say, changing the subject. “So, you got some work in last night?”
“Yeah, it was cool. I’m probably gonna hang out with them again tonight because Sky is already itching to leave town. We also have to be in New York late next week.”
My heart sinks even though I knew it was inevitable. Of course he’s going to have to leave.
“How long?”
He sighs. “I’m not sure. I don’t even know what they want to talk to us about. Our next album isn’t due for a while, and we just got off a long ass tour. We should get some damn down time.”
I stay silent for a while, debating on whether I want to say the words that are dancing on the tip of my tongue.
“Do you know when or where you’ll buy a house? I know you’ve been traveling a lot lately, but eventually you should have more time at home, right? Wherever you choose for that to be. Have you thought about it? Do you want to live in New York?”
“Would you live in New York?” he asks, surprising me.
“Me? Why?”
“Just curious,” he replies.
“I know that was our plan when we were kids,” I say with a short laugh. “But I haven’t thought about that in a long time.”
“Do you like living in Chaparral?”
“I do. It’s nice here, and it’s still close to home.”
“Hmm.”
We fall silent again, and when I open my mouth, I ask him the very thing I said I wouldn’t.
“Have you told the guys yet?”
Merrick clears his throat. “No, not yet.”
I nod my head. “Yeah, I figured.”
He releases a breath. “Well, I was gonna invite you to come to King’s Tavern tonight. Are you interested?”
“Ugh, alcohol.”
His deep laugh makes me smile. “Just drink water.”
“Fine. When?”
“Park at your mom’s and I’ll meet you at eight.”
“Ugh, that smells awful,” I say, making a face at Merrick’s glass of whiskey.
He licks his lips. “But it tastes good. Wanna suck the flavor from my tongue?”
I shift in my seat as Merrick grins at me. “No, thanks.”
“Liar.”
Two women hesitantly approach the booth, walking up behind Merrick.
“Looks like you got a couple fans,” I say with a nod.
Merrick angles his head over his shoulder and gives them a grin that lets them know they can come up.
“Hi,” a pretty brunette says with a nervous smile.
“Sorry to bother you,” the redheaded one says. “But it’s kind of a once in a lifetime situation.”
“It’s all right,” Merrick replies, still smiling.
“Can we get a picture with you?”
“Yeah, of course.”
The redhead looks at me briefly. “Want me to take it?” I ask.
“Oh, yes. Thank you!”
Merrick stands up and gets in between the women, draping an arm over each of their shoulders while I stand in front of them and take the picture.
“Thank you,” the women say simultaneously.
“No problem,” Merrick answers, sliding back into the booth as I hand them their phone back.
I watch as the redhead elbows the brunette.
“Um. Are you gonna be in town a while? We were wondering if you might want to hang out with us.”
I scratch my nose to hide my smile.
Merrick keeps his smile in place. “Sorry ladies. I’m gonna be pretty busy, but it was nice meeting you.”
After the women have gone back to their table, I grin at Merrick, but he just shakes his head. “Don’t say anything.”
“What? I have nothing to say.” I mull over my thoughts for a few seconds. “Do you think guys will come up to you if you come out?”
He fixes me with a look. “Would that make you jealous?”
“If guys propositioned you?”
He nods.
“Would I be in a position to be jealous?”
“Don’t answer questions with questions.”
“I’d like to think you wouldn’t take up any offers if you were in a relationship with someone.”
“Not someone, Ali. You.”
He takes a sip of his drink as he watches me trying to fight off my smile.
“Would you be jealous if guys came on to me?”
