Page 56 of The Music of Us
“We did,” Phillip admitted. “But only afteryoustarted a fight because you were toying with the idea of going solo.”
“What?” My jaw dropped. Jake had told me the band loved each other andwasn’tbreaking up. He said the argument wasn’t about anything.It was just stupid stuff, he claimed, brushing away my questions.
This didn’t sound like something small and stupid you could just forget about.
Jake’s jaw tightened. “I wasn’t toying with anything. I got an offer to release a side project, that’s all. I wouldn’t have to leave the band to do it.”
“Then why didn’t you want to come to our band meeting?”
“Because I’d been in the middle of working on a song!”
“And it was more important than US?”
Jake stood there wordlessly, a stubborn set to his jaw.
“See?” Phillip said knowingly. “That’s about the point the meeting began going downhill. Then everyone started fighting.”
Jake avoided Phillip’s gaze, staring out into the darkness instead. “I didn’t mean to make you think I didn’t care.”
“But youdid.”
And how come it never got cleared up? Why’d they all let it go for so long and think that just dropping everything would fix things between them?
“You should’ve just talked this out,” I said in frustration. Ghosting the people who mattered to you never solved anything. Under my breath, I added, “I can’t believe you’re still making the same mistakes.”
“Hey,” Jake said, turning sharply back to me. “Iwasn’t the one who changed my phone number.”
I blinked like I’d been slapped. Was that about Phillip or aboutme?
Six months after Jake left, I started working at the café more. Mom got me a new cell phone and registered it as a business line to save money. I had to get a new phone number too, one I never bothered to give to Jake. Because why should I? We’d already fallen out.
Had Jake tried to contact me later and I’d never known?
Had a message meant for me gone to someone else instead?
What had he said?
I wanted to ask. But I also didn’t, and I stared at him, caught between the night air biting my skin and the heat of his gaze on mine.
Had I made a mistake?
Or did I just want to believe Jake had still cared enough to reach out even half a year after he left?
Someone cleared their throat, making Jake and me jump. Apparently, we’d forgotten Phillip was there...
And watching the two of us with a deeply fascinated expression, like we were a TV show he couldn’t look away from.
“You know,” Phillip said conversationally, “when Jake firstcontacted me, I was wondering why he’d ask me to help out a cat café. But now, I’m too busy thinking about what a charming name Lucy is.”
I didn’t know whether to blush at the compliment or laugh at how ridiculous the situation was. I mean, the absolute teen heartthrob of the music world had interrupted an argument between his bandmate and me over a videobusiness meetingabout saving my family café while on aroofaftermidnight. Toflirt.
“Is Lucy short for anything?” Phillip questioned. “Like Lucille? Or Lucinda, perhaps?”
“Luciana, actually.”
At my admission, Phillip leaned forward, interest alight in his eyes. “That’s a beautiful name, love.”
Jake was right. Phillip really couldn’t turn off the flirting.
