Page 13 of Hidden with a Rockstar
"You weren't dying." She laughs.
"I was close."
"You had a cold."
"It was a bad one."
She grins. "Feel better, Rhonda.”
It's the first time she's used my name. I grin.
"Thanks, Lena."
I entered my contact details into her phone before I leave. She puts hers in mine. I walk toward the Uber with my bag on my shoulder and my bass case in my hand, and her number in my pocket. The afternoon is cool and grey.
On the drive north, I text her:I’ve made it to the studio.
She replies before I've finished reading the first text:Good. Don't infect them all.
I'll try not to.
The couch was okay, right?
It felt so cozy, thank you.
Glad I could help.
CHAPTER 3
THE TEXT
“Everyone, this is Gerald. He’ll be helping out with some audits so he’ll be with us through year-end. Be nice to him.”
Gerald does a slow lap of the cubicles. When he reaches my desk he stops, reads my nameplate, and smiles at me.
“Hi Lena.” He taps the top of my monitor. “I guess I’ll be seeing a lot of your reconciliations.”
“I suppose so.” I say.
He laughs like I’ve been funny and moves on. I turn to my monitor, open the group chat, and give the actual news of the day my full attention.
Me: Okay, is it confirmed confirmed? Rebecca and Jo are dating?
Ravita:PHOTOS EXIST. Same brunch. Rebecca had her hand on the back of Jo’s chair.
Marnie:A hand on a chair basically means they already moved in together.
Ravita:The lead singer of The Sirens and the lead singer of the Belladonnas. I cannot believe this!
This was something I already know from Rhonda, so I say nothing.
Marnie:This ENDS the rivalry. I get to like the Belladonnas in peace now.
Ravita:No way, we have to stay strong.
I smile at my phone. Across the aisle, Gerald is arranging his desk and glancing over like he’s waiting for me to look up. I don’t. By the time I surface, I’ve reread the brunch thread four times and answered none of the three emails he’s already sent me about the Q4 file.
Ravita is across from me with her salad and her phone propped against a water bottle.
