Page 58 of Barron's Second Chance
A sound from outside her closed bedroom door caught her ear, and she tipped her head toward the noise. She had been home alone for most of the day.
"What?" Sofia asked as she swiped the wand of her mascara on her eyelashes.
"Nothing. Just Mom's here with Kelly." Eden sat up. "They sound agitated."
"Okay. I better go finish getting ready. And hey," Sofia peered at her as she multitasked with her makeup. "I might be a judgey bitch, but I fully support whatever decision you make with Barron. Hear him out, don't hear him out. It's up to you. You guys have a lot of history; we all do with each other, so no one will judge you for finding it hard to break away fully."
She smiled, tears smarting in her eyes at Sofia's words. She was so lucky to have her and Ryan in her life. "Same here for you. I fully support you getting free drinks in the future."
She popped up from her bed, wanting to see what the commotion was outside. "Have fun. Tell Zoey happy birthday from me."
After she logged off, she left her room and followed the voices coming from the kitchen.
"I just don't know who else to get this late in the game," she heard Kelly say, her voice worried. "This is such a - oh hey, sweetheart," Kelly called out when she saw her there. She was smiling, but Eden could see the strain behind it.
"What's going on?" They were seated at the dining table, a few papers spread out in front of them.
Kelly gave a frustrated sigh, pulling at her short hair. "Michael Gong pulled out as the special guest performer for the New Haven Summer Fair."
"Who?"
The annual New Haven Summer Fair was an event that everyone looked forward to. It marked the end of summer break but was also a gentle reminder that school was back in session the following week.
Eden had loved attending the fair with Barron. They would stuff their faces full of funnel cake, cotton candy, hot dogs, and milkshakes. They would make out on top of the Ferris wheel, and Barron would usually win her an obnoxiously sized soft toy. The last summer they were together, she remembered recreating a very memorable scene from the movieFearwhen Mark Wahlberg fingered a young Reese Witherspoon on the rollercoaster.
She hadn't been to the fair since moving away from New Haven and hadn't been planning to attend this year, either. She was heading back to New York a few days before it would occur, eager to get some rest before her packed schedule started.
"Michael Gong. He came fourth on American Idol that one season."
"Oh. Right." She vaguely remembered that someone from a neighboring town had competed in the reality TV show. There was a massive campaign to get him votes since he was considered kind of a local.
"Anyway, he was going to be our guest performer, but he pulled out. I can't get anyone this short notice."
She bit her tongue from saying that the acoustic singer at their local bar would probably be more well-received than Michael Gong, but she didn't want to kick Kelly when she was down.
Her mom rubbed her hand up and down Kelly's back in a soothing gesture. "Don't fret, Kell. We'll figure something out. Someone must know someone."
And just like that, an idea came into her head.
Excited, she quickly ran through the logistics, wondering whether it would work. She needed to make a call; the sooner, the better.
"I'll be back!" She called out to them as she turned on her heel and rushed to her room in a flurry.
Grabbing her discarded iPad, she searched through her contacts before clicking on the profile, hoping his last Instagram story showing him in Los Angeles was still current.
Her screen rang for a moment before a shaky camera angle appeared, showing a white wall.
"Hello?" She squinted, trying to make out the fuzzy picture.
"Alright, love?" A familiar Mancunian accent greeted her. "This is a nice surprise."
Joshua Gates’ handsome face filled the screen. His tattooed fingers raked through his longish black hair; silver rings glittered on his index and thumb.
She gave Josh a wide smile; a fond warmness rippled through her as it always did whenever she saw him. They had so much history together, first as friends, then as lovers, before resuming their previous platonic friendship without any hard feelings.
"Joshy!" She greeted him before leaning into the screen, her face anxiously earnest. "Please tell me you're still in the States?"
"Eden!" Kelly exclaimed in delight when she spied her standing there. She opened her front door wider, beckoning her in. "Come in, come in."
