Not Sorry

“Because I didn’t make the best first impression with Sean.”

“How bad of a first impression?” Keri asks as she studies me with her eyes.

“The kind where I spilled coffee on him, accidentally kissed him on the lips, and introduced him to the team by the wrong name.”

Jamie laughs. “You did not! I didn’t realize. He usually tells me everything.”

I blush a brighter shade of pink.

Keri grins. “Plus, you probably apologized about a million times.”

I frown but have to nod.

Owen starts playing with his band, and we all fall silent as we watch him.

An hour later, Keri says, “I need to go home, or I’m never going to get out of bed on time in the morning.”

I nod. “Good night.”

Keri glances from me to the stage. “Just don’t stay all night.” She hugs me and then starts walking out of the club. She stops and hollers over her shoulder, “And don’t stay up all night, making those asshole real estate agents cookies for their showings tomorrow! You need your sleep.”

“I won’t!” I yell back.

I’ll just get up a couple of minutes early and throw some cookies in the oven while I’m getting ready.

I turn my attention back to Owen and his band onstage. At least I have Owen. He might not be perfect, but I love him, and he loves me back. That’s enough.

Jamie lays her head on my shoulder. “I’m exhausted. I’m not going to last much longer.”

I laugh. “I’ll get you into a cab then.”

I take Jamie to a cab, and then I go back to my seat to finish watching Owen play. I love watching him play, but I really wish he would book more weekend gigs and less during the week.

I rest my head in hands as I watch him continue to play. I know they still have three or four more songs before they finish their set. I can make it through. I close my eyes. I’ll just listen and rest my eyes…

“Olive!” Owen shouts, jolting me awake.

I jump awake.

“I don’t know why you even bother coming if you are just going to fall asleep,” Owen says.

“I’m sorry. I’ve had a really long day. Let’s just go back to my apartment and go to sleep,” I say.

He sighs. “My apartment is so much nicer though. Your apartment is tiny.”

“But my apartment is closer to my work, and I haven’t seen my cat all day. You don’t have to be anywhere in the morning.”

He shakes his head. “I’m going to my apartment. You coming?”

I think back to this morning—how late I was going into work because he’d turned my alarm off again, how long of a subway ride it was to get into work.

“I’m sorry. I can’t tonight. I’ll stay over tomorrow night,” I say.

Owen frowns and then leaves without so much as a good-bye kiss.

I love Owen. He loves me, I keep repeating to myself.

We’ve both just had a bad day today. Tomorrow will be better.