Jason smiled widely. “No, but I think I just figured out why you’ve been so effing crazy lately.”
I shook my head denying it before he’d even spoken another word.
He ignored me. “She’ll be at the party tomorrow, you know that?”
“I figured she’d be,” I said, trying to sound absent. I avoided eye contact. “She’s good friends with Casey Donigan.”
“Yeah, she is, but she’s also kind of responsible for the party arrangements. She practically did all the prep for it. She’s a cool chick.”
“That’s cool,” I said, trying to be that very word, but the curiosity was killing me. “So, uh,” I said taking a swig of beer, “is she still seeing that dude from the mailroom?” Smooth.
“No, actually, she’s free as a bird,” he said, borrowing a line from her the night I’d made a fool of myself.
“Oh, cool.”
“God, you idiot. Shall I just set a date at the church then because you’re clearly infatuated with her. Just bite the bullet, Tom. Damn, never thought I’d have to say that to you of all people.”
“Shut it, Jason.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he said, lifting up his six pack and heading for the window.
“Finally,” I said under my breath.
Jason was right. I was clearly infatuated with her, but that was all. We shared an amazing kiss that nearly flayed the skin from my bones from the sheer razor-sharpness of it, but that was it. I was attracted to her but didn’t want to get to know her. Besides, say, for hypothetical sake, I even wanted to get to know her, I was headed to Europe soon. I didn’t have time to get to know her.
Saturday night was The Belle Jar’s platinum party. That morning, I woke on Charlie’s patio on one of his ridiculous chairs, my back aching like no other. I peeled myself through the window and stood straight in their dining room, stretching my body to rid myself of the kinks.
“Tom?” I heard from the kitchen.
“Yeah, Cherry. It’s me.”
“Where the heck did you come from?” she asked , laughing and rounded the counter.
“You left me out there all night. Some friend you are,” I teased.
“Yeah, well, maybe you shouldn’t have fallen asleep out there, goofus.”
“I’m out of here,” I said, yawning.
“What? Why? Stay for breakfast!”
“Nuh uh. I’ve got to get ready for this party tonight. You guys are coming, right?”
“Now, that was a dumb question,” she teased. “When have any of us denied the chance to dance and party, my friend?”
“I suppose that was dumb,” I said, straightening a stack of papers on her bar top. “See you,” I said, kissing her cheek and heading out the door.
My apartment was a few blocks down from Charlie and Cherry’s. I’d lived in Austin for a year, yeah, but the label still paid my rent here, and I had a roommate who didn’t mind getting the apartment all to himself. I’d dropped my bags there earlier when he wasn’t home but could hear him in the kitchen when I walked in.
“Tom?” I heard from around the foyer hall.
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“Good,” my roommate Matt said, meeting me halfway. He gave me a slap hug. “Thought I’d have to bring out the big guns,” he joked.
“You got a gun?” I asked.
“No - I...never mind. Come in, asshole. Haven’t heard from you in a couple of weeks. What’s new, man?”