Page 102 of Ordinary Secrets

“I only have one wallet of that photo, but I have many others you can choose from.”

Beaming, Arella searches through the options and picks one out.

“Oh!” Emmy perks up. “You guys should do what Liz and I do with our pictures.”

“Which is...?” I ask with a feeling that it’s something super girly.

“We write a cute note on the back for each other.”

Yep. Super girly.

“Let’s do it,” Arella says, handing me her picture.

I trade photos with her and roll my eyes, even though I kinda like the idea. “I’ll come up with a cute note to write later.”

“Me too.”

After we’re done going through the photos, the band and I sit down with our manager to go over social-media shit for a couple of hours. Monique spends at least half the time urging me to get“more connected” with our fans through my personal accounts. As always, I refuse. I don’t care that it’ll help “sell more tickets” or “gain viewers.” I play music because I love to, not for the money or the fame.

Once the torture is over, I grip Arella by her hand and we leave for lunch.

“I’ve got a surprise for you,” I say a while later as I push my empty bowl aside. We’ve just finished eating at a nice ramen place in Chinatown.

Arella wipes her lips with a napkin, then straightens up. “What is it?”

“If I told you, then it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

Forty-some minutes later, we pull up to an extravagant spa with fancy lights running along the frame of the gold-painted door. Arella’s jaw drops, but it’s not the place she’s astonished by. It’s her best friend waiting for us on the golden chairs outside.

I’ve barely shifted the car into park when Arella runs out to greet Javina with a giant hug. “What are you doing here?”

Javina shrugs. “Dunno. I got a text from pretty boy this morning to meet y’all here at two, so I’m here.”

“I’m treating you both to a spa day,” I say.

Javina’s excitement blasts through my head. “No way! For real?”

“Yep. You’re both booked to get your nails done, have an hour-long facial, and a hot-rock massage.”

Javina shrieks, then turns to Arella, patting my shoulder. “This one has my official stamp of approval.”

My girl laughs. “Thanks.”

I peck Arella on her cheek and give her a quick hug. “I’ll come pick you up around six.”

Now that Arella’s preoccupied with getting pampered, I’m free to prepare the rest of my “preserve Arella’s immunity” plan.

My first stop is at a jewelry store. I walk in without any idea of what I’m looking for. All I’ve got is one request: same-day engraving. It takes me a while to decide on a piece to purchase. When I finally do, the woman behind the counter rings me up, and I’m off to my next destination.

At a floral shop, I ask for enough rose petals to fill a swimming pool. The lady tells me she can do three dozen at most, and I accept that.

With a velvet jewelry box, a bag of rose petals, and an arrangement of flowers in hand, I head home. There, I set up the bedroom the way I want it and shut the door.

In the living room, I plant myself on the couch with a pen and Arella’s photo. I write up at least fifteen drafts in a notebook before finally deciding on the right words. In my best handwriting possible, I transfer my draft to the back of our picture.

Once I’m done, I read it over a few times. It’s the realest thing I’ve ever written. No song I’ve ever penned can compare. I hope Arella likes it.

A little after six, I’m waiting in my car outside the spa when Arella and Javina come out, practically glowing. I step out to greet them.

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