Page 21 of Patchwork
I press send, then stare at that single word, waiting for it to be marked as read instead of delivered. Thetick, tick, tickof impatience sounds in my ears, and then the check mark appears, letting me know he’s seen the message.
My heart thunders and the muffled yelling from the bedroom finally quiets. I don’t know if they’ve tired themselves out or killed each other, and I can’t really find it in me to care one way or the other.
The message stays on read though, and I drum my fingers anxiously against my thigh. Maybe he didn’t save my number? Maybe he deleted the text thread from before. Maybe he hasn’t thought about me even once since Milwaukee and he can’t figure out why the hell I would be texting him now.
ONYX: This is Onyx…
Fuck, I hope that sounds less pathetic than it feels. That message is marked as read immediately, and a few seconds later, the typing bubble appears.
HERO: Yeah, I know.
HERO: Sorry, give me a sec, I’m just wrapping up with a client.
Oh, right. He wasn’t ignoring me, he’s just living his life instead of dying of boredom on a tour bus. I reach for my guitar to distract myself while I wait for him to text back. I strum thesong I’ve been working on for the past few months. The chords were all written that night in Milwaukee, it’s the lyrics I’ve been toying with in my head ever since.
Finally, my phone lights up again with a new notification and I spill my guitar out of my lap in my hurry to grab it.
HERO: Not gonna lie, I’m surprised to hear from you.
I lie down again and grin to myself as I type out a reply.
ONYX: Why’s that?
HERO: Why did I assume that the rockstar I had a one-night stand with would never text me again? Haha.
ONYX: A one-night stand?!?! I specifically asked if you would want to see me again.
HERO: Well, yeah, but we were still naked at the time. I figured that was just pillow talk.
ONYX: I don’t say things I don’t mean, sweetness. If you remember anything about me, remember that.
HERO: Alright, I’ll make a note. So… what’s up?
ONYX: We’ve got a show in Chicago next weekend. Any chance you’d want to come check it out?
HERO: Ah, couldn’t sell out and now to save face you’re texting everyone you’ve ever hooked up with to come to the show, huh?
I snort a laugh out loud and Jett glances up from his game and gives me a curious look. I shake my head and wave him off, then type back.
ONYX: You caught me. So, what do you say? Save Black Sheep from the humiliation of playing to an empty arena?
HERO: I guess I could help you out with that.
I tug my lip ring between my teeth and fight the urge to wiggle around in my seat and do a stupid little happy dance.
ONYX: Cool. I’ll send you the details.
HERO: Cool.
HERO: I’ll see you next week then?
ONYX: See you then.
Chapter 11
3 YEARS 8 MONTHS AND THREE WEEKS AGO
HERO
