Page 8 of Debts and Desires
“I’m fine, Em,” she answered, her voice quivering slightly. “Just a silly argument. We’ll work it out.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yep. You know how I can get sometimes.” Just as I was about to press further, she said, “So, have you decided on the songs you want to do?” I had known I wasn’t getting anything out of her after that.
“A couple, but I’m not sure. Wanna help me pick?” I had asked.
“You know I do. But can we do it in the kitchen?”
“Sure. What are you making?” I had asked following her in and taking my seat.
“Don’t know yet. But I need to figure something out. Ian wants dinner.”
“Then tell him to make it himself,” I scoffed. Her eyes widened some.
“I like cooking for him. He doesn’t know how.”
“I don’t like him.”
“Emo…”
“No. He left bruises on you, made you cry.”
“I told you, they were hickeys,” she had scoffed. “And like I said, this was just a silly little argument. Couples have them all the time. You and dickwad had them. And he made you cry, too.” She had me there. But I still wanted to be sure.
“You’d tell me if it wasn’t fine, right?” She nodded.
“Of course.” But the shaking in her voice gave her away. I just wished I knew why she didn’t trust me enough to speak up. Was she that afraid?
“Mia, you know you’re welcome to come with me, right? Austin could be a fresh start for both of us.”
“I appreciate the offer, Em, but I need to figure things out here.” She sighed, her eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and sadness. “Everything is great, I promise.”
“I get it,” I replied softly. “Just know that I’ll always be here for you, no matter what.”
“I know, Emmy.” She cleared her throat. “So. What songs?” It seemed like she was trying to change the subject, so I indulged.
“I was thinking of opening with a cover, just to get a feel for them, ya know?”
“Which one?”
“Either ‘Wolf Like Me’ or ‘House of the Rising Sun’. I’m not sure.”
“Def start with, ‘House of the Rising Sun’. Most people know it. And then what? Another cover or…?” she trailed.
“One of mine? I think. Let me just grab my notebook. I wrote some set ideas out,” I said, standing and heading out of the kitchen.
As I was approaching the room I’d been staying in, Ian was coming out.
“Oh, hey,” he had said, swallowing.
“Hi? Can I help you?”
“I was looking for a black sweater. Mia keeps some clothes in there for me sometimes. Have you seen it?”
“No. But I’ll keep an eye out.”
“Thanks,” he said, heading down the hall. I waited a moment before heading into the guest room. Looking around, I found nothing out of the ordinary. I shook my head and grabbed my journal, joining them in the kitchen. But I was too late. It was like Mia had forgotten our conversation for the rest of the evening, not giving me a chance to talk about the songs. That was fine. I wasn’t all that comfortable talking about it in front of Ian, anyway.
