Page 46 of Fresh Tracks
“No, I’ll go. It’s your studio. Keep playing. And if you finally figure out what you want, you know where to find me.” She shrugs and I see the faintest hint of a smirk. “Who knows? Maybe I’ll still feel the same way.”
She loops the guitar strap over her head and hands it back to me. I reach out to grab it from her, our fingers grazing on the neck of the guitar. I feel that electric charge sizzle across my skin at the contact. Her eyes meet mine one last time and I don’t miss how her teeth dig into her full, bottom lip. Then she turns and walks out of my studio, closing the door behind her.
Just like that, in a matter of minutes, I went from havingexactly what I wanted in my hands to finding myself alone with one thing, or more accurately, one person on my mind.
Damnit. I fucked this up.
“Why are you here?”Sutton looks at me from across the counter at Gloria’s while I try to enjoy my lunch. He points over his shoulder to the calendar hanging in the hall to the backroom. “You know it’s Friday, right? Our usual lunches are Saturday.”
I feel my shoulders slump. “Got it. Still not a safe space anymore.”
“Not when you’re in here moping like this for almost every meal.” His smug grin grows. “Do tell me, what ails the retired rockstar that has everything, so much so that he’s spent the last week and a half hiding at my tasting counter?”
I lower my eyes at him, which is hard because Sutton is taller than me. “You know, your cooking just keeps getting worse. I’m going to start worrying about the menu for the new restaurant if Slade lets you anywhere near it.”
“OK. Again, you, me, and your empty plate all know that’s a lie. So are you going to tell me why you’re still here after you finished eating half an hour ago?” he asks, looking as if he already knows the answer. “You know, instead of at your house? That giant place you own, where you live? This wouldn’t have something to do with a certain tall woman living in her van in your driveway, would it?”
I roll my eyes and groan, already knowing that he’s enjoying this way too much. “I think you alre—” I start, but my voice trails off when his eyes start tracking something over my shoulder.
I turn to see Kelsey from Cowgirl Coffee come in, carrying a large box of bagged coffee beans that she can hardly seeover. Sutton practically leaps from behind the counter to go over to her.
“Here, let me get that,” he says, reaching toward her.
I assume she’s glaring back at him based on her tone when she replies. “No, thanks. I already got this far, scrawny arms.”
She breezes right past him, walking over to the counter and dropping the boxes in front of the espresso machine with a thud. “Here’s your weekly order, Chef,” she says, emphasizing the last syllable with a hiss.
Kelsey turns and finally notices me, a sweet smile gracing her face. “Oh, hey, TJ. Nice to see you.”
I nod, taking a sip of my water. “You too.”
Her smile fades as she walks right past Sutton, bumping her shoulder into his, leaving just as fast as she came in. I definitely notice the puppy dog look on his face as the door swings shut behind her.
He finally looks back at me, shaking his head.
I point at the door. “Alright. I’ll tell you my shit if you explain what the hell that was all about,” I get out through a grin.
He drops his chin, looking back and forth between his arms. “She called me scrawny,” he says, disbelief plastered on his face. “I spend more time in the gym than you.”
“Maybe it’s that stupid chef’s coat. You should try having it tailored.” It feels good to be giving him shit for once.
“Stop looking so pleased with yourself,” he says, glaring back at me. “And if you’re going to keep hiding here, let’s at least talk shop. You’re coming to Seattle for the party next week, right?”
Shit. I had blocked that out of my mind for a few days, but it’s coming up fast.
“Yeah, I’ll be there.” I look down at my empty plate, rearranging the remaining garnishes with my fork. “Grace is coming too.”
I look up to find him watching me with an amusedgrin.
“What?”
He shakes his head, pointing back at me. “I knew it! You’re hiding from her.” His shit-eating grin only widens.
I let out a long sigh. He’s right. I am, not that I’d admit it to him. I know she said it’s not a big deal that we kissed, but I’ve felt like an ass since then. Everything she said was right. I’m into her. We’re both adults. It feels like something I shouldn’t say no to. It feels like something I should at least take a chance on, but I still can’t get out of my own head.
I finally look back at Sutton. “Oh, so now you want to play bartender therapist? At least get me a beer or something.”
He throws his head back with his far too loud, booming laugh before turning to grab a beer from the under-counter fridge.
