Her face now clearly says,What the fuck.
“I didn’t mean to cause any issues,” I add, fiddling with the strap of my dress as if it’s fallen out of place when it hasn’t. “And the server’s been great!”
I don’t understand how I’ve seemed to get on this woman’s bad side after only being here less than twenty-four hours. But I also don’t want her to take her wrath out on the innocent server.
“All right, then,” she says after a couple beats of uncomfortable silence. “I just wanted to come out and make sure you were being taken care of properly. I’ll inform the servers to bring the syrup with your coffee from now on.”
I open my mouth to protest that it’s not necessary, but she’s already striding back to the kitchen. So I’m left to fix my coffee and try to puzzle out that strange interaction while I continue waiting for Andrew.
He finally shows up—fifteen minutes late—and greets me enthusiastically, throwing his arms around me before I can even fully stand up. We hug for longer than necessary, but we haven’t seen each other in a long time, and with how shitty things have been for me lately, it kind offeelsnecessary.
When he finally pulls back, I take a moment to look at him properly. His dark hair is styled shorter on the sides and a bit longer and messier on top, and he’s still wearing the same pair of thick, black-framed glassesthat he’s had for years. He’s equal parts nerd and alternative. When we were kids, none of our elementary school teachers had gauges in their ears and sleeves of tattoos, and I know his students think he’s the coolest.
I think so too.
The server is hovering at the edge of the dining room, most likely waiting for us to sit back down before she comes over. So I motion for Andrew to take a seat, not wanting to do anything else to make the staff annoyed with me.
“It’s so good to see you,” he says, adjusting his glasses that got knocked askew during the hug. “I’m sorry about the circumstances.”
“It’s good to see you too,” I tell him. But I pause the conversation as the server comes over to get Andrew’s drink order. After she leaves, I add, “No matter the circumstances. I’m happy we’ll get to have quality sibling time this summer.”
“Are you staying for the whole summer?”
I shrug. “I have no idea. My manager expects all the bullshit to blow over eventually. But I’m gonna try like hell to not even worry about that while I’m here.”
He tilts his face down and gives me a disbelieving look over the top of his glasses.
“I said I’m going to try,” I reiterate. “I probably won’t succeed, but honestly, I think taking a break from working will be good for me. Even before this stuff happened, I was stressing over how to stay relevant as I get older.”
“Because you’re ancient, obviously,” he says with a laugh.
“For a woman in country music, I am.”
He looks like he’s about to argue, but then the server returns with his coffee and asks if we’re ready to order. I’ve had plenty of time to look over the menu, since Andrew was late, but I assume he’ll need a minute.
I’m relieved when he tells me to go ahead and order, though, and that he’ll figure out something quickly. Because, again, I’m afraid I’ve alreadyrubbed at least one person here the wrong way, and I’m trying to prove that I’ll be an easy guest to take care of.
Once we’re alone again, I look at Andrew and ask him, “Am I high maintenance?”
Laughing, he replies, “You? Never.”
“Okay, good.”
That’s what I thought.
Andrew takes a long sip of his coffee, then says, “But back to the age thing. There’s plenty of women in country music who have still been successful into their forties and fifties. Reba, Martina, Dolly...”
“I know, but they’relegends.”
“And what exactly are you?”
I huff quietly, slinking down a bit in my seat. “I’m the girl who sings about all the guys I’ve dated and how they all broke my heart.”
Oops.That came out sounding more bitter than I intended.
I’m proud of my music and my success with those types of songs. I know my fans can relate to them, and it makes them feel like they can relate to me. But breakup songs aren’t all I write. They’re just the songs that become my biggest hits.
“If I ever manage to settle down and get married,” I muse, “I think that would be the end of people’s interest in me.”