Page 80 of Verses

But no way was I going to say shit about that right now.

Before I could respond, Claire said, “Sorry. I guess you guys might still be processing losing Liam.”

“No, it’s okay. Actually, we have a new guitarist now and we’re writing new songs. It’s actually helped a lot with the healing process.”

“Very cool. You guys have any shows coming up?”

“Not yet. Soon, though.”

She started wiping my upper arm with a cloth and I looked over, reassuring myself that she would be putting it in the rightspot. “Let me know when you do. I like to take prospective boyfriends to see if they’re into the music I like. If they’re not…it’s over.” When I started laughing, she said, “I’m serious. My mom and dad used to fight all the time about whose music they were going to listen to. Most people’s parents fight over money. Mine fought over CDs.”

The girl at the counter said, “Myparents—”

“We didn’task, Jody. Don’t you need to wash the windows?”

“They have a guy who does that every week.”

“I don’t care. I need to concentrate.”

“But—”

Claire shot her a look and the girl went silent. Then she smiled at me and let out a slow breath through her nostrils. “Anyway…how’s Kyle?”

I knew why she was asking—because she thought we were still together, so I needed to set the record straight. “We broke up.”

“Oh. Sorry.”

“No, don’t be. It was for the best—for both of us. We were fighting all the time, totally unhappy. I think we’re both in better places now.”

At least Ithoughtso.

Claire took a razor and started shaving the spot on my upper arm. I wasn’t hairy, so I almost asked what that was all about, but I’d watched Kyle get a tattoo years earlier and knew they almost always did that.

The annoying counter girl had actually left the counter and was now hovering nearby.

“Dammit, Jody. What do you want?”

But she was looking at me, not Claire. “You said you and Kyle Horton broke up?”

What was it with this girl? But maybe she was lonely and bored. I didn’t mind answering her. “Yeah. You know Kyle?”

Claire said, “Jody was a freshman when we were seniors.”

“Oh. Sorry. I didn’t remember you.” Although the high school wasn’t nearly as big as the one in Silver City, Charlotte High still had between four and five hundred students at a time. I couldn’t have been expected to know or remember everyone who’d attended school there, but I was surprised that I didn’t even recognize her face.

“It’s okay. I didn’t pay attention to freshmen when I was a senior, either. But when you’re a freshman drooling over seniors…”

“Okay, Jody. Enough. I’m gonna need you out of here while I work.” Claire’s voice was firmer this time without the hostility.

“Just one more question. Kyle’s a real hottie. Is he available?”

“I have no idea,” I said—and that was the honest truth. I knew he’d been seeing other women, but that didn’t mean those relationships meant anything.

“Can you give me his number?”

“Get. The. Fuck. Out. Of. Here. I’m serious, Jody. I don’t want to beat your ass.”

“Okay, fine.” With a pout, Jody returned to her counter.

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