Page 27 of Just Business

He’s leaving. He’s not staying here.

Josie

I didn’t say marry him. See what happens. For all you know, he might be a terrible kisser or smell bad.

Oh god no. He smells so good.

Josie

Ok, girl.

I dunno. I have to guard my heart. When he leaves, I’m not sure my heart can handle another loss.

Aw, hun. I get it. I'll lay off the teasing. I didn’t even think about all that.

Losing both my grandparents and my dad within a short window of time took its toll on me, and despite all my efforts to appear to be fine, Josie knows better. Nobody wants to become an orphan, no matter how old they are. We’ve never really talked about it, but she’s almost always able to see right past the facade I project to the world, to my real self.

Josie

Actually, I have one more thing to say, then I’ll drop it. You’re something special. I know he sees it. He’d be blind not to.

Now, get some sleep. You’re about to help make the best album he’s ever made and he doesn’t have a clue what he’s in for. You need to rest up for that. Love you, Penny girl.

love you too, Jo Jo.

I slide my phone under my pillow, turning her words over in my mind. Austin definitely doesn’t know what he’s in for, and the thought makes me smile.

My book is on my nightstand, and I open it to my current chapter, but the lingering effects of the wine pull me under and I drift off to sleep.

Drinking the night before a new recording session probably wasn’t my brightest idea. In my tipsy state, I set my alarm for p.m. instead of a.m., and by the time I woke I only had time to swipe on some deodorant. I threw on whatever clothes were lying on the pile by my bed where clothes land when they still have another day left in them before I have to wash them.

In my rush, I failed to notice that my top must have ended up in that pile by accident because it was not, in fact, clean enough to wear one more time. Walking at a breakneck pace down my front lawn to the studio, my eyes happen to land on a giant blob of old marinara sauce smeared across my left boob. Now, here I am, late to our first day—with pizza boob.Just great.

Greg and Ed’s trucks are in the parking lot and Liam’s motorcycle is parked next to them. It looks like I’m probably the last to arrive. Not a great way to start the week.

Liam is leaning against the side of the building smoking when I walk up. There’s a new tattoo on his forearm that he didn’t have last time I saw him, and I squint my eyes to make it out. It’s a music staff winding up his arm weaving into the sleeve he’s been working on for a few years.

“Rough night?” He gives me an appraising look as he stubs out his cigarette.

It’s rare for me to look anything less than put together, but today I probably look like shit. To top it off, at some point during the night, my book ended up under my face, leaving a big sleep crease across my cheek.

“Josie and I drank a bit too much last night,” I explain, holding my thumb and pointer finger slightly apart.

Liam huffs out a laugh as he holds the door open for me, and we walk inside. He’s a year younger, and we grew up running around the studio together while our dads recorded. His siblings weren’t interested in music, but Liam was there with his dad every time the doors were open. Over the years, we’ve basically seen every version of each other—the good, the bad, and the ugly. He’s held my hair after a wild night out, and I’ve watched him go through relationship after relationship.

Greg, Ed, and Austin are gathered around the piano in the center of the room, laughing and talking like old friends, and my insides go warm and mushy at the sight. The band is truly the heart of this studio. They make everyone who comes through feel welcome, never trying to outshine anyone. They always say their job isn’t to be noticed, it's to make number one songs, and number one songs they make. There isn’t an overinflated ego among them. Greg always says he puts his pants on one leg at a time, just like everyone else.

Their conversation comes to an abrupt halt when I sidle up beside Greg. I must look worse than I thought, because they’re all eyeing me, wearing funny expressions.

"She drank last night with Josie," Liam says, explaining my bedraggled appearance.

“Ahh,” Greg and Ed say in unison like that explains everything. They all know I’m not much of a drinker, but if anyone can get me to loosen up, it’s Josie.

Glancing over, I see Austin staring at the stain on my shirt, his eyes heating imperceptibly. When they flick up to meet mine, I gesture with the universaleyes up heresign, and he shoots me an impish grin. I shake my head but can’t suppress the grin I shoot right back.

We’re standing there, smiling like two fools when I realize Liam’s been talking to me. I shake my head to clear it, turning to him. “Sorry, I missed that. What’d you say?”

Out of the corner of my eye I catch Greg smirking, clearly having witnessed the entire exchange.

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