Page 46 of High Note

Kirsten was getting her tips together when Cherry glanced at her.

“So, what was that whole thing about?”

“You mean with Skyla’s band?” At Cherry’s nod, she shrugged. “I’m not really sure. I suppose I’ll find out tonight. There was some kind of a fight, or that’s what it looked like to me.”

“What about?”

“I haven’t the foggiest idea.” She sure hoped it wasn’t about her. She knew she was just to stand in, and she knew there were some weird feelings, but she meant no harm. It wasn’t as if she was gonna try to horn in on the band. She was just enjoyingherself, playing some music, writing some songs. She wasn’t expecting a job offer.

Whatever had happened—if they didn’t like her, if they didn’t want Skyla’s dog at the house, if they were all just in too close quarters? Then Skyla and Reba could come to the apartment.

At least Kirsten hoped Reba was on the small side.

Her apartment wasn’t big.

“Well, you just be careful,” Cherry told her. “It’s not that I don’t believe in you, because I do, but that girl could get herself in a lot of trouble real quick.”

“At least you know that I won’t be getting myself into any kind of trouble.” Kirsten winked at Cherry. “I mean it could be worse…”

“Shut up, get your tips, and go. Text me when you get home so that I know everything’s okay, all right, girl?”

“Yes, Mamma Cherry.” As if she wasn’t just as old and just as messed up and just as apt to get into trouble.

Cherry glared.

“Yes, ma’am.” Hell’s bells. Kirsten would text, for fuck’s sake.

Cherry believed in her, and she would have asked the same if the shoe was on the other foot.

She headed out to her little car and toodled her way up the road. It wasn’t far, but she didn’t like walking home in the dark and the snow. Some things didn’t change when you left Texas, she guessed.

The lights were on when she got there, and wasn’t that fine as anything—to see the house all lit up and warm like it was waiting for her to come home. The cats were in the windows, and soon enough Skyla’s heart-shaped face was there too, gold hair all around like a huge shining cloud.

Yeah, there wasn’t anything about this that sucked.

She took a deep breath after she parked, just waiting to see if the butterflies settled.

She hadn’t felt like this in a long time, and she was trying not to feel…what? Guilty? Disloyal? That was silly. No one alive was going to be mad at her, and the dead didn’t have opinions as far as she knew.

“Come on, girl. Time to go snuggle with your cats and your company.” She got herself out of the car and headed up to the apartment, and she didn’t have to knock. Skyla opened the door for her as soon as she reached it.

“Hey, honey. Thank you for this. I really appreciate it.”

She leaned in to steal a kiss. “Of course. Hey. Feeling better?”

What happened? What was wrong?

“I am.” Skyla hugged her once she got inside. “I needed some time. I waited for you to take a bath.”

“Oh cool. I need one. I smell like garlic and parm.” She loved her post-work soak.

“Hot tea, cocoa, or beer?”

“Hot cocoa? That just sounds decadent.” Skyla wandered with her toward the kitchen.

“It does, doesn’t it? I love to have a cup in the tub.” And Kirsten already knew that Skyla loved soaking. They’d enjoyed that already.

“I think that’s the best idea in at least a day and a half.” Skyla laughed, pulling out the kettle. “So, I need to apologize for that thing at the restaurant. I think we’re all just tired, and Mich and I had a snarl.”

---