Page 55 of Secondhand Smoke
Right when Barrett could finally admit to himself and his friends that he was still harboring his ridiculous high school crush, said crush seemingly dropped off the face of the earth.
Well, not exactly. He didn’t see Nell again for a week. He half expected her to show up at their usual Tuesday gig the night before, but he’d gotten his hopes up only to for them to crash down and mess him up on one of his best songs.
After their high from the past week, the mess-up made Toni shake his head and reiterate that Barrett messed up because he didn’t have his “good luck charm”.
Of course, she had no obligation to keep in contact with him. He just wished she would.
He had considered calling her house but worried her father would pick up, and he’d have to go by Scott again and raise unnecessary questions.
Plus, he shouldn’t look desperate. Calling her would look desperate. He wasnotdesperate.
He sighed moodily and leaned his head on his hand, swiping to the next page of the latest-edition comic that Toni had brought to work that morning. Barrett should have waited until he was in a better mood to read it.
If he was going to be pining ridiculously, he’d rather be doing it at home on his guitar strings into some melancholy tune.
The comic book was slid out from his line of sight, and Barrett looked up to see Toni shaking his head and tsking his tongue in disapproval. “I expect better from you.”
“I was reading that,” Barrett lied.
“No, you weren’t. You were crying over it with that gross lovesick look on your face.”
“Mind your own damn business.”
“You know, if you wish hard enough, she might just walk through that door and put you out of your sad, sad misery.” He then mumbled under his breath, “Put me out of my misery too.”
“Get out of my face and do something productive, dickwad.” Barrett shoved lightly at Toni’s shoulder.
Toni wasn’t even looking at him. He was staring at the door of the shop with a cocky smirk on his face.
The tinkling of the doorbell sang through the store, and Barrett followed his gaze.
Wishing or not, Toni had only said it because he must have already seen her.
Nell walked into the shop, with her hands stuffed into her jacket pockets even though it had to be a blazing hundred degrees today—the hottest day of the summer by far—and she looked like she was chilled through.
Her skin was pallid, her hair stringy like she hadn’t showered since he last saw her.
The rush of excitement that made his back straighten and clear his throat mellowed as his stomach dropped at the sight.
He stepped out from behind the counter and walked up to where she met him halfway. He nibbled on the inside of his cheek as his eyes roved, concerned, across her several times. “You look awful.”
She huffed a half-hearted laugh, and while she didn’t look amused, her lips tilted up enough for him to notice. “How sweet.”
“What’s wrong?”
She shook her head and looked past him.
He followed her eyes to Toni, who nodded and waved but stayed where he was. Barrett realized he was unlikely to get an explanation when there was more than just them two in a room.
“How was your guys’ gig?”
“Awesome, actually. They loved us in Bellevue.”
She smiled and shifted on her feet. “I’m sorry I couldn’t come.”
“Well . . .” Barrett stuffed his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “You better make it next time. You’re still the designated lucky charm.”
She bit her lip and looked away. He wasn’t sure what went on in her mind, but she seemed like she was trying to convince herself of something.
