Page 140 of Wingwoman
I cared about Josh. And this weird change in his demeanor.
With a sigh, I took a bite of my salad, using the opportunity to chew and think. “Is it weird Josh didn’t want me there at the recording studio today?”
Maggie lifted her soda water and took a sip through the straw. “Maybe. Did hesayhe didn’t want you there? Or was it just sort of… overlooked?”
“What’s the difference?”
“Well, in one scenario, he simply forgot to extend the invitation to you. But in the other, he asked you specifically not to come. There’s a big difference.”
"He definitely didn't ask me not to come. It was more like the thought of me coming never crossed his mind."
Maggie clapped. "Well there you go! He probably just thought you'd be bored or something." Wiping her mouth with her napkin, she tossed it aside. "Let's go!"
"Let's... go? Like as in, to the studio? Right now?"
Maggie grinned at me, her blue eyes flashing with excitement."Yeah, why not? There's nothing like showing up unexpectedly to give someone a sweet surprise!"
"AndI'mthe sweet surprise in this scenario? You have met me, right?" I'd been called a lot of things, but sweet didn't tend to be one of them.
She bit her lip to hide her grin. Then, picking up the menu, she scrunched her nose. "Maybe we should bring him some cannolis too."
* * *
Fifteen minutes later, with a box of cannolis in hand, Maggie and I stood outside the nondescript building.
Thank God for Matt being so open with Maggie. Otherwise, I wouldn't have even known the address of where Josh was today.
Butterflies erupted in my stomach as anxiety bubbled up inside me; what if he didn't want me here?
Shaking my head, I took a step back from the door. "This was a mistake. If he wanted me here, he would have invited me."
Maggie looped her arm through mine and tugged me forward with a roll of her eyes. "Don't be silly. He's going to be so excited to see you!"
She was right. I was being ridiculous. Things with Josh and me were fine. So he was a little busy. Who wasn't? And maybe he freaked out a bit when I told him I was falling for him... well, welcome to literally every man I've ever known.
Taking a deep breath, I nodded and followed Maggie into the building. The interior was sterile and sleek, with soundproof doors leading to various rooms.
We followed the sound of music, walking down a long dark hall until we reached two doors, side by side. One open and the other closed with a bright red lightbulb glowing overhead.
Inside the open door, there were four people sitting around a sound board and looking through the glass where Josh sat on a stool, guitar propped on his knee, singing into the microphone.
I recognized the tune as his mom's song.
He sounded beautiful. The song was so different from anything I’d heard him do in the past. It was filled with happy memories and sweet musings. A glimmer of hope rather than his usual songs that were so melancholy and heartbroken.
“Matt,” one of the men in a suit elbowed Josh’s manager gently. “You know this isn’t the sound we’re looking for.”
“I know, I know. But you have to admit it’s good. It’s still a hit.”
The other suit sighed and looked at his watch. “Sure, maybe for a singer like LeeAnn Womack. But it’s not a guaranteed hit for Josh Gabriel.”
“It’s not what the fans expect to hear,” the woman chimed in.
My throat went thick hearing them talk like that. How could they say that about his song? He’d poured his heart into that tune and they were tearing it to shreds.
A woman at the soundboard leaned forward and spoke into the microphone, pressing a button. "Josh, try that again from measure 102 to the end."
"Hey," Maggie whispered, leaning forward and tapping Matt's arm.
