Page 17 of Reverb

The dots moved, and another text came up.

Sienna

I was sitting in my car, and you came up and said that I didn’t have a room. I thought you were being an asshole.

Even though she couldn’t see me, I winced. It was a known fact that I was an asshole, but something about hearing it from her stung.

Another text arrived.

Sienna

But I’m thinking back now and you knew. You said that I’d gone to the front desk, and then I’d gone to my car and panicked for thirty minutes. You said that because you saw it happen. You didn’t come out to my car to taunt me. You came because you already knew I had nowhere to go. And you sat there, refusing to leave, because it was getting dark.

I remembered standing at the back of the lobby and watching the front desk turn her away. I’d thought that I should go up to my room and forget about her, maybe even celebrate that the journalist was finally gone.

Instead, I’d watched her go back to her car, her shoulders sagging, then watched her sit there, her face illuminated by the square of light from her phone as she scrolled in panic. I knew I wouldn’t be able to get that sight out of my brain.

Stone

So?

Sienna

So in New York, I started to see how much I was wrong about. And now I can’t stop seeing it. Was I wrong about everything?

Stone

Maplethorpe, I don’t have time to ponder the meaning of life right now. I’m busy.

Sienna

Sure you are. Someone has to polish all of those silver-studded belts you own and shoo the groupies away. And you need a solid hour of practice doing rock star poses in the mirror.

This was familiar ground, insulting each other. I texted again.

Stone

I guess it doesn’t compare to your wild lifestyle. Oh wait, you live with your parents.

Sienna

Bold words from someone whose mom’s address is still on his driver’s license.

Stone

Maybe you should get laid by one of those nerdy professor types you find so hot. Draw him diagrams, I’m sure he’ll figure out what the fuck to do.

Sienna

So sue me, I like men who can spell.

Stone

Complete this spelling: S-U-C-K-M-Y-

Sienna

Goodbye, you pig.

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