“Better?” I ask.
“So much.”
Being attracted to anyone is so inconvenient right now. I want to nurse my disappointment and ponder where I went wrong. How I made allowances for the times my ex treated me as an afterthought. Though the truly dickish behavior didn’t come to light for a long time. He knew to hide it well.
“Talk to me about something,” I say. “I need a distraction.”
“What’s your take on aliens?”
I blink. “My take on aliens? If they’re out there, they’ve got to be avoiding us, right?”
“No one would blame them.”
“This planet is a mess.”
“They should probably stay out of this whole galaxy just to be safe. Humans, man. What can you do?” he asks. “What’s your first memory?”
“Getting bitten on the toe by an ant at the park.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“I am not.”
“Shit. How traumatic.”
“It’s been a few years. I don’t hold a grudge against insects.”
He grins. “In their defense, I’m sure you’re very tasty.”
There will come a day when I don’t smile at his stupid flirting. Just not today. “What’s your first memory?”
“Dancing to the radio with my mom in the living room.”
“That’s lovely.”
“Yeah. What are you thinking about that required distraction?” asks Nash.
“The breakup, unfortunately.”
“Oof.”
“I need to let it go, but sometimes my mind just…you know.”
“It hasn’t been long. We’re all figuring shit out, June. You have to give yourself grace, like Molly said.”
I frown. “Yeah. Being unreasonably hard on yourself is just so much fun, you know?”
“Oh. It’s a laugh a minute,” he jokes. “Not so many long-term couples in music. Touring is hard on relationships. Touring is hard full stop. As good as it can be to get out on the road and to feel the rush from a live crowd. The grind of the constant routine gets you. Being away from home for up to a year or two at a time.”
“But tomorrow you’re free as a bird and can do whatever you want to do,” I say with a smile.
“This is true.” He reaches out and tucks a strand of loose hair behind my ear. “It was just…there we go.”
“Thanks.”
His gaze moves from me to the water and back again. Like he’s not sure where to look. “So…”
“This is nice.”
