Page 8 of Paint Our Song

Abarrage of text messages causes Miles’s phone to cut through the silence, and Gabby turns to him from where they’re seated next to each other at the front desk.

“No fucking way,” Miles says, when he sees what his university friend has sent him.

Gabby says, “You really shouldn’t talk like that, in case there are guests.”

He glances around at the sheer quietness of the lobby. It’s a slow morning at the reception, which isn’t a good sign considering what Miles learned from his mother the day before. He then turns to Gabby. They share a long look, let a few seconds pass, and then they both wheeze as if she’s just made the world’s funniest joke.

“Guests,” she chuckles under her breath, turning back to the computer she’s working on.

Miles opens up the articles his friend sent him. The titles make his stomach sink: “Cloverlily’s Official Accounts Announce Band’sBreak-up,” “Cloverlily, Breaking Up Right When They’re At The Top: What Went Wrong?,” “What Happens Now With Cloverlily?”

“Nooooo,” he groans. “No, no, nooo.”

“What?” Gabby asks.

He shows her his screen. “I didn’t think it was actually happening.”

“Hm. Must be why Calvin’s here, then. He did look like he’s going through something.”

Frowning, Miles clicks on the first link his friend sent him. Apparently, the band’s accounts announced it this morning, barely an hour ago. “Or he’s really just that withdrawn,” he mutters. “He’s not very approachable. Which is fine. To each his own.”

“Maybe he finds you too loud.”

“Youare loud, and he lets you sit with him.”

Gabby throws her head back and laughs. “Geez, we’re friendly because we hung out a bit last time he was in town.”

“Betrayal. I still can’t believe you never told me this.”

“Like I said, it’s because I knew you’d sulk… which is exactly what you’re doing. Anyway, I’m sure he’s not in a great state for socializing with what’s happening to his band. Also, you yelled his name when he was clearly trying to lie low. You can’t blame him.”

…Touché. “Yeah. You’re right.”

“He’s not so bad. For a very private person, he never turns anyone down when asked for selfies. Last time he was here with his family, he was… a lot more approachable. I’m sure he still is, and yesterday was a bad day. I can see why, with these announcements. You know he even played a few songs at the bonfire last time?”

Seriously? And when Miles suggested that idea to him yesterday, he only looked at Miles like he was being ridiculous?

“Why does it seem like you’re convincing me to talk to him again? I’m sure he doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

“I think you two will hit it off, honestly. He knows you did their first album cover, and he likes art. You like his music. “

“Sure,” he says dryly. If anything, Calvin’s probably already looking up how to file a restraining order. Miles needs to back off completely, and that’s what he’s going to do.

Miles then proceeds to rant to Gabby about how he attempted to sketch the lake that morning, but came up with nothing. It’s not until he’s a minute into his very not-fascinating vent that he realizes that she’s not listening. Instead, she seems very focused on the computer screen.

“What are you even doing?” He rolls his chair next to her.

“Studying.”

“For what?”

Gabby doesn’t take her eyes off the screen. “I’m taking a short course on Hotel Management. The certification will be useful.”

Surprised, Miles sits up straighter. “Why, though? You already know most of these things.”

“Well. It’s nice to have it on my resume, especially if I want to apply for a managerial position somewhere else. Look. I know the inn’s not in a great state, and it’s… yeah. Well. Besides, I can’t be a receptionist forever. The city has a lot of hotels I can apply to.”

Miles frowns, and when Gabby turns to him, he reminds himself to rearrange his face. Too late, though.