Page 87 of Paint Our Song

“This is the set list.” Grinning and way too excited, Chase gives Calvin the paper he got from the coordinator. “They’ve got the band’s equipment all set up already. All we need to do is get into suits and do our thing.”

Oh. Right. The suits.Miles looks around frantically, trying to get a glimpse of Gabby. At the other side of the lobby, the twins are still chatting to their stream.

“Hi.” Calvin puts a hand on Miles’s arm, stilling him. “I told you to tell me if you needed help.”

Miles goes slack and doesn’t say anything.

“Eight hundred! Whoa!” One of the twins exclaims.

“I need to… um. I need to find Gabby,” Miles tells Calvin.

“She’s right there.” Calvin waves at Gabby, who’s coming outfrom the hallway behind the front desk. She’s got Matthew with her.

“Three of our regular crew called in sick,” she tells Miles. “Some flu thing is going around. No wonder they looked terrible last night.”

Well, isn’t that perfect? Miles closes his eyes. “Um. Suits. We need suits.”

“Suits?” Matthew asks.

“The band they booked is still stuck on the highway,” Gil explains. “We’re going to do it instead, but we need suits. Cal’s going to borrow one from Miles.”

“Oh. Shit. Really?” Gabby lights up immediately. “Thank you so much. Oh. Okay. Suits, suits… okay, you three hang tight. I’ll figure this out for you.”

“Gil, let’s study their set list,” Chase says, taking it back from Calvin. The three of them huddle together, bringing out their phones and talking in low voices.

Miles stares. He’s amazed by how professional they seem, a total contrast to the rowdy group of friends he’s been hanging out with the last few days, and he can’t decide how to feel. Miles wants to feel appreciative. He wants to jump for joy for them saving the day, but, for some reason, he can’t.

Gabby, Matthew, and Miles have their own little meeting, too. Or, at least Gabby and Matthew are. He stands there, lost in his own head.

Looking at Gil from head to toe, Matthew says. “Gil’s about my size. I can lend him a suit. What about shoes?”

“We’ve got some extra dress shoes in the staffroom; they can taketheir pick. All new and shiny, too,” Gabby says. “Do you think Diego would have something for Chase? They’re about the same height and build.”

“Diego?” Miles asks. “From back in school?”

Matthew takes his phone out and taps on it. “Give me a second, I’ll ask.”

“You and Diego are tight now?” His memory of Diego is the skinny kid back in high school who used to follow Matthew everywhere. Maybe they became closer friends when Miles left.

“I hope so, because we’re getting married next year.”

Miles gapes. “Wait—what? You’reengaged?”

“Hi.” Matthew turns away slightly, talking into his phone. “There’s a wedding mishap at the inn, and we need to borrow a suit for the band. You wouldn’t happen to have one, would you?”

“Did you know?” Miles asks Gabby. Why didn’t he know about this? Actually, why would they have told him? Still, it’s really odd that Gabby’s never mentioned this.

She says, quietly, “I told you he was dating someone. I just found out they were engaged, too.”

Matthew wraps up his call. “He’s got a suit. I’ll be back in about thirty. Miles, give me your keys. I’ll grab yours from your closet.”

Miles eyes him as he hands over his keys. “You’re engaged?”

“Yes, Miles, I’m engaged. The world didn’t stop when we broke up,” Matthew teases.

“That’s not—Jesus. I didn’t know. You didn’t mention it, and I should have asked.” Miles takes a deep breath. All it took was a split-second for Matthew to figure out he had something going onwith Calvin, even said he was happy for him, and Miles never bothered to ask about his life. Fuck. Miserably, Miles says to Matthew, “I’m a shitty friend.”

“Miles,” Gabby sighs.