Page 11

C alvin Lowe wears glasses.

Miles is on his phone, reading through the group rules of Calvin’s fan club when he catches a glimpse of him in the corner of his eye. He looks up, then has to take a step back in surprise.

It’s been years since he started following the band, and yet he discovers that Calvin wears glasses when he meets him in front of his own apartment building.

“Uh,” Miles says, eloquently. He fumbles with his car keys and hikes up his bag on his shoulder. It’s a little past eight in the morning, and he’s not quite ready for this yet.

Calvin frowns. “Did you forget I was hitching a ride with you?”

“No!” He clears his throat. “No.”

“Where’s Gabby?”

“She took a cab back yesterday.” His cheeks warm when he remembers how Gabby made up a flimsy excuse about having to go back to Ridgeford earlier than him. She came up with the excuse right after she found out Calvin would be hitching a ride. It was very suspicious, especially given how she winked at him.

They walk to the parking lot in the back of his apartment building and put their things away in the trunk. Miles goes ahead and gets into the driver’s seat as Calvin rearranges his things, and he takes that chance to give himself a pep talk.

I can do this.

“Thanks for the ride,” Calvin says as he gets into the passenger’s seat. “I can drive half of the way, if you’d like.”

They get on the road, and it’s only been a few minutes when Miles realizes they’re being too quiet. It’s too tense. He needs music. Miles reaches out for his stereo and stops short, his hand wavering. He usually puts on a playlist that’s mostly from Calvin’s band, and he’d look like an obsessive creep if he played it.

He puts his hand back down. “Want to connect your phone and play music?”

“Why me?”

“It’d be cool to find out what music you listen to,” he says, which may not be the real reason but is still the truth.

“My playlist sucks.”

“I highly, highly doubt that.”

Calvin rubs the back of his neck. “It’s all love songs.”

“So, just like your own music.” Miles flashes him a huge grin. “Which, you know by now, is what I’m into.”

He mutters something under his breath that suspiciously sounds like he’s calling Miles insufferable, but he clicks around on his phone and connects to the Bluetooth. Lewis Capaldi’s voice resounds through his small car, and Miles could cry, because he loves Lewis Capaldi. Holy shit.

“You need to stop smiling.” The way Calvin narrows his eyes behind those black-rimmed glasses is cute.

Miles grins even wider. “I had no idea you wore glasses.”

“I usually wear contacts.”

I like it, Miles wants to say.

It turns out they left at the perfect time. There’s barely any traffic, and they’re on the expressway a lot earlier than Miles expected. Calvin doesn’t say much, which Miles expected, and he soon realizes that a long car ride with him isn’t actually that unnerving, which is unexpected.

“Let me drive,” Calvin says, when they’re about an hour out and halfway there and a gas station—the same one they first met, even if Calvin still won’t admit it—comes into view.

“Sure, but let me get something from the store first.”

Calvin doesn’t accompany him to the store. When Miles gets back to the car, Calvin is already in the driver’s seat—adjusting things just the way he likes it.

“Want some?” Miles asks, holding out the open bag of gummy worms.

“That stuff’s not good for you.” Calvin’s eyes drift toward the bag in his hand. “No wonder you’re always so jumpy. You’ve got nothing but sugar in you.”

Just for that, Miles tries to shove a gummy worm into Calvin’s mouth. He reaches between them and attempts to pop it right in, and Calvin curses and tells him to knock it off. Cackling, Miles settles back in his seat and puts the bag away as Calvin glares at him one last time before driving out of the gas station.

“Have you eaten?” asks Miles.

“I had breakfast with my sister before coming to your place.”

Right, Calvin did say he didn’t have a car because his sister wanted to borrow it. “Did your sister drop you off at my apartment?”

Calvin’s grip on the steering wheel tightens. “Yes.”

“I didn’t notice her.” Miles wonders if she has the same jet-black hair as Calvin, and if she’s just as stoic as he is.

“She was in a hurry.”

He can’t tell why Calvin’s acting uneasy about his sister, though he does remember him being protective about her with Chase. Miles fights back a laugh—Calvin can’t possibly think Miles would be interested in her. He’s sure she’s nice and gorgeous like Chase says, but Miles has never had an interest in women that way.

Calvin squints. “Why are you smiling?”

“It’s cute how protective you are with your sisters.”

“I’m not—” Calvin splutters, his ears going red. “My sisters are nightmares.”

Miles shrugs. “I’ve always wondered what it’d be like to have a sibling.”

“Do you have cousins?”

“Nope.”

“You and Gabby are quite tight.”

“Yeah, she’s the closest thing I have to a sibling.” Admitting that turns his chest gooey, but it’s true. He’s always had nothing but love for Gabby. The way they’ve looked after each other since they were young, and how they were there for every milestone—the good and the bad—was something he cherished. “Gabby’s like my parents’ long-lost daughter, and she knows more about running an inn than me.”

“She’s cool. My family liked her a lot the last time they were in town.”

Miles nods. “Gabby has that effect. I wish I had been around, though. Would’ve been cool to see your sister.”

Okay, he’s not sure why he said that. That was definitely a weird thing to say, but Calvin doesn’t seem to notice.

“My sister actually wanted to meet you,” he says. “She wasn’t really in a hurry to leave, but I told her I’d introduce you next time. Honestly, I didn’t want her chatting your ear off. We would never have made it out of the city.”

Miles chuckles. “Why would she want to meet me?”

“She follows you on social media. Cassidy was very excited to find out who I was hitching a ride with.”

Huh? Miles rubs his nose and fights down a blush. “Did she watch you at the festival? Why wasn’t she backstage?”

“No. My family doesn’t watch us live. It makes me too nervous.”

It’s such a transparent confession, and Miles doesn’t want to admit how happy he is to learn something so trivial. There’s much to be said for that, and he’d rather not unpack it. “They could still sneak in without telling you.”

“Maybe.”

“I would’ve thought you were hiding your sister from Chase,” Miles says, chuckling .

He scoffs. “Chase is harmless.”

“Yeah, and he seems pretty committed.”

“Really?” Calvin sounds surprised. “Did he mention he was dating someone?”

“Huh? Gil, right?”

“Oh… no. They’re not dating. They only spend a lot of time together. Besides, Chase is straight.”

“My bad. Seeing how close they were, I thought the rumors were true.”

Calvin snorts. “Rumors are dumb clickbait.”

“Well, not all rumors,” he says, before he’s able to stop himself. Calvin says nothing, which should be his cue to shut up. He would, if he had any sense of willpower. Which he doesn’t. “I kept going on and on about Theo. Practically fawned over him. I wouldn’t have done that if I knew you used to date.”

“It’s whatever. I brought him up a few times, too.”

“Yeah, but still.”

“Really. It’s whatever.”

“Did, um…” Miles drums his fingers against the door. “Did I start something the other night? Chase said Theo was pissed because I was there.”

“He thought I brought you to make a statement.”

“A statement?”

“That I was over him or something, that I didn’t want anything to do with him anymore. Which, I don’t, but that’s not why I invited you.”

“Technically, I invited myself. ”

That makes Calvin grin. Good. “Yeah. I don’t know why he acted that way. He’s stressed, maybe.”

“He thought we had something going on?” Miles pretends his heart doesn’t beat so much faster when he asks.

“I guess. Even if we did, it has nothing to do with him.” Then, he says, his voice barely audible above the music, “He can be… a lot. It’s exhausting.”

“How long were you together?”

“Four? Five years?” Calvin shrugs. “We broke up a few times. I can’t do the math.”

“Broke up… while you were playing as a band? That must have sucked.”

“It did. It still does.”

Miles peers at him when he says, “I’m impressed you were able to keep this all a secret from your fans.”

“Only because he thought telling people would take away from the band’s charm or whatever. Can we talk about something else?”

“Sorry. Yeah, of course.”

“You’re good.”

Having a toxic ex is not something Miles has ever had to experience. Seeing Calvin so defeated makes his chest pinch, and he wishes he could do something about it. What did he ever see in Theo, anyway? What made him write dozens of songs for him? Maybe there was a time that it was better, that this was a reality they never knew would happen, and now they’re only trying to survive the best way they can—that part, Miles understands.

Calvin’s jaw is set, his grip on the wheel tight. Miles needs to salvage this conversation, and he settles on the memory of a viral video released some time ago where Calvin was photographed shopping with a woman and her children. “So, all the other rumors are false? You’re not married with kids?”

“Fuck no.” Calvin scrunches his nose, but he chuckles. “You mean that video that went around, right? That was my other sister and her kids.”

“Must suck to have your every move analyzed.”

“Yeah, but it comes with the job. I love playing, so it is what it is.”

“So, what other rumors are true?”

“You’ll have to be specific.”

Miles says, his tone light and unserious, “I heard you had a thing with Sienna Fishel.”

“Sienna…?” He pauses as if he’s trying to recall what Miles is talking about. “The model? You mean because of those photos of us that spread all over social media? She was asking me for Chase’s number.”

“Oh shit, does your sister know?”

“Shut the fuck up,” Calvin says, but he’s smiling, and Miles laughs.

They pass a sign that says they’re entering Ridgeford. Dad’s grave is on the outskirts, close to where they currently are, and he sends a silent apology and promises he’ll visit him next time. He usually passes by on his way to the inn, but he’s not about to unload that on Calvin.

When they get to the inn, the lobby’s empty. Again, they don’t have a lot of guests .

Calvin, perceptive as always, says, “It’ll work out. You’re doing the best you can.”

“Thanks,” he mutters.

Gabby’s in her usual spot behind the reception counter and she perks up the instant that she sees them. “Good morning,” she says. “Let me just prepare your keycard.”

“How is everything?” Miles asks, glancing around.

“Same old.” She’s working on the computer, setting up Calvin’s keycard, and doesn’t look up when she adds, “Did you see what Dahlia and I left your dad? Pretty, right?”

“Ah, no, I didn’t pass by,” Miles says. They must have dropped off some flowers from the garden again.

Her eyes still on the screen, Gabby frowns. “You always pass by your dad’s on your way here, though.”

“Not today.” Aware of how Calvin’s listening, Miles attempts to make himself look busy by tightening his ponytail.

“Your dad lives nearby?” Calvin asks.

“Heh.” Miles grins. He’s not usually a fan of dark humor, but the opportunity’s right there. Sorry, Dad. “Quite the opposite of living nearby, actually.”

“Miles,” Gabby scolds, finally looking up from the computer.

They both get a long look from Calvin.

“His grave is on the outskirts of town,” Miles says.

Understanding crosses Calvin’s features. For a second, Miles is worried that Calvin will apologize. He hates it when people do that, even if he’s used to it. When Miles forces himself to meet Calvin’s eyes, his expression’s blank, and Miles appreciates that—he’d rather see Calvin being his usual stoic self over anything else. If Calvin looked at him any other way right now, he wouldn’t have been able to handle it.

“You could’ve told me, and we could’ve dropped by,” Calvin says, lips a flat line.

His throat is scratchy when he speaks. He shouldn’t have eaten all those gummy worms. “It’s fine.”

“Here you go. Room 203,” Gabby suddenly says, breaking the tension and handing the keycard to Calvin.

He takes it from her and flips it over, studying it, though Miles wonders if he’s only doing that to gather his thoughts over what he’s just learned about Miles’s dad. Then, to Miles’s alarm, Calvin cocks his head at him and says in a teasing tone, “You’re not going to demand to see ID, are you, Miles?”

His cheeks heat, and at the same time that Gabby snorts, Miles mutters, “No. Shut up.”

Even if Miles doesn’t need to wait for a keycard, he still stands there. It’d be strange to leave Calvin at this point—should he walk him to his room, maybe offer to help him with his things. They’re friends now, right? Calvin won’t think he’ll try to run off with his things and sell it on eBay?

Calvin gently prods his arm. “Let me know what you need from me.”

Right. These coming days, he’s going to work closely with Calvin—even if he’s still not entirely sure what Megan has in mind. He’s here, in Ridgeford, because they’ve made a deal.

It’s so incredibly bizarre and daunting, and Miles has to step up— not only because he wants the inn to get back on its feet, but also because he’d feel horrible if this was all for nothing and he ends up wasting Calvin’s time.

“Let’s hang out while you’re here,” Miles blurts out. Even he’s not sure where that came from, and there’s internal panicking when Calvin tilts his head, staring at him. “I mean—not only for the marketing, and not only for the piece I’m doing for you. If you want someone to hang out with, I know the best things to do around here—uh, not that I’m forcing you to. No pressure, really.” Oh god, he’s rambling. It’s all the fucking sugar in his system. “I don’t want you to be bored while you’re here, since you’re here because I asked, and I think you’re pretty cool, and that’s such a dorky thing to say, I know—”

“Miles,” Calvin interrupts.

“Yeah?”

“You’re fine.” He does that smile of his, the one where the corners of his mouth slightly curve up, his shoulders go slack, and his amusement reaches his eyes. The one which makes Miles’s heart leap in response. “I think you’re pretty cool, too.”

Miles freezes, his brain short-circuiting. He hasn’t felt this rush of emotions for anybody in a long time, or ever.

“I’ll be here,” Calvin says, still smiling. He walks off toward the elevator, and when he vanishes behind the doors, Gabby whistles. She doesn’t say anything about whatever the hell that was, but she does wink.