17. Staycation #2
It was four weeks later, when Hunter was driving to Chipotle on Sunset because he was too lazy to walk and too depressed to grocery shop, that he heard Colby.
On the radio. Tidal’s first single, Uncomplicated Ending, had been released as a teaser for the album and their tour with Hannah Wolfe that started last week.
And it was on the freaking airwaves! Hunter pulled over on one of the narrow side streets in Spaulding Square, cranked the volume, and immediately called Colby.
He didn’t answer. Hunter’s heart sank, but he left a message.
“You’re in my car! On the fucking radio, dude!
I am freaking out! I wish you were here!
I—” Hunter caught himself. He was going to say ‘I love you’.
Of course, he meant it like a best friend loves a best friend.
Nothing more, but still. Because of their forays into the benefits section of friendship, it would be nothing but awkward if he said that now, so he stopped himself.
“I am so fucking proud, buddy. Gonna tell everyone at Chipotle I know you!”
He ended the voice message, took a photo of the song on his radio screen, and posted it to Instagram stories. “Famous” was the caption, but he couldn’t tag him because Colby had blocked that option, which sucked. He tagged Colby’s bandmate Travis instead, who had his profile open.
Then Hunter pulled back onto the road. God, he would do anything to see Colby again right fucking now.
How did this ache so fucking much? He got his chicken burrito and chips and salsa and drove back home, deciding to eat it in the courtyard by the pool, at the one picnic table, because being alone inside that apartment sucked.
He’d gone back to working at Range. He’d taken two shifts so far, but he’d be quitting again, this time for good.
He hadn’t needed to go back. He still had a hefty sum in the bank from the movie, and he started filming the Staycation movie next week.
But he was bored and borderline depressed just hanging out in the apartment and going to the gym.
He’d run into Leandra, who mentioned she was single and would like to hang out again, maybe try to be friends.
He’d also been getting texts from Mikayla inviting him out.
But he avoided responding to both women because he was lonely, and that would lead him to make choices he wasn’t sure he wanted to make.
So he’d taken some shifts instead. More money was a good thing.
But next week he was off to Atlanta, where Staycation was filming.
And they’d even booked him a first-class ticket, which he’d never had before.
Hunter had also never been to Atlanta before, and he was a little bit bummed it was filming so far from LA.
But what did it matter? Colby wasn’t expected back for another two months anyway.
He’d finished the album, and the group had gone back to touring, opening for Hannah Wolfe.
His phone buzzed, and his whole body felt twenty pounds lighter when he saw Colby’s name on the FaceTime request.
“Hey! Oh my God! You were on the fucking radio!” Hunter blurted out as Colby’s handsome, smiling face filled his screen.
Colby laughed, but it echoed. No. Wait… there were two people laughing? He wasn’t alone. Hunter’s smile dimmed. “I’m so bummed I wasn’t with you. I haven’t heard it on the radio. But it’s trending on Spotify.”
“Trending? You’re so fucking lame! It’s in the top ten most-streamed songs!” A female voice piped in. “Number four, baby!”
Hunter’s heart felt like it had run into a brick wall. Colby’s big, shining blue-gray eyes darted to the left, and his smile deepened. Hunter’s burrito started to solidify uncomfortably in his gut. “Hunter, meet Hannah.”
Colby shifted his screen, and Hannah Wolfe’s pale face came into view.
She waved a tiny hand. Hunter knew what she looked like.
He’d heard her music and seen her on social media.
She was talented, and her alabaster skin and huge, expressive brown eyes and glossy brown hair looked even better on this stupid FaceTime than they did online. He waved back. “Hey.”
“I hear you’re about to be a big movie star.”
“Who knows?” Hunter shrugged. “Nice to meet you.”
Please go away, Hunter thought to himself while still smiling.
Colby’s face came back into frame, but Hannah was there too now.
They must be touching to both be in frame together.
Like right on top of each other. Hunter balled his free hand, resting on his thigh.
“You at the pool?” Colby asked, noticing Hunter’s background. “AC broke again?”
“No.” Hunter spits out. “Just bored and needed a change of scenery.”
“How cool is it that by the time this tour ends you’ll have enough cash to get a decent apartment, Colb,’ Hannah injected. She squeezed Colby like in a side-hug. “Your boy is crushing it, Hunter. Seriously.”
“Of course he is. I always knew he would,” Hunter replied, still smiling on the outside but definitely not on the inside. Internally, it felt like someone just bitch-slapped him.
“Anything going on with you? When do you leave to do the rom com?” Colby wanted to know. Hannah was still there beside him, smiling and looking like his girlfriend. Was she? Wouldn’t Colby have said something to him?
“Next week. Wednesday.” Hunter muttered.
“So, you have free time?” Colby asked.
Hunter only nodded instead of tossing out the sarcastic response he wanted to yell out, which is ‘Well, my days are pretty full missing you and jerking off to the memories of you blowing me.’
“I… I was wondering…” He swallowed and bit his lip, and suddenly, the way he was looking at Hunter made him forget Hannah existed, let alone that she was right there, still staring at him.
“I have extra cash and our next gig, day after tomorrow, is in Boston. Flights from LAX to Logan are stupid cheap right now. You could come here for the gigs tomorrow and Friday and then fly back Saturday when we go on to Maine.”
“You want me to come to Boston?”
Colby’s smile got soft, vulnerable. He averted his pretty eyes. “I mean, yeah. Why the fuck not? If you wanna.”
“Yeah, man. Let’s do it.” Hunter said, trying to sound casual because Hannah was still right there and he had no idea what she knew. Fuck, he doesn’t even know what there is to know. Colby and Hunter probably had to have a long overdue conversation. “I can buy my own ticket, though.”
“No. I want to.” Colby insisted. “I’ll do it now and send you the details.”
“Babe, we have sound check,” Hannah said. She smiled at Hunter again. “Bye, Colby’s boy. See you in person soon.”
What the fuck did ‘Colby’s boy’ mean?
“Shit. I gotta run.” Colby’s eyes shifted as Hannah disappeared from the screen.
“Okay. Talk soon.”
“See you soon.” Colby corrected, and then his eyes darted back to Hunter’s. “I can’t wait, Hunter.”
“Me too.”
Hunter spent the rest of the day packing and repacking and smiling. His gut had become a butterfly sanctuary too. Until Margo called.
“We have a problem. Not a big one but a problem.”
“What? The movie? Staycation?” They’ve changed their mind. They’ve cast someone else. The studio went under. The—
“They need you in Atlanta earlier than expected. There was some scheduling malfunction, and they’ve bumped your flight. You leave tomorrow.” She said, and she didn’t sound at all worried. Like this wouldn’t possibly be an issue.
“But I can’t.”
“What do you mean you can’t?” Margo said flatly. “Of course, you can and you will. The end. I’m not asking you. I’m telling you.”
“I… I was flying somewhere else. Was gonna come back Saturday.” Hunter asked. “I can fly directly from Boston to Atlanta on Saturday. Will that work?”
“No.” Margo exhaled so loudly it sounded like static on the line. “Hunter, what the fuck is wrong with you?”
Hunter closed his eyes and sank down onto the bed next to his open, half-packed suitcase.
Margo knew he had anxiety because he once bailed on an audition because of a panic attack early on in their professional relationship.
She stuck with him, and he appreciated it.
“Colby bought me a ticket to go see him on tour.”
“Can you move it? Fuck, I’ll pay the change fee.”
“No changes, no refunds,” Hunter replied.
“Fucking airlines,” Margo said. “Hunter, you can’t push on this. I’m sorry, but you must understand.”
“Yeah. I do. I know. I just… fuck.”
“Sorry, kiddo. Truly. I know you miss your friend, but this is the dream, right? A few months ago, you would have killed for this problem,” Margo said, and Hunter knew she was right.
“I gotta go. Have to repack for this instead and call Colby.” Hunter muttered and tried to swallow down the sadness. Margo was right, these were problems he’d have welcomed months ago.
“I’ll email your ticket info.”
Margo hung up, and Hunter swallowed down his bitter disappointment and tried calling Colby. When he didn’t answer, Hunter Venmo’d Colby the cost of the ticket and sent a text.
Hunter: They need me in Atlanta early. Tomorrow. Can’t make Boston. I’m so fucking sorry. I paid you back. Maybe another time?
And then, for some stupid reason, Hunter dropped back on the mattress and cried.