Chapter 7
Coffee with Lacy the next morning felt like it arrived quickly after Katie left. I just passed out and woke up in time to be 15 minutes late.
"Oh my god, Aria,"
Lacy said, giving me that look she reserved for when I was doing something particularly crazy or stupid.
"I know,"
I muttered, shaking my head. The whole story sounded insane as I laid it out for her. The pit in my stomach grew every time I said Mickey's name; it was Pavlovian.
"In your defense, I didn't recognize Tom that night at the club either, and I definitely know Axe Severson by sight,"
she giggled.
"See? Thank you!"
I said emphatically.
"I'm not a total dumbass."
"I mean, you are, but not for this,"
she laughed.
"But also, this is all going to be so hot."
I burst out laughing.
"Girl, what? This is the opposite of hot. This is a mess that barely escaped total disaster."
"It's going to be you and Tom locked on a tour bus for three months. That's hot."
"Ah, the old forced proximity trope. Only issue is that my sworn enemy is also sharing the bus, and Tom is his bandmate."
My nose couldn't help but wrinkle in disgust at the reality I faced.
"Well, you can contemplate that issue while he's fucking you senseless. How about that?"
"You're impossible."
We giggled.
"You've never given me the full story about you and Mickey. Why do you hate him so much anyway?"
"I told you, it was college stuff."
"That could not be more vague. Spill."
I rolled my eyes, but she was right. I may have been a flighty 22 year old, but I didn't need to be ashamed over getting my heart broken. A deep breath racked through my form.
"Ugh, fine. We used to be really good friends and made music together, but we had a falling out senior year and haven't spoken since."
"First off, you could not be more cagey about this topic. Second, since when were you friends?"
Lacy was right of course. I was being uncharacteristically tight-lipped. Normally I'd spill any and every detail to her, but I preferred to keep Mickey in a comfortable, tightly closed box in my subconscious where I intended to leave him.
"Since always,"
I shot back evasively.
"Aria, you're being so weird about this. But lucky for you, it's time to rehearse."
I breathed a sigh of relief. Being 15 minutes late paid off yet again.
"We're not done with this topic though. Regardless, I cannot wait to hear how your conversation with Tom goes tonight."
"Don't remind me. It doesn't help me focus on dance when I'm considering either my impending breakup or how well I'm getting fucked tonight."
I couldn't help the little smile at the idea of Tom on top of me in mere hours.
"We both know you're getting well fucked regardless."
She was right. We laughed, making our way back to the studio.
Rehearsal went by without a hitch. It was such a blast to move and sweat together again. I felt embarrassingly rusty, so I was glad we were rehearsing this far out from the start of the tour. I needed to start jogging again to have the stamina for the show.
I'd been hoping to leave early before Tom arrived, but he must have had the opposite thought, showing up in the lobby to watch the last fifteen minutes of my rehearsal. Thank God he was the only one.
Of course I fell hard on one move right in front of him. Ouch. I don't know if my ego could have taken falling in front of Mickey too.
"Hi, beautiful,"
Tom's perfectly deep yet gentle voice washed over me.
"Hi,"
I said, reaching for him instinctively. His arms wrapped around me in a deep hug.
"I'll see you in a few hours,"
he said, kissing the side of my head.
"See you then."
I kissed him on the lips, intending a friendly peck. He smiled against my mouth and pulled me back, keeping me pressed against him. He deepened the kiss, both of us forgetting our audience. He moved so perfectly against me, I felt both turned on and so at home in his arms it almost hurt. We didn't separate until I heard an all-too-familiar voice clear its throat pointedly.
Mickey stood at the studio entrance, frown creasing his face as he watched us. We still hadn't spoken or even acknowledged each other's existence since graduation.
Being near him was such a trip. Not a pleasant one.
I quickly focused back on Tom, meeting his smile with my own, suddenly feeling very excited to see him later.
"I'll see you later,"
I said quietly, knowing Mickey was watching.
"See you later."
Tom gave me a quick kiss as I turned to leave and walk past Mickey. The uncomfortable silence was suffocating.
Couldn't wait for a full summer of this.
As I finally passed Mickey in the doorway, it felt like electricity crackled between us, shocking my skin in that almost painful way, sending a shiver down my spine.
I felt both of them watching me leave, putting some pep in my step as I hurried to my car to go home, shower, and get ready for Tom's place later.