Maybe Someday(14)

perfect, and you need to take a look at

them, because I sort of need you to love

them and agree to buy them from her.

Brennan: What the hell, Ridge? We can’t

hire someone to write lyrics for us. She’ll

want a percentage of the royalties, and

between the two of us and the guys in the

band, it won’t be worth it.

Me: I’m going to ignore that until you

check the e-mail I just sent you.

80/692

I put my phone down and pace the room, giv-

ing him time to take a look at what I just sent

him. My heart is pounding, and I’m sweating,

even though it’s not at all hot in this room. I just

can’t take his telling me no, because I’m scared

that if we can’t use her, I’ll be facing another six

months of a concrete wall.

After several minutes, my phone vibrates. I

drop to my bed and pick it up.

Brennan: Okay. See what she’s willing to

take, and let me know.

I smile and toss the phone into the air and feel

like yelling. After I calm down enough to text

her, I pick up my phone and think. I don’t want

to freak her out, because I know she’s completely

new to this kind of thing.

Me: I was wondering if we could talk

sometime soon? I have a proposition for

you. And get your mind out of the gutter,

it’s completely music-related.

81/692

Sydney: Okay. I can’t say I’m looking for-

ward to it, because it makes me nervous.

You want me to call you when I get off

work?

Me: You work?

Sydney: Yes. Campus library. Morning

shift mostly, except for this weekend.

Me: Oh. I guess that’s why I never no-

ticed. I don’t usually get out of bed until

after lunch.

Sydney: So do you want me to call you

after I get home?

Me: Just text me. You think we can meet

up sometime this weekend?

Sydney: Probably, but I’d have to talk to

my boyfriend. Don’t want him to find out

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and think you’re using me for more than

my lyrics.

Me: K. Sounds good.

Sydney: If you want, you could come to

my birthday party tomorrow night. Might

be easier, because he’ll be here.

Me: It’s your birthday tomorrow? Happy

early birthday. And that sounds good.

What time?

Sydney: Not sure. I’m not supposed to

know about it. I’ll just text you tomorrow

night once I find out more.

Me: K.

Honestly, I don’t like the fact that her boy-

friend might be there. I want to talk to her about

it alone, because I still haven’t decided what to

do about what I know is going on between that

83/692

* and her roommate. But I need her to

agree to help me before her heart gets shattered,

so maybe my silence has been a little selfish. I do

admire the fact that she wants to be honest with

him, even though he doesn’t deserve it. Which

makes me think maybe this is something I should

bring up to Maggie, even though it never oc-

curred to me before that it might even remotely

be an issue.

Me: Hey. How’s my girl?

Maggie: Busy. This thesis is kicking my

ass. How’s my guy?

Me: Good. Really good. I think Brennan

and I found someone who’s willing to

write lyrics with us. She’s really good, and

I’ve already finished almost two songs

since you left last weekend.

Maggie: Ridge, that’s great! I can’t wait to

read them. Maybe next weekend?

84/692

Me: You coming here, or am I going to

you?

Maggie: I’ll come there. I need to spend

some time at the nursing home. Love you.

Me: Love you. Don’t forget our video chat

tonight.

Maggie: You know I won’t. Already have

my outfit picked out.

Me: That better be a cruel joke. You know

I don’t care to see clothes.

Maggie: ;)

Eight more hours.

I’m hungry.

I toss the phone aside. I pull open my bedroom

door and take a step back when the shit that’s

been piled up on the other side begins to fall in

on me. First it’s the lamp, then the end table it

85/692

was resting on, then the end table the lamp and

the other end table were piled on top of.

Dammit, Warren.

These pranks are starting to get out of hand. I

press my arm into the couch that’s been shoved

up against my bedroom door. I push it back out

into the living room and jump over it, then head

toward the kitchen.

? ? ?

I carefully spoon toothpaste onto an Oreo, then
replace the top of the cookie and gently squeeze

it. I put it back into the package with the rest of

Warren’s Oreos and seal the package shut, just as