six

Leaning against the faded blue counter in the relatively crowded cafe, I crinkle my nose at Nadine as she tells me about the new hire she's already had to let go.

"They just don't make them like they used to," She jokes, playfully swatting my arm on her way to the pastry case. "Want something?" She asks as she grabs herself a croissant.

"I'm actually going to get a sandwich once Gem gets here," I explain over the chatter of the customers. "Was the kid really that bad?" A twinge of guilt passes through me as Nadine lets out a big sigh and I notice the slight dark circles under her eyes.

"Miss Emma..." She shakes her head, and clucks her tongue. "He dropped the flour, not once, not twice, but three times."

Cringing internally, I hold back a giggle. If there's anything Nadine is a stickler about, it's being careful with the ingredients. Spill a bag of flour to the floor, and you'll be cleaning up little specks of it for the next few months, even when you think you've cleaned it all up.

"Emmy!" I hear her before I see her, and turn to the loud shouting accompanied by the soft jingle of bells at the door. Everyone else in the cafe turns just as I do - leave it to Gemma to make a grand entrance.

"Gemma," I throw my arms around her in a tight embrace, noticing her tan skin and oddly natural blonde hair. "How was Costa Rica?"

"Hi Nadine," Gemma blows an air kiss over the counter. "Absolutely amazing, although it would've been better with my best friend." She glares at me pointedly and Nadine laughs before excusing herself to the back room.

"I'll put a chicken salad in the toaster for you, Emma. Gemma, dear, what would you like?" Nadine calls over her shoulder as she leaves.

"Make that two, please!" Gemma shouts before dragging me to the only empty table in the far corner. "Tell me everything - how's the job? Any cute co-workers?" I raise my brows at her and she lets out a giggle. "You know where my priorities lie, don't act so surprised."

Ignoring her question about date-able co-workers and how my mind briefly flashes to Adam's bright smile, I tell her how much I like the job and the work I'm doing. "There are two women there, but they don't like me much." I roll my eyes, recounting the numerous snippy comments Tori or Lizzie have made to me over the course of the past two weeks. Jess, at reception, is friendly enough, but pretty busy keeping up with Shannon's schedule.

"Why?" Gemma's eyes widen hungrily as a young girl with a pink scrunchy in her hair sets down our plates. "Ugh, yum." Her stomach rumbles loudly to emphasize her comment.

Biting my lip, I consider how much to reveal - Gemma isn't one to hold her opinions back and I'm not sure I'm ready to deal with them just yet. Noticing my silence, Gemma squints at me suspiciously. "Why, Emma?"

"So, obviously you remember Beau Lewis, right?" The words tumble out of my mouth quickly. "Well, he's back into the music industry and his first single was a song called 'Emma.' Naturally, articles came out with my face on them, so I think they just recognize me from those, is all."

The articles. Somehow, the tabloids have already caught wind of the possible rekindling of our relationship, and more and more articles have come about, making my face the star of numerous gossip columns before I can even figure out what this thing between us will actually be. As if I wasn't doubting getting back with Beau enough already, the publicity makes me even more uneasy. Here I am trying to start my own career, the last thing I need is to be swept up in celebrity drama again.

I refuse to meet her eyes as I take a large bite of my sandwich. "Tasty," I nod appreciatively, a lame attempt at distraction.

Dropping her sandwich to her plate, Gemma cocks her head at me skeptically. "Well, that's interesting." She drums her tiny, manicured fingers against the tabletop, waiting for me to elaborate. When I don't, she pushes further. "I haven't heard the song yet, should we give it a listen?" She grabs her phone and I lunge across the table for it, glancing around the coffeeshop quickly.

"No!" I shake my head, failing at nonchalance. "It's not a big deal,"

"Sure it's not - that's why you almost ripped my hand off, right?" Gemma counters, giving me a knowing look. "But fine, I'll listen when I get home. Still," She sips her lemonade, making eye contact with me above the rim of her glass. "Your ex-boyfriend, and probably the first guy you've ever loved, I might add, writes a hit song about you and... You're fine with it? You're not curious about him?"

My blush gives me away before I even speak.

"Go on, I'm listening." Gemma smirks.

"Okay, fine. He's in town and we've hung out a couple of times, nothing serious." Her big eyes look me up and down, clearly unconvinced, and I rush out the next sentence in a whisper, my cheeks burning hot. "Fine, okay? We had sex, but it was just one time, and it won't happen again."

Satisfied, Gemma leans back in her chair and nods. "Sure it won't,"

Finally, the nagging feeling that I haven't been able to get rid of since I met Rey bubbles to the surface. "He's going on tour again, so..." I shrug half-heartedly.

Gemma takes a bite of her pickle. "So?"

"He's going with a girl." I admit, shame overtaking me as I realize how jealous I sound. Over someone I'm not even dating.

Her face falls slightly as she takes in the words. "Oh," She mumbles, biting the corner of her lip.

"Yeah," I sigh. "Oh."

"Well," Gemma reaches across the table to pat my arm comfortingly. "It's not like he cheated on you before, and hell, it's been four years. He's probably way more mature this time around, right? I'm sure it'll be fine."

Smiling uneasily at my friend across the table, I recognize her own reassurances as the one's I've been telling myself over and over since I saw him at Nana's funeral. No matter how much I try to tell myself that they're true, the dull ache leftover from last time reminds me how painful it will be if they're not.

BEAU

"How'd it sound?" I step out of the studio as Rey removes bulky headphones from her very pierced ears.

"Is that even a question?" She raises her brows at me knowingly. "Perfect, as always."

I sink into the seat beside her and roll my eyes lazily. "Don't fuck with me,"

Laughing loudly, she shrugs her shoulders. "Really, it's great. There's one part that might be a little bit rough," She reaches to begin the playback but stops when I shake my head.

"Rough? Not possible," I smirk.

Throwing her hands up in the air, she smiles hugely at me, revealing the little gap between her front teeth. "See? Why do I even try?"

Pulling my hair back with the rubber band I keep on my wrist, I change the subject. "So are you ready for the tour?" Rey is young, just twenty-one years old, and new on the scene. I don't want to see her fall into the same habits that I did. Touring can be fucking stressful, and if she isn't ready, then I'd rather she not come at all. Not to save myself the trouble, but to keep her out of it.

Scratching at the bandage covering the new tattoo on her forearm, she nods. "I don't know how many times I have to tell you, but yes, I'm ready." The small pout on her face reminds me how young she really is.

"Are you, though?" I push her, squinting at her expression. "It can get pretty crazy,"

Staring at me intently, Rey pulls her bottom lip between her teeth. "I like crazy," I notice the hint of innuendo in her voice, but pretend that I don't. Slightly uncomfortable under her gaze, I turn away, busying myself with the lyrics I've been working on.

"I'm serious, Rey." I mutter sternly, keeping my eyes on the papers in front of me.

From the corner of my eye, I watch her shrug. "So am I." Leaning back in her seat, her tone shifts, becoming fractionally more loaded than before. "So... how's Emma?" My head snaps up at her name and I shoot a suspicious glance at Rey. She's never asked about Emma before, but maybe that's because she hadn't met her yet. "What?" Rey asks, eyes wide. "I'm just curious,"

"She's good." I mumble, feeling a little weird talking about her when she isn't here. Especially with Rey, and especially with the way Rey is looking at me right now. Every once in awhile, I get the feeling that she might be into me. But then I remind myself to tone down the ego and get my head out of my own ass. See, Dr. Dex, I think to myself, I'm learning.

"She's pretty," Rey mutters quietly.

Before thinking, I snap at her, annoyance coloring my tone. "What? Do you want to fuck her too, or something?"

Rey's eyes widen even more as she sputters for words. Sighing deeply, I shake my head. "Sorry, I'm just kinda on edge. I didn't mean that." Rubbing my hand over my eyes, I add, "She's beautiful, I know." Looking at her feet, Rey fiddles with her fingers nervously. "Hey, really, I'm sorry for snapping like that."

Rey looks up at me, a smile on her face already. "Okay." She answers easily.

"Okay," I mutter.

"So, you did... you know, with her?" Rey asks nosily and I bite my tongue to keep my irritation in check.

"Okay," I groan, standing up and grabbing my jacket from the stool next to me. "I'm done with this conversation,"

As I leave the studio, I hear Rey call after me. "That's an answer enough for me, Beau Lewis! And yes, I will be messing with you about it for forever!"

Rolling my eyes, I smile to myself anyways. Rey is annoying and nosy, but has been since the day I met her. She looks at me like some kind of hero, which makes me uncomfortable, since I'm definitely not the one to idolize, but still, I'm trying to use that to keep her safe. She has real talent and she can go far with her voice, but only if she doesn't make the same mistakes I did.

If I can keep her on a straight path, this tour will launch both of our careers in the right direction. If I have to put up with her nagging me about my love life the entire time, so be it.

In the elevator, I press the button for the ground floor and find myself grinning like an idiot, thoughts of Rey already long from my mind.

Time to go see my girl.