Page 17 of Yours, Finally

"Yes, let's focus on finalizing the guest list first." I crossed my arms and glanced at her flowers. "Are you bringing anyone, Vi?"

Yellow roses and chrysanthemums, mixed with the blue hues of irises and statice sat at the corner of her desk. I had looked it up after the second time her ex had sent her the same bouquet, when they had just started dating. By the fourth time, I had memorized it. By the sixth, I had found the flower shop and the specific fucking vase he'd chosen for it. At least he hadn't cheapened out, I supposed.

I gazed at Vi. She stared at me with a small smile and an arched eyebrow.

"Not really planning, to, no." She leaned back on her chair and contemplated me. "You?"

I forgot that Lina witnessed the conversation.

I raised an eyebrow in a challenge. "Me? No. I'm not planning on dating— there's no one to invite."

She lifted both hands as if she meant no harm. "It's totally fair. I was just wondering, since you asked me about it."

"You have flowers from your ex on your desk, Vi. I just got curious. If you're going to get together again, we should count him on the list."

She let out a sad laugh. "Oh, no way. He wants to, judging from the texts he's been sending and these flowers, but I'm so over him—"

A knock at the door interrupted us. The three of us turned to it, to watch Gabe make an appearance.

"I was told Lina was here," he said. "Everything okay?"

"Everything's fine." Lina got up. "But I feel like I should have had popcorn at the ready. Can we make some tonight?"

Gabe entered Vi's office, and I shrugged off some of my discomfort. I hadn't realized how quickly Vi and I had drifted into dangerous territory. Too fast, too soon, and suddenly I had been showing some of my restrained jealousy.

"If you like, of course." Gabe met Lina in the middle of the room and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "But we have to go now or my team is going to pester me for months for being late."

"Sure, let's go." Lina took Gabe's hand and turned to Vi and I. "Text me if there's anyone else you want to add to the guest list— but I took note. No dates for either of you. You both plan to be single for the foreseeable future, and go to the party alone. Check."

Gabe gave Lina a suspicious look, but said nothing. I avoided glancing at Vi.

"One thing, though." I scratched my eyebrow. "Should I take care of the music?"

Gabe cut a look at Vi, but put his attention back to me, fast. "Do youwantto take care of the music?"

I shrugged. "I thought it made sense… I'm supposed to be a little more public about it these days."

I could feel Vi's eyes on me, but I kept mine on my best friend.

"I see. Well, we'll talk about it. I have to go but… we'll figure it out."

I nodded and Gabe and Lina left. It took me a second to turn around to face Vi. I hadn't meant to talk about music in front of her, but I had dug one hole trying to get myself out of another.

She gazed at me with understanding, and a large dose of patience.

"Do you still play music?" she asked.

Once upon a time, I practiced at the Sotomayor's house after school. Guitar and piano, mostly. Vi had watched me play more than once but, with time, she had had fewer and fewer chances to see me in action. And I kept it private; a thing I did for myself in a sound-isolated room in my apartment.

Except my therapist had challenged me to open up about it, as a way to open up more to life.

I sighed. "Yeah. A bit every day. A lot, some days."

She nodded. "Would you… play for my parents?"

"Hell no." I scoffed. "For them at the lake house… maybe, one day. At the party in front of so many people? Never."

"If you want to practice… if you're supposed to do it in front of people… there's a karaoke place I like…"