The Distance Between Us

stockroom.
    “So you did tell him that?” I sink onto the couch in the back room and think about damage control while Henry and Skye talk about some show the band is playing in a couple of weeks. Before I come up with any good plan, the bell on the front door rings and my heart stops.
    “We’re back here,” Skye calls out.
    What was I going to say? Tic, hey. We kissed? What? Hmm, I don’t remember that.
    I look up as footsteps shuffle into the room. “Xander!” Yes, I yelled his name but otherwise remained frozen. He had showered and was perfectly clean and back to his normal self. Looking at him like that makes me feel the layer of dirt on my exposed skin. I rub my arm. Why didn’t I shower?
    Xander nods to Skye and Henry then says, “Caymen, you forgot this in my car.” He holds up my sweatshirt. “And I brought food since you didn’t stay and eat.”
    That seems to be his theme: Showing up with food. Hot chocolate, muffins, and now French.
    He sets it down on the coffee table and unloads several Styrofoam boxes. “Uh, I only brought two forks.”
    Skye crawls forward on her knees. “Who needs forks?” She scoops up a hunk of cheese-covered bread and pops it in her mouth. “Hey. I’m Skye. I saw you a couple weeks ago at the club.”
    Xander nods and takes Skye in, from the top of her bubblegum pink hair down to her unlaced army boots.
    “Xander, this is my best friend, Skye, and her boyfriend, Henry.”
    “ Her boyfriend,” Xander says.
    “Of course.” I remember the day Xander had walked in the store when Henry was singing for me. He had gotten the impression that Henry was my boyfriend. Oops.
    He shakes his head. “Good to meet you, Skye and Henry.”
    “You, too,” Skye says, taking another bite. “Mmm, this is amazing.”
    Xander sits next to me on the couch and hands me a plastic fork. “Are you feeling better?”
    “Better?” It takes me a second to remember the excuse I had used to leave the restaurant. “Oh. Yes. All better now.”
    He raises one eyebrow like he knew my secret. “So, Henry,” Xander says. “Your band. Very impressive. Have you guys recorded anything?”
    “No. We’re working our way up. We have to earn money for studio time.”
    “I have access to a studio that you’re welcome to use anytime for free.”
    “Are you yankin’ me?”
    “I don’t . . . uh . . . yank. Call me sometime and we’ll set it up.”
    Henry pulls out his phone, obviously ready to make sure he nails down the phone number before the offer is withdrawn. Xander relays the number.
    “Where is everyone?” I hear Mason yell at the same time the bell rings.

Chapter 19

    I widen my eyes at Skye and she bites her lip.
    “Back here, Tic,” Henry yells.
    I stand, wondering if I should intercept him before he comes back, but it’s too late. Mason in all his beautiful-hair-and-lips glory comes walking into the stockroom. He gives me a wide smile. “I thought you said you were coming last week. Instead you disappeared on me.” He crosses the room in three steps and crushes me into a hug, smelling of cigarette butts and peppermint breath mints. “I didn’t pin you as a girl who’d kiss and run.” He says this next to my ear but I know everyone heard. Then he kisses my cheek.
    Talk about the king of bad timing. I pat his shoulder awkwardly then back out of his hug. A silence stretches across the room. I tentatively glance at Xander to see how he’s taking all this. He has on his standard serious face.
    “Dude,” Henry says. “Xander just said we could use his studio to cut a few tracks.”
    Mason looks lost so I step aside and say, “Mason, this is Xander. Xander, Mason.”
    Xander extends his hand.
    Mason gives him a sideways five. “Hey, man.” Then proceeds to study Xander intently before adding, “I’ve seen you somewhere before.”
    “He was at one of our shows,” Henry says.
    “No. That’s not it. Are you some sort of record producer?”
    Xander gives a single laugh. “No. I’m Caymen’s friend .” Did he emphasize the “friend” or was I hearing things?
    Mason looks at me, his forehead still wrinkled as if trying to work out his thoughts. He blinks hard then says, “Nope. Have no idea. Thanks for the studio time.”
    “Sure.”
    Mason drops down next to Skye on the floor and lounges back on one elbow. With him on the floor and Xander sitting stiffly on the couch, it’s like an “Opposites Demonstration” is being acted out live for me. Two people