Here Comes the Sun: Chapter 5

My cell phone has been sitting on the coffee table since I came home last night. Next to it is the napkin that Ashley gave me last night with her phone number on it. I’ve only been sitting on the couch in front of said items for about an hour, continually picking up the phone, dialing the first few numbers, closing the phone, and putting it back on the table.

Morgan and I live together in an apartment above the bar. It’s a small, two bedroom place with a kitchen, one bathroom, and a living room. It’s a simple place, slightly resembling our bar downstairs. There’s a lot of dark colors, and dark wood.

As I sit on the maroon leather couch, I see an orange blur jump from the floor to the coffee table.

“Hey there, Milo.”

Meow.

I got Milo about a year ago. He showed up outside of the bar one evening, and I didn’t have the heart to leave him outside. I put up flyers around the neighborhood, and even put an ad in the local paper, but no one claimed him. I took him in, and he’s been a part of my life ever since.

Meow.

“Yes, Milo. I know I space out a lot.”

Meow.

“I don’t know. I really need to call her, but I’m so nervous!”

Milo jumps on to the couch and into my lap, and nuzzles into my neck. I scratch him behind his ears; his favorite spot. He then jumps back on to the coffee table, looks at my cell phone, and then back at me.

Meow.

I sigh. “Oh, alright.”

I pick up my phone, and finally dial all the numbers. It rings three times, and I pray that it goes right to voicemail.

“Hello?”

No, of course not. Why would it go to voicemail?

“Hello?”

Oh shit, that’s her.

“Hi, Ashley?”

“Yes?”

“This is Spencer Carlin, from Open Mic Night.”

“Ah, of course, Miss Carlin. How could I forget?”

Did she just flirt with me? God, I hope so.

“Well, I was just calling to let you know what’s going on for Friday night. Now, we have two acts starting at 9PM, and then you’re going to be playing the last slot from 11:00-11:45. You’ll be getting paid based on how much money the bar makes, so invite a bunch of your friends. Oh, and any drinks you want are on the house.”

No, we don’t normally give out free drinks.

“Oh, wow, that sounds great!”

She hesitates for a couple of seconds.

“So…are you going to be there on Friday?” She sounds unsure of herself.

There’s a grin on my face. It’s huge.

“Yes, I’ll be there.”

I can hear the smile in her voice. “Ok, good.”

“Well, I think that covers it. I’ll see you on Friday, Ashley.”

“I’ll be counting the days, Spencer Carlin.”

I end the call, close up my phone, and sit it on the coffee table. I breathe out what is quite possibly the biggest sigh in the world, and the giant grin is back, plastered on my face.

So will I, Ashley, so will I.