Bree’s mother’s services, as least there it would have to be a quiet thing.
Bree’s mother’s services…
That was the next thing lingering around us.
Bree got into the car.
“I’m keeping the change,” she said. “I just got harassed by Paul Delong.”
“He works there?” I asked.
“He’s the manager,” Bree said with one handed air quotes. “He’s best friends with Brian.”
“What did he say?” I asked.
“He wanted to know why I got so much food. In other words… implying I was fucking some guy and getting food.”
“He doesn’t know about…”
Bree frowned. “I guess not.”
“Shit,” I whispered. “I shouldn’t have asked that.”
“It’s okay,” she said. “Sometimes it slips my mind and I feel okay. Then it hits me again.”
“Yeah, that’s what it does,” I said.
I drove back to her apartment in silence.
I didn’t feel settled until I got inside.
We sat at the dining room table together and ate breakfast.
Old man Mike always had the best breakfast sandwiches in town.
“Still good?” Bree asked.
“Amazing,” I said as I jammed the last two bites into my mouth and chomped on them.
“I can do that too,” she said.
She stuffed her mouth and widened her eyes at me.
We laughed, almost choked on our food, and washed it all down with coffee.
Then Bree went to take a shower.
As she showered, I called Toby just to check in. I let him know I had no clue what my next step was. He told me the show for Mitchy was happening in four days. I made sure he knew I would be there for it. No matter what. Even if I had to fly back to LA for the show and then fly back to be with Bree again.
I would make it all work.
I got off the phone with Toby and caught Bree walking toward me.
Her sort of short dark hair damp.
She had brushed her hair.
Her skin clean, natural… pretty.
I took a breath.
“Hey,” I said. “About before…”
“Forget about it,” she said. “Things just got the best of us.”
“Yeah,” I said.
“I’m really sorry about your friend,” she said. “I know a lot of people probably figure he was just some drugged out rock star, but he meant something to you.”
I nodded. “Yeah, he did. Mitchy had a lot of problems, but he was a good friend. I never liked the way things turned out with him and the band. And now he’s gone.”
“Sebastian,” Bree said. She sighed. “I just talked to Mia. She’s going to swing by and pick me up. I have to…” She cleared her throat. “I have to make the arrangements. I know what I’m going to do. What she would want to do. You don’t have to be here anymore. You can go back to Los Angeles. That’s where you belong. I heard you talking to someone. There’s a show coming up?”
I nodded. “Yeah. We’re doing a show for Mitchy. That’s not for a few days though.”
“Sebastian.”
“Bree.”
“Please…”
I moved closer to her.
I touched her arm. “I’m not going anywhere. Even if I did, I would come right back for the service for her. So I might as well just stay. If you want to go with Mia alone today, that’s fine. I can hang around here if you don’t mind. I can write some music, make some calls… whatever.”
“I won’t be long,” she said. “I mean, I don’t want to be out long at all. I just want it over with. It’s weird, Sebastian, but just a few months ago, Mom told me what she wanted to have happen when she died. Mia already talked to the newspaper. I just called the lawyer. We’re going to stop over at the funeral home. That’s… that’s it…”
Her chin quivered.
I touched her chin. “And you’re fucking strong for standing right now. And you’ll get through this. I’ll be right here waiting. Unless you want me to come for the ride.”
“You don’t have to do this…”
“I know I don’t,” I said. “But I am. And it’s why I don’t want anyone to know that I’m here. I don’t need people bothering me. Or you. That night I left, I told you I would always come back for you. If you needed anything. I meant it.”
Bree jumped at me and hugged me.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispered.
I hugged her back. “I’ve missed you too, babe.”
We stood there in silence.
I couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss.
Mistake or not… it had been one hell of a kiss.
6
BREE
“I want this over with as fast as possible,” I said as I stood up.
I blinked fast, out of tears once again.
Mia sat