Sold Out - Michael Hardy

FIVE

Michael bites his lip as he sits at the booth by the window, his heart beating fast. Cassie had asked if he wanted to get lunch before she left and he immediately said yes.

Krista thinks he's...

Krista doesn't know where he is.

Huh.

The door jingles open and there she is.

Her blue eyes land on Michael and she smiles warmly. "Hey." Cassie says as she sits across from him.

"Hi." He smiles back, taking in her appearance. Damn, she's beautiful. "It's nice to see you again."

"You too." She nods, picking up a menu. "I'm starvin'."

As they look over the menu, song ideas swirl in their minds.

"Y'all ready to order?"

They place their order then Cassie starts scribbling down words on a napkin. "Whatcha writin'?"

"Shh." She mumbles back, trying to keep the words in her mind.

As soon as she clicks her pen shut, she exhales heavily. "What did you ask?"

Michael chuckles. She's still the same girl she was back home. "Whatcha writin'?" He repeats, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Just somethin' that popped into my head."

"Hey, can I ask you somethin'?"

"Of course." Cassie nods, sitting back in the booth. "What's up?"

"Who was that guy with you at the Titans game?"

"The titans game like last month?"

"Yeah. That guy you were with."

"My roommate, Miles."

"Oh. So- so not a boyfriend?" Cassie chuckles and shakes her head. "What about Morgan?"

"Uh, just a friend." She shrugs. "Why?"

"They both looked kinda, more than friends."

Cassie shrugs. "I'm single and I'm just enjoyin' it." Michael nods and looks at the mug in his hands. "What about you? You got a girlfriend?"

"Uh, yeah. I guess."

"You guess?"

Michael runs a hand through his hair. "I'm not- it's complicated."

Cassie nods. "You work at Big Loud, huh?"

"Yeah. I'm one of their songwriters."

"Nice! I knew you'd do somethin' amazin'."

He smiles. "And you, you're workin' on gettin' signed?"

"Hopefully. Morgan's tryna get me a contract as a songwriter."

"Oh, you'll get it." Michael nods. "It'll happen."

Cassie feels something in her chest.

Comfort?

Peace?

Happiness?

Whatever it is, she's happy to be back with Michael- even if it's as friends.

+++

"What."

"Well, thanks for the sunshine." Morgan huffs on the other end.

Cassie whines as she rolls on her back, her hand covering her eyes as she holds her phone to her ear. "It's early, Morgan. What do you need?"

"I just thought you'd wanna know that Seth wants to talk with you 'bout a contract today."