Without You
song than usual. You’ve been writing about her since you started, but this one is different.”
    I took my hat off my head and ran my fingers through my mop of hair. “Yeah, this song is different. That performance the other night was different. It felt good to be back on a small stage with an intimate audience. It’s where I’ve always felt most comfortable.”
    Sam interrupted me. “I bet it helped that she was there.”
    “I didn’t know she would be when I stopped there.” It still amazed me that she was.
    He huffed again. “Sounds like you’re rethinking your future.”
    “Maybe it’s time to put my degree to use. I have some ideas,” I told him. Since the open mic night, the creative side of me had been keeping me up at night. Not just the thoughts of Maddy. Or maybe the two were connected.
    “I’d love to hear them. Something tells me you won’t be doing any stadium tours any time soon.”
    “Or ever.” I wasn’t one to beat around the bush. Sam had always been good to me. My future affected his, so I had to be honest if my plans were changing. He was either going to be with me or he was going to step aside. But I had a good feeling about it. He would want to come on this ride. “Hey, I’ve gotta run. Maddy just got here.”
    “Hey, Ev,” he called out before I could end the call.
    “Yeah.”
    “Do it right this time. If she’s what you want. Go for it. Make it work. I’m here to support you any way I can.”
    Listening to his softened tone made me smile. I don’t know why I ever doubted that he’d have my back. He really did have my best interests in mind, even if that did include me taking my career in a new direction. “Wow, look at you getting all mushy on me. Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”
    * * * * *
    “Y ou should really talk to the guy at the gate. They just waved me right through.” Maddy waltzed in with a box held against her hip. She dropped it on the coffee table next to the one already there. She looked around with a confused expression. “Where is everyone?”
    Turning my face from side to side, I looked around too. “What do you mean? Who’s supposed to be here?”
    Her eyes widened and it occurred to me that she had no idea it was going to be just the two of us. “I’m going to kill Genna.”
    A grin played across my lips and I had to fight a fully blown smile. “The thought of being alone with me has you wanting to commit murder. That really makes a man feel all warm and fuzzy inside.”
    “Shut up,” she said, rolling her eyes. “You know what she’s doing, right?”
    “I have an idea,” I told her. Genna and Luke had been up to something since the night I saw them at the bar. “But it won’t work, right? You’re already in a relationship.”
    Suddenly, Maddy’s focus moved to the ceiling and she looked like she was hiding something.
    “Exactly,” she said, drawing her eyes back to mine. She clapped her hands together and sat on the leather sofa. “Let’s just get to work so we can finish this.”
    Something was definitely up. I wanted to call her on it. We were together long enough for me to know all her tells. Did she really think I wouldn’t catch that pause as she stared off into space for a second? She was definitely keeping something from me. Nothing major, but something nonetheless. I decided to let it go. She’d tell me when the time was right. She always did.
    Without another word, I sat next to her and emptied the box our friends had left. I flipped all the pictures in the same direction, as if I was setting up a matching game like I did when I was a kid. We needed to be able to see what we’re working with.
    “Keep your pictures off to that side, so we don’t get them mixed up.”
    I chuckled inside. “Genna put a stamp on the back of her pics.” I turned one over and a pink G was marked in the corner.
    “She would,” Maddy said, laughing a little too. “So I brought my laptop.” She began digging into her bag. “And this

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