The move was uneventful. Fluffy was the only one who seemed to have a problem with it. You’d have thought giving him a place with large windows would make him happy, but he meowed like crazy for the first few hours.

Maybe it was too many moves at once. In my attempt to bond with the cat I’d read quite a few books about cat care. Nothing had helped me with Fluffy, but I did learn cats don’t enjoy new places. Hopefully he wouldn’t have to move again anytime soon.

Clay had enough basic furniture to hold me over, and considering I wasn’t sure how long I was staying, I figured I could do without whatever was missing.

I took my time unpacking my clothes, enjoying how little I’d brought with me. It made the small closet seem huge. At some point I’d probably have to go back for my stuff—or text Steve and ask him to send it to me. Funny how I’d lived with the guy for almost a year and now even a virtual contact seemed strange. I hadn’t expected him to call, but a small part of me expected him to check in on me.

Underneath our messy relationship was a friendship. It’s where we started in the first place. But I hadn’t checked on him either. Whether his actions and desires were the cause for the break-up or not, I’d been the one to initiate the termination. Somehow I even managed to make a relationship breakup sound technical.

I pushed away thoughts of Steve as I put away my shoes. I only had a few pairs with me, but they were my favorites apart from the boots I’d need when the weather got colder.

I shut the closet door and walked into the kitchen. Thankfully my parents had lent me some extra kitchen stuff, and I had a glass to fill with water. I’d left all my kitchen things with Steve. It was old and all from law school so I didn’t particularly care whether I ever got those items back.

I was still in the kitchen when I heard a knock on the door. I opened it without checking to see who it was.

“Hey, sis.” Nile stood in the doorway with a huge grin on his face.

“Nile, hey!” I pulled him into a hug. Surprised or not, it was nice to see my big brother.

“Nice to see you too.” He broke the hug. “So you’re staying in Clay’s old place, huh?”

“I’m paying rent through work.” I studied Nile in his khakis and collared shirt. He’d finally traded in his band shirts.

“Yes, work. Not sure why he’s trusting you to touch his business,” Nile teased.

“Yeah, well, I guess he took pity on me.”

“No one is ever going to take pity on you, Cassidy.” His words were light, but there was a slight edge to it.

“I hope there is a compliment buried in there.”

“There is.”

“Come on in.” I gestured for him to come inside.

He walked in and closed the door behind him before settling down on the one old couch in the room. He made himself at home like he’d been there a million times. He probably had. “There’s nothing about you to pity. You wanted to make changes, and you’re making them.”

“I wish Mom and Dad saw it that way.”

“They’re our parents. They’re always going to second guess our decisions.” He pulled out his phone and checked the screen before pocketing it again.

“What decisions of yours are they second guessing?”

“They don’t want me proposing to Melinda.” His expression darkened.

“Proposing.” I coughed. “I had no clue you were that serious. You never even told me about her.”

“It’s only been three months, but they’ve been the best months of my life. I can’t even begin to explain how incredible she is.” His face lit up.

“Three months? Isn’t that a little fast?”

“You waited like two years with Steve, and it didn’t help. It’s not about time when it’s the right relationship.”

I ignored the sting of his words. I was prepared to respond when he continued.

“You’ll find someone one day too. You’re young.”

“I’m not worried.”

“I can’t wait to introduce you to her.” He quickly turned the conversation back to himself.

“Yeah, I’m excited to meet her.” I tried to muster enthusiasm despite what Clay had told me. “When can I?”

“Not until we get back from visiting some friends. We’re going up to Vermont.”

“Which friends?”

“Some of her college friends.”

“Oh. Cool.” I tried to hide my reaction. Clay had warned me that he only hung out with her friends.

“Which reminds me. It’s part of why I’m here.”

“You don’t need me to dog sit, do you?” Fluffy and a dog probably wasn’t going to go over well in my tiny apartment.

“No. Clay is doing that. But do you still listen to the Pumpkins?”

“The Smashing Pumpkins?”

“Who else would I be talking about?”

“I was just checking.”

“I have two tickets to their show at Jones Beach on Friday. Want them?”

“You’re willingly giving up tickets to see the Smashing Pumpkins?” Nile was a giant fan.

“We’re going to be away. I don’t have a choice.” He stuffed his hands into his pockets.

“I’ll take a ticket.”

“One? You can’t take only one. What am I going to do with the second?”

“Fine, I’ll take them both.” I had one person in mind to offer the second to.

“Have fun for my sake.” He handed me the printed out tickets.

“I will.”

He started toward the door.

“Wait, you aren’t leaving yet. Are you?” I didn’t hide the disappointment in my voice. After months, he was giving me a total of five minutes of his time?

“I have to. Melinda is going to be pissed. I told her I’d meet her at the mall to do some shopping before we left.”

“Shopping? The mall? You don’t magically combust when you go in there anymore?”

“I need clothes. They sell them there.” He smirked.

“You usually make mom get you stuff or you order online.”

“It’s different with Melinda.”

“I bet.” I rolled my eyes.

He didn’t catch my sarcasm. “It’s really different.”

“Then go meet her.” I tried to sound convincing. “I appreciate the tickets.”

He hugged me. “I promise we’ll catch up for real when I get back.”

“It’s fine. I’ll be busy with work anyway.”

“Good. You like working. You’re a weirdo like that.”

“You’re the weirdo.”

“Have fun. Those are good seats.” He pointed at the paper in my hands.

“I know. I’ll enjoy it.”

“Find someone to go with. Concerts suck alone.” He walked to the door. “And stop by and see Mom. She’s worried about you.”

“Yeah, I know. She’s always worried.”

“Exactly. If she wasn’t, I’d be worried, but that doesn’t change anything. Go see her. I’ll see you soon.” He walked right back out the door.

I stared at the sheet of paper in my hands. I hadn’t gone to see a real show in ages. Years. The upside was this was a show where I probably wouldn’t be the oldest one there. I assumed they brought in mostly the nostalgia crowd. Nile was right about one thing. Concerts did suck when you went alone. I learned that the hard way in college. Hopefully now that we were officially friends, it wouldn’t be too hard to convince Leo to go. Otherwise I’d be forcing Clay. I’d never heard back from Brent, and I wasn’t pushing anything in that department. Sending mixed signals was never a good thing.

I retied my pony tail and changed into a fresh t-shirt before heading back over to the record store. I knew he didn’t really care what I looked like, but showing up super sweaty didn’t sound appealing.

The drive to the record store was a few minutes longer from my new place, but it didn’t take too long. I parked in my now usual spot the second row back from the store. I locked the car and headed inside.

I didn’t see anyone at the desk, so I decided to pick up where I left off with the CDs while I waited.

“Hello, can I help you with something?” An unfamiliar voice called while I was making my way through the half-price section.

I looked at a man probably in his seventies. I recognized him, and I was pretty sure he was the owner.

“Hi. I was just looking around.” I put the CD back I was holding. “Is Leo in today?” I was suddenly regretting not calling first.

The man’s face slowly twisted into a smile. “No. He’s off today.”

“Oh. Ok.” I turned back to the CDs. So work wasn’t the reason he couldn’t help me move.

“You a friend of his, or you need him for something related to the store?”

I turned back to him. “Both. He’s helping me fix a tape, but also he’s a friend.”

He nodded. “Ok. Well if you need anything let me know.”

“Thanks.” I returned to the CDs hoping my face didn’t reveal how embarrassed I was to be asking for Leo.

“He’s a good guy if you can get beneath those walls of his.”

That got my attention and I turned back around fully. “His walls?”

“Yes, I am sure if you haven’t hit them yet, you will eventually. But just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it’s not worth the effort.”

“The effort to what?” I played stupid.

“Should I tell him you stopped by?” He didn’t fall for my act.

“No. That’s okay. Thanks.” I walked toward the door.

“Wait. What kind of tape trouble are you having?”

“Just a broken cassette tape. Leo has a friend who’s helping.”

“What tape is it? I may be able to replace it for you.”

“It’s a recorded one. Can’t be replaced.” I smiled. “But thank you.”

His face turned solemn. “Maybe it can’t be replaced, but you can find another. I assure you of that.”

“Yeah, not this one.”

He shrugged and his expression softened. “Have a nice day.”

“You too.” I walked out and back to my car. That had been a far more awkward trip to the store than I’d expected.