Page 217 of Manhattan Bossholes

Now that I’d also parted ways with my sweet Elixir paycheck, Jennifer and I were all about a free night on the town. “How would you feel about being my plus one to the opening of Penny’s?” I read the invite in my email to her. “NYC’s newest penthouse bar. It has a roof garden, if that sways you at all.”

“I am swayed,” Jennifer said, cocking her head as music drifted in through the window. “Let’s hope the appetizers are better than the ones they had at Bottom of the Barrel.”

“I don’t actually have to mix any drinks this time,” I said. “Just show up in persona. So it should be a relatively chill night.”

“Sounds great.”

The music got louder. I looked up from my laptop, in the middle of editing my Souped-Up Bloody Mary video. “Are the neighbors throwing a party we weren’t invited to?”

“No…” Jennifer said. “I don’t think so. They’ve always invited us before.” She glanced down at her phone. “I don’t have any texts. I think someone must be having a midweek throwback jam.”

The music got even louder, and I finally recognized the song. No freaking way. I sat up straight, my laptop sliding off my knees onto the couch cushion.

Jennifer’s eyebrow arched slowly. “Wait. This is Lifehouse.” I stared at her. She stared at me. “Didn’t you say that was the⁠—”

“Yeah.”

“On the football field?”

“Yeah.”

We both jumped to our feet, racing for the window. There stood Aiden on the street, staring up at our apartment, a boombox held up over his head. My heart skipped a few beats, and I pressed my hand to my chest. What the hell was he doing?

“What in the John Cusack?” Jennifer muttered. She pulled back from the window, breaking into wild laughter. “Where did he get a boombox?” She laughed so hard there were tears in her eyes.

She laughed until I started laughing too. Then the shock melted into disbelief. I couldn’t believe Aiden was standing down there, in the middle of the street, with a freaking boombox, like I’d somehow landed in the movie Say Anything.

Jennifer sobered and opened the window all the way until we could hear the music better. She settled me with a pointed look, flicking her head down in Aiden’s direction. “So, this is happening.”

I released a heavy breath. “It sure is.”

“Right.” Jennifer put her hands on her hips. “What are you gonna do about it?”

AIDEN

Lifehouse poured from the speakers of the old boombox, practically deafening me as I sang along. I stared up at the window where I could just barely make out Cora and Jennifer. My arms were starting to ache, but I didn’t dare move. Not until I managed to talk to Cora.

To explain.

To tell her how wrong I was.

To apologize.

Finally, she stuck her head out the window.

Yes! This was my chance.

“Isn’t this a little irrational?” Cora called down at me.

A laugh bubbled up my throat. “Yes!” I shouted back. It was the most ridiculous thing I’d ever done in my life. “But you’re worth it!”

My stomach sank as Cora disappeared back into the apartment, shutting the window. Fuck. I lowered the boombox I’d bought at an old thrift store—I’d had to scour half the city before I found what I was looking for—and turned off the music.

Well, I’d obviously gotten her attention, but she was still clearly not interested in talking to me. I was a fool to think this would work. People on the sidewalk had stopped to stare at me. Passing cars honked. Someone even clapped.

And for what? Cora wasn’t interested. I turned back down the sidewalk, heading for my car, trying not to look as wretched as I felt inside. Maybe she really was over the idea of us.

I’d lost her.