June 25th

I'm writing this early evening, on my laptop at a table in Mateo's

Okay so I still haven't called Tara.

We've seen each other once since that night. I feel like I was a little awkward, but she seemed to play it off like nothing happened. Did she just remember? To be honest, I might not have remembered if I hadn't woken up next to Yunie. Oh god, if I woke up with Yunie, maybe she woke up with Hunter or Azura and decided she likes them more than me. I really wouldn't be able to blame her for that, like, Azura's a little weird but I think Hunter is generally agreed to be pretty attractive.

I'm trying not to get too worked up, since I really don't know. Maybe she's just been as nervous as I am. I still don't really understand why I'm so nervous, it's not like Tara is my first crush. I've been around the block a few times.

Azura asked me as much a few nights ago. She came to me at the Unnamed Studio, poured me a White Russian. She didn't have to ask if I wanted one, she knew I did. She has a gift, and her White Russians are exquisite. She does something to them to give them an extra punch. They smell vaguely of nutmeg, at least to my nose, but I can't be certain that's what the trick is.

As I gratefully started to drink, Azura got right to the point. "Have you called Tara yet?" She asked.

"Oh, you know about that?"

"I think Hunter mentioned it."

"I'm... a little nervous."

"Strange. I never took you for the shy type."

"I'm usually not." Azura chuckled softly. Truth be told, I was pretty into her a while back, when we first met. She moved to Last Light about... two years ago? We met at a kegger at the Unnamed Studio and hit it off. She continued coming around and even started hanging out at Mateo's. She gets on great with me, Hunter, and Cadence, and I also think she's actually Winter's favorite customer. She never saw eye-to-eye with Yunie or Misha though.

Right, point is, I was pretty into her, got really flirty more than once, and we made out a little once but aside from that nothing ever came of it. Just, wasn't really much spark in the end.

"Would it help if I told you she's definitely into you too?"

"What makes you so sure?"

"Well, unlike you I actually remember last Friday. You two were all over each other. You probably would have done the deed right there in the closet if Yunie hadn't interfered."

"Wait, Yunie interfered?"

"Oh yeah. Not sure why. It's Yunie so kye probably just got annoyed that someone else was getting all of the attention and needed to meddle."

I whiffed a bit. "Yeah, probably." I didn't argue, because I didn't want to get involved in their squabbles, but I knew Azura's read on Yunie was wrong. I was very confident that Yunie's motives were far more benevolent than Azura gave credit for.

While I was sitting here writing, Cadence stopped by the table and poured me a cup of coffee. The diner is fairly empty in the evenings, so their likely wasn't anyone more interesting to talk to. I looked up to catch her staring.

"Did you call her yet?" She asked.

"You know, too?"

"Yes. Winter told me. Gossiping about customers is her form of pillowtalk.

I laughed. "That I believe. But, no, I haven't called her yet."

"Can I give you a piece of advice?"

"Please do."

"Don't." Cadence said with a very stony, serious expression. I opened my mouth to respond but couldn't get the words out, and so Cadence nodded in confirmation and made her way back to the kitchen. Why is this girl so divisive around here? Cadence is one of those types who kind of just loves everyone, so when even she's saying to avoid someone, I start to wonder.

I pulled out my phone and stared at her contact for a moment. No picture, no info, just a first name and a phone number. Should I call her? Should I wait and see if she calls me? Should I move to Bismarck and change my name? I don't know.... but realistically I'm probably going to call her sooner or later. If I don't, I think I'll always wonder.