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“I’m cleaning my oven.”

“Oh. Why?”

“Let’s just say I’m not in the mood to lose my deposit because of a cleaning charge.”

“Your… what?”

I sighed. “My lease is up at the end of the month and I’m not renewing, so I need to move, which means I need to pack up all my shit, and clean the whole place, or my landlord will keep my deposit, and since I just quit my job, I’m quite keen to not lose any money because of burnt cheese in the oven.”

“Pom, take a breath.”

“Can’t.”

“Why?”

“I’m right next to the oven and it’s filled with cleaning products that I’m pretty sure I’m not supposed to inhale.”

Tae snorted. “So, things are going well?”

I chewed my bottom lip. “Honestly, choosing to do this was easier than thinking things through”

“‘Things’ being your lonely-hearts reunion tour?”

“See! This is why I didn’t want to tell you about it!”

“Then you shouldn’t have gotten drunk at the office party and called me on New Years!”

I opened my mouth to respond, and then closed it, because yes. I had done that.

“Becka wasn’t picking up,” I grouched.

“Always a pleasure to know I’m not your first choice.” Tae grinned widely, and I rolled my eyes.

“I called you first today.”

Tae looked down at his watch. “Would Becka normally appreciate you calling her at three am?”

I threw my arms up. “It’s not a competition, but if it were, you’d win at being my most annoying friend!”

He pumped his fist. “Yes!”

“I’m hanging up. I’m going back to the burnt cheese.”

Tae laughed, waving his hand at the screen. “Pom, stop, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. You’re so highly strung at the moment, it’s too easy. I’m sorry.”

I balanced my phone on my knees to scowl at him through the screen.

“I have a lot going on.”

“Wanna talk it out?”

I picked at a hole in the linoleum flooring, silent as I tried to re-order my thoughts.

“I’m just wondering if this is the right thing to do,” I admitted. “Career-wise, it absolutely is. Covering a world tour is a big deal, but covering the reunion tour of one of the biggest groups in the world?” I shook my head. “It’s huge.”

“But?”

I sighed. “It’s complicated.”