I take her hand and walk her up to the opening in the curtain.I can feel her hand trembling."Gaby."She looks at me.I take her shoulders and bring my face close to hers.I look into her eyes and tell her."Always be unforgettable for the one you love.Always!Now be brave, baby, brave!"
She takes a deep breath.Closes her eyes.Finds her courage and says, "Let's do this."
I pat her arm and tell her."I'm going to be right there with you.You got this."
THUMP.THUMP.
* * *
Aurei
* * *
Siri ignores me,and I chuckle.She's such a naughty tease.I watch her as she inspires Gaby.My heart swells with pride.The girl I fell in lust with is one helluva star, but the girl I fell in love with in Alabama is one helluva superstar!
I look around and see Brutus standing guard.I walk over and shake his hand.Neither of us speak of what just happened."I better get back to the table.I can't miss Steve's bachelor party."
He grins and points the way out.I nod and head that way.
THUMP.THUMP.THUMP.THUMP.
When I open the door, Piper comes in.I just shake my head."Oh, of course!"
We pass each other with 'shit-eating grins' on our faces, and she tells me, "SHH!Everyone has secrets!"
I look over at the stage.There is a pause in the music.I hurry through the tables, hoping I can make it back to my seat in time.
THUMP.THUMP.THUMP.THUMP.
I'm only a few tables away, but I stop and watch.
The place rocks as Siri and Gaby throw the curtain back and stomp out onto the stage to Travis Tritt's "T-R-O-U-B-L-E."
I laugh to myself."The song choice is outstanding!"
Siri gets the crowd going and dances around Gaby as she struts her Alabama stuff and makes her way down the runway to Steve.Siri is bending over the edge of the runway with her arms outstretched and calls with her hands for them to join in the trouble they are about to inflict on Steve.Girls all over the room get up on the tables and dance.The whole place is jumping like a redneck's joint should be.Gaby is shaking her ass and owning her sexy side, bouncing and wiggling and jiggling.When she does a bonafide hair flip, I know she's been practicing this for a while, and I wonder how long Siri had this planned.I finish making my way to my seat, and when I sit down, Dirk leans over and shakes my hand.We just grin at each other, then lean back and enjoy the show.
The next song is "Honey, I'm Good" by Andy Grammar, and the girls tease Steve.Siri comes up and flirts with him, and Gaby steps in and makes him choose her.Over and over again.The message is clear.There won't be any straying tolerated.
Brilliantly played.
Cat comes by and drops off a triple shot of Crown Royal neat, and I sip it.I look around the audience, and everyone is laughing and enjoying the show.Occasionally someone makes eye contact with me, and they grin.
I nod and acknowledge.I'm a relaxed and happy man.
The next song is "Love Me Like You Mean It" by Kelsea Ballerini.This time Gaby owns the star spot, and she interprets the song for him.She walks around in front of him and lectures him.Then at the chorus puts her back on him and slides up and down.Then she rubs her tits on his arm.Then she places her hands on his knees and flips her hair over him.When she straddles him, I feel much better about my performance.Steve is just as tortured.She tells him that he has to love her like he means it.She takes his hand and pulls him out of the chair, sticks it in her back pocket, and leads him down the runway and through the curtain.I know they are going to the VIP room to take care of their business in private.
THUMP.THUMP.THUMP.THUMP.
The girls take to the tables again.
The emcee says."Happy ending and happy faces are what we do."
The crowd roars, and he says."Are you ready to PAR-TAY?"
The crowd roars louder.
"I can't hear you?"
