Wes checks his watch. “We need to leave in about thirty minutes to catch the opening of Judd’s band.”
I chuckle. “Judd’s band. I can’t believe that’s even a thing.”
Hannah leans closer. She’s Uncle Sal’s oldest daughter and just graduated from college last year. “Where are y’all going? To listen to a band?”
“Yeah, you want to come?” Wes asks. “The more people we bring, the better.”
“Sure, I’m in. I’ll see if Uncle Michael and Tim want to come, too. They may need a breather from Nonna.”
She gets up with her empty plate and takes it to the sink before heading to the table across the room. Uncle Michael and Tim are sitting with the Evil Joes and I can tell the moment Charlie realizes what’s about to happen.
“No. No. No. No, Hannah, no,” he whispers. And sure enough, she has the entire table’s attention. And they’re all nodding along. Hannah turns back to Wes and calls from across the room, “They’re all in!”
It’s like a caravan from Nonna’s to Superior. Even a few of my other uncles and aunts are joining us. Judd is going to be thrilled.
It takes a few laps around the parking lot before we can find a spot, and I’m wondering if this crowd knows what’s in store. I mean, I’m not saying Judd can’t play the drums, but I’ve known him a long time and I’ve never even seen him beat a pencil against his desk with any kind of rhythm.
Our group walks in and Judd jumps up and yells “Messina family! Yes!” He gestures us to a table he reserved for us on the patio near the stage, but it’s clear there aren’t enough chairs. He should have known better.
Charlie and Wes help him drag more over, and now there are about twelve chairs around a table built for six. It’s tight.
And of course, Leo ends up right across from me. Except this time, there’s only about five feet separating us. I bet if I slid my foot forward, it would run right into his.
Charlie pulls up one more chair and boxes me in with it.
“Who’s this for?” I ask, since everyone has a seat. “Bianca?”
He has a weird expression, then jumps up and drags an additional chair to the table, so now there’s two of them. “I don’t know. In case extras show up.”
A waitress quickly puts chips and salsa on the table and takes our order. Since we just ate, we stick to drinks, with those who are old enough getting the margaritas this restaurant is famous for.
Bianca shows up just as the first round is served and slides into the chair right next to Charlie. She eyes the empty chair and starts to push it away so she has a little more room, but he stops her.
“We may need it,” he shouts over the band’s warm-up.
The band is ready to start, and Judd beats his drumsticks together, counting them down to the opening of their first song. He looks very professional and we are all duly impressed.
The band is…not good. But they aren’t horrible either. Given a few more weeks of practice, they could actually be decent. I feel sure one of the other members of the band must have a relative who owns this place and that’s how they got the gig.
But Charlie and Wes cheer for them like it’s the Jonas Brothers up there, loud squeals and all.
“How’d they get the name Wilder Blue?” Hannah asks.
Charlie rolls his eyes. “The lead singer lives in a blue house on Wilder. They practice in the garage.”
After the first couple of songs, they seem to settle down a bit and it’s a little better. Or we’ve gotten used to them.
Charlie keeps checking out the door where we came in. Enough so that it’s obvious.
“Who are you waiting for?” I ask.
He shakes me off, but his gaze keeps bouncing from the stage to the door and back again.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” I say to no one in particular, and head to a back hall in the main restaurant. There’s a line, but it moves pretty fast. When I come out of the ladies’ room, Leo is right there. I do a quick check but don’t recognize anyone around him.
“Don’t worry, no one on the off-limits list is nearby,” he says. It was so loud on the patio that it seems weird to be able to hear him so clearly right now.
I move away from the line, farther down the hall, and he follows right behind me.
