“Hey, stranger.” I smile as the sound of my brother’s deep voice drowns out the noise from the bar that’s bleeding through the walls.
“Hey, rock star. How’s life on the road?”
“Exhausting.” He lets out a haggard breath. “But good. Really good. I’ve tried calling you a few times. You never call me back.”
“I text Zara.”
“Oh, I see how it is.” He chuckles. “Now that I have a woman in my life, you’re just gonna ignore me now?”
Smiling, I say, “Of course not. You know you’re my favorite sibling. That makes you irreplaceable. But Zara does an excellent job of keeping me updated on how you’re doing. So I send her my appreciation in the form of emojis and IOUs.”
“Do I want to know what you’re promising my girlfriend?”
“Makeup tips and wine.”
“Ah, so the standard IOUs then.”
Snorting out a laugh, I reply, “Exactly.”
I lean back and kick my feet up on my desk. The small office in the back of the bar hasn’t changed much since my father’s days. The ratty leather chair and the old wooden desk have beenin here since I was a baby. The computer I’ve been staring at for the better part of an hour, however, is brand new.
Not that it seems to be helping me with my current conundrum.
“So how are you? You feeling all right?” I ask, tearing my eyes away from the screen.Why do these stock reports not match our sales numbers?
“Yeah,” he says. “Mostly. Having Evan’s back is nice. I’m able to take time away from the stage and rest. And I started movement therapy. The doctor is optimistic.”
Tears prick my eyes, and I nod to no one in particular. When we all learned that my brother had a neurological condition affecting his ability to play bass, we were devastated. But Zara has been vigilant about finding him treatment, and they both remain hopeful.
So I will be too.
“That’s good,” I say. “I’m glad they were able to coordinate everything so quickly.”
“Me too, and I feel incredibly lucky in that regard. Not everyone has the means or a doctor like Zara at their beck and call. She found an amazing specialist. We met with her between show dates, and I’m checking in with her virtually until we’re back in LA,” he replies warmly, and I shake my head. It’s hard to believe this is the same guy who was trying to convince me he didn’t have time for a committed relationship just a couple of months ago.
“And when is that exactly?”
“September,” he says. “We’re wrapping up in Florida this week, and then I’m taking Zara to Belize. Went all out and got one of those bungalows on the water. She’s gonna freak. Anyway, we’ll be there until we leave for the international leg of the tour. We both need the downtime.”
“Do you actually hear yourself when you talk? ’Cause it sounds to me like you’re complaining about going on an all-expense-paid trip to Europe.”
“Not just Europe, Pres. We play in Australia and Brazil. We’re very popular.”
“God…” I fake a sigh. “The fame has already gone to your head, hasn’t it?”
He laughs. “Totally. But seriously, I am excited to travel with Zara and the band, but we just need some time to decompress. Being on a tour, you’re just constantly surrounded by people. It’s a lot.”
“I can understand that. I get that way after a week at the bar.”
“Speaking of…how is the bar?”
I look down at the report, which still fills up the bulk of my computer screen. “Good.” God, why do I keep saying that word? “I’m planning an even bigger Halloween event this year.” I swallow a lump of nerves as the numbers on the report stare back at me.
Assuming I can afford it…
When I took over the bar, the profits were modest at best. Wanting to impress my father and prove he made the right choice in trusting me, I may have gone a little overboard. I booked more bands, stocked our shelves with premium liquor, and planned more events.
It’s drained the coffers considerably, but the bar has never been more popular.
