“No.” I was pretty sure I’d cry every time I saw one of the broken ones. “I like your sleeve idea.”
“Then it’s a plan. It might take a few Sundays and some online shopping, but I’ve got no problem helping to track down each one.”
I glanced at Jack, my fingers itching to hold on to him again.
“Let’s fill up on coffee and pizza, then we’ll get going.” Jack’s arm brushed against mine as he moved to the fridge, setting off tingles. “Do you like your leftover pizza hot or cold?”
“Cold?” I shuddered. “Are you a monster?”
Jack smiled at me. “Hot is my preference, too. Will you turn on the oven?”
There was something soothing about having Jack there in my kitchen with me. I was really glad he had stayed.
Chapter 20
The Tenth Friday
It felt good to walk up to the door of The Muse again the next Friday. The hall passes had been a bit of a disaster for me, but I couldn’t regret finding the bar and meeting Sean and Jack.
Sean was waiting for me outside the door, but he wasn’t checking IDs tonight. Edgar was on door duty, and Sean grinned at me as he pushed off the wall. “Hey, honey.” He pulled me in for a quick hug. When he stepped back, his gaze fell below my face. “Gotta say; it might be a good thing I plan on staying close to you tonight.”
My hands came up to my neckline, which was a lot lower than usual. One of my friends from my college days had taken me shopping the night before, claiming I needed a breakup wardrobe. She’d picked out the maroon shirt, which had a deeper cut than I was used to, dipping down to knot right inthe center of my breasts. I’d enjoyed the color and the flare of the hem around my hips enough to buy it, but I’d almost changed my mind twice before leaving the apartment wearing it.
“Is it too much?” I asked, a splotchy red flush already spreading above the slopes of my breasts.
“You look amazing, though you’re always beautiful.” He kissed my forehead, linking his hand with mine. “Come on, I know someone who’s been staring at the door all night.”
Jack’s smile when he saw me formed the crinkles near his eyes that I liked best. He wasn’t wearing his typical black T-shirt with the bar logo. Instead, he wore a black button-down shirt with the top few buttons undone and the leather jacket I secretly considered mine after he’d saved my seat with it that one night.
“For you.” The drink he set down was in an elegant tapered glass, with sparkling yellow liquid and pineapples speared on the green umbrella at the top. “I thought pineapple was fitting for tonight,” he said with a wink.
I took a sip, liking the way it fizzed against my lips. “Delicious. Thanks, Jack.”
Sean rolled his eyes as he took the seat beside me. “You didn’t have to make it for her yourself. You’re paying two other bartenders to do that tonight.”
“You are?” I asked. I’d seen Wendy, but I’d missed the tall, skinny man also behind the bar. “Are you expecting it to be busy tonight?”
“You didn’t tell her?” Sean asked. He laughed. “Oh, shit. She’s gonna freak.”
I looked from Sean to Jack. “What’s going on?”
Jack rubbed a hand over his hair. An earring I didn’t remember seeing before flashed in his ear. “My old band is performing here tonight. They asked me to play with them.”
“Really?” Giddiness rose inside me. I’d been listening to the band since I’d goaded the name out of him, but I still hadn’t seen him play yet.
“It’s been a while since I’ve played for a crowd,” he admitted. “Don’t get too excited.”
“Too late,” I said, grinning at him. I squirmed in my seat. “Now I can’t wait until the music starts.”
Jack laughed. “I have something to show you that might distract you.” He leaned over the bar, holding out his phone. “I made a spreadsheet, see? It has the details for all the records I remembered, a column for if we found it locally already, and a column for those I’ve bid on online.”
My heart thumped. “You made me a spreadsheet?” I leaned forward, scrolling down the list. He’d remembered most of the records. We’d managed to find quite a few on Sunday, but it had only been the tip of the iceberg. Restoring the collection was going to take some time.
“I figured you could add in any I missed,” Jack said. “I’ll email you the shared link.”
“Wow, from rock star to nerd in five seconds,” Sean teased.
“I love spreadsheets,” I admitted, releasing Jack’s phone.
