I couldn’tsulk in my room and went home. Winding down was the only thing I needed. I ended up on Friday night at Longbottoms—our regular watering hole. I hadn’t seen Jimmy, the owner of the bar-slash-club in a long time.
He would always be a friend, as it was him that gave the Shifters their first chance. We started with performing on weekends in the club and hit the music charts a year after.
I entered and got a few smiles from the patrons. I shook a couple of hands that sat at the bar—all regulars.
“Hey, Blake,” Jimmy said and leaned over the bar. He was a Crown-Tail and his bronze eyes gleamed, grabbing my hand into a shake. “What will it be?”
“Vodka with soda and lime, please.”
Jimmy poured me a glass as I took a seat. He placed it on a coaster in front of me. “So, how have you been doing?”
“Slow night.” I looked around with a smile.
“Stop avoiding my questions. A big shock when they brought Jako back, and he wasn’t alone. You have a rider. How does it make you feel?”
“Not wanting her dead, that is for sure.”
“The old farts do not know what you would do. Whoever wrote the book on Rubicons was speculating, that’s for sure.”
“Now answer my question. Why are you empty on a Friday night?”
“Business is kind of slow. The new club that opened on Dawsons put a lot of strain on us.”
“Wish I could help.”
He gave me that look, the one that said I could, and I laughed.
“Yeah, the band and I are not on the best of paws at the moment.”
“Still that thing with Ty?”
I nodded. “I want to change it but I don’t know how.”
“Easy, pick up a Cammy and call them.”
“Not that easy. I fucked that bridge up not just with Ty, but with Isaac, too. I hurt him badly that night.”
“Hey, I’m sure the guys already forgave you for that. I told you before, stop being so hard on yourself. You have more to deal with than any of us bozos.”
I chuckled as a new customer came that needed Jimmy’s help. I looked at my Cammy and sighed. Isaac wasn’t even going to pick up the phone.
One vodka became two. My eyes flickered to the stage with all the instruments. The need to play overpowered my gut. I couldn’t believe it was so quiet tonight.
I got up, took my drink, and went over to the stage.
I picked up the guitar and adjusted the mic.
The background music died out, as Jimmy toggled the buttons behind the bar.
“Testing,” I spoke over the mic and my voice blared through the speakers.
The people that sat in the booths cheered and applauded as I put my hand in the air.
“I will be entertaining you tonight.”
Whistles and more applause filled the air, and I strummed the guitar.
“Jimmy, your guitar is way out of tune.”
