Page 8 of Lucky Break
My entire body comes alive, and I stare way too long at his Adam’s apple as it moves with each swallow. Watching him sip beer has suddenly become the most interesting activity in the world. A few drops of foam rest on his upper lip as he sets the glass down. I fight the urge to lean forward and wipe it away with my thumb. Better yet, kiss it away with my mouth.
“Good?” I don’t mean for my question to come out breathless, but it does.
His gaze meets mine, then roams down to the top of my low-cut tank. He pauses at my cleavage, staring unabashedly and setting my skin on fire. It’s a veryun-Callum like thing. Almost as if he catches himself, he straightens, the interest in his eyes disappearing as if it were never there. “I’ll have another, if you don’t mind?” He lifts his glass, letting out a long sigh before draining the rest of the glass.
I want to ask if he’s okay. To ask why he’s here instead of out celebrating his birthday with Celeste. Fuck. I hope I didn’t make a mistake by inviting Detour Records to come see him play. He has to know he played well. That they were impressed. Damn it. This is what I get for inserting myself in someone else’s business.
But above all, I wish I could ask if he ever thinks about me the way I think of him. I’m dying to know what went through his head just now as he ate me up with his eyes. Maybe it was all in my mind, but I hate that I can’t just lay out the truth. That my love for him feels more like a burden than a blessing. I guess that’s what happens when you fall in love with your best friend.
7
CALLUM
I don’t knowif it’s the excitement of the evening or the breakup with Celeste. Fucking hell. It could be that second pint of Guinness I downed. But I can’t stop looking at Tess.
She’s a beautiful woman. Always has been. I’m not blind. But right now, the way she moves behind the bar, with her husky voice and good humor, her knowing smiles that feel as if they’re only for me, I have the sudden urge to pull her into the back and kiss her fiercely. Which is a bad, bad idea. She’s one of my best friends. Kissing and fucking aren’t something friends do. At least not if they want to stay friends. And I can’t imagine not having Tess in my life. Which is why I keep my arse planted on this barstool and limit my admiration to this side of the bar.
Tess eyes my almost empty pint. “You want another?”
I shake my head in the negative. I already feel unsettled. There’s a restless energy building in my chest with no place to go, but I won’t drown it out with a bottle. That was my father’s go-to. “I’m good.”
“You probably need to go soon.”
“Naw. I’ll stay until you get off and walk you home.”
Her mouth parts, the smallest of hesitations, and I wonder why.
“I’m closing,” she says. “It’ll be a while.”
Aye. She wants to ask what I’m still doing here.
It’s a good question. The only answer I can come up with is standing in front of me. “That’s fine.” I’ll gladly wait. I hate it when she walks home alone. Her apartment is only a few blocks away, and I know most nights she probably doesn’t ask anyone to escort her home. But the city isn’t safe, and I’ve always been protective of her. Of everyone I care about. But if I’m being honest, tonight, there’s a possessive instinct that comes over me at the thought of anyone else taking Tess home.
“There’s our star!” Lars says in his boisterous voice. He clasps me on the shoulder before walking around the bar to take Tess’s spot. She moves down toward the register to help a few customers.
“You made us proud tonight, Cal.” Lars glances at my drink. “What else can I get you?”
“Oh, I’m good. Did you know a record label would be popping in?”
“Not until they called a few hours ago!” Lars grins. “You’ve always made us a lot of money, but after tonight? Once word gets out? You better get used to playing a packed house.” He runs a hand over his head, his brows furrowing. “Though, shit. You’ll probably get too big for Twisted Goat.”
“Never.” I shake my head, but for the first time, that doesn’t ring true. If something comes of this meeting with Detour Records and I’m somehow lucky enough to score a record deal, there’ll be tours and travel to pull me away. Even though it’s everything I’ve dreamed of, there’s a bittersweetness to the idea of change. I like my life. I like playing this bar. I like the people here. My gaze darts over to Tess.
“Promise me you won’t forget about us when you’re rich and famous.”
“Lars, I could never.”
Lars turns and shuffles a few bottles around before selecting one. “Here.” He presents an unopened bottle of Jameson and sets it next to my Guinness. “To celebrate later. When tonight finally sinks in.”
His generosity fills me with emotion. “Thank you.”
Tess waves Lars over to talk to a customer, and the next two hours pass quickly. As I’ve done many times, I pitch in with the closing work, and before much longer I’m following Tess out the door, my guitar case slung over one shoulder and my bottle of Jameson in hand.
She’s quiet. Contemplative. The silence isn’t uncomfortable, but I spend most of the short walk wondering what she’s thinking. That and trying not to stare.
She’s your friend. Just a friend. One of your very best friends. If I repeat the mantra enough times, maybe I’ll stop wondering about the sounds she makes when she comes. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. What is wrong with me?
As we round the corner to her apartment building, I reach for the first non-sexual question to pop into my head. “How much do you pay for rent?”
