Page 62 of Sure, Pal

29

Six Months Later

Evan

My dad was gone. I gave up my soccer career. Sienna was my girlfriend. Those were the three concrete realities staring me in the face. The first two made me want to punch a wall. The last one made me believe that someday I’d stop wanting to punch that wall.

Sienna kept telling me that she loved all my pieces and that we’d figure it all out together, and I fucking loved her for it. But it wasn’t on her to get my head screwed on straight. That was on me.

Sienna deserved something huge for getting me through the absolute worst year of my life. And I had the perfect surprise lined up.

I’d show her as soon as we finished moving into our new apartment together.

???

I watched as Sienna dug around in a few boxes, looking for paper plates. She finally gave up and collapsed on the floor of our new apartment with a slice of pizza. We didn’t have our kitchen table put together yet.

“Hey, pal. I’ve got a surprise for you.” I grinned at my beautiful girlfriend. Her ponytail was messy from a busy day of moving, and she looked exhausted.

Sienna raised an eyebrow at me and took a bite of her pizza. “It is your dick, dude? I mean, I’ll take it, but you have to know at this point that it’s not a surprise anymore.”

I laughed out loud and reached a hand down to help her stand. “It’s not my dick. This surprise is—and I can’t believe I’m saying this— better than my dick.”

Sienna gasped. “Blasphemy!” Then she burst out laughing and followed me as I led her out to the parking lot. “Evan, where the hell are you taking me right now? I actually do just want to curl up on our mattress, fuck you, and then go to sleep.”

“Baby, you’re not going to sleep on a mattress on the floor. I’m going to put our bed frame together first.” I grinned at her and unlocked my Camaro. We needed the classic beauty for this surprise.

Sienna groaned and collapsed into the passenger seat. “I’m so tired!” Then her eyes twinkled mischievously. “Hey, remember when you ate me out on the hood of this sexy car?”

“Oh, Sienna, I remember.” I took her free hand — she still held a slice of pizza in her other.

“Oh, shit.” She pulled her hand from my grasp and rolled down the window. Then she tossed her pizza out. “The hand-stitched upholstery! How could I have almost disrespected Screamer with pizza grease?” Sienna laughed and leaned her head back on the seat.

She fell asleep only minutes into the drive, but that was okay. She’d be even more surprised that way.

I pulled up to the bar and glanced over at my sleeping beauty. I leaned over and softly kissed her lips to wake her. Sienna’s gorgeous eyes fluttered open, and she smiled at me. “Hey, babe.”

I smiled back at her. “We’re here.”

She looked out the window at the bar. “Um, we have an entire unopened bottle of vodka at home. We can get trashed there, can’t we?”

I grinned and climbed out of the car. “Come on.” I opened her door and took her hand. When I pulled a keyring out of my pocket and unlocked the front door, she narrowed her eyes.

I pulled the door open and flipped on the lights. Sienna glanced around the empty bar and then frowned. “I don’t get it.”

My heart pounded in my chest, and I cleared my throat. “This is ours. I bought it with my portion of the life insurance and inheritance money that my dad left me.” I walked across the hardwood floor and ran my hand across the smooth, shiny bar. “It looks pretty standard right now, but I have a lot of good ideas for the place. I want it to have a classic car theme. And I thought this place was perfect for you, too because it has—”

“A stage.”

I turned away from the bar to see Sienna standing in front of the small stage with a huge smile. “Yeah.” I grinned. “You can play here every damn night if you want, or give new struggling artists a chance to shine.”

“Holy shit,” Sienna whispered. Then she turned to look at me with wide eyes. “This is amazing, Evan! Holy shit! Look at this place!” Her voice was growing louder with every word. “Oh my god! We can like cover the walls with gorgeous photos of classic cars, and even use old car parts as decor! The barstools could be made from old seats!”

I walked up behind her and wrapped her up in my arms. “You see it, too, then?” I asked and kissed her neck.

“Hell yes! I love it!” She turned to face me. “This is like the perfect tribute to your dad! It’s perfect for us, too, because I love to sing and you—”

“Love to drink.”

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