Page 105 of Behind the Bars

“I’m gonna go help the girls in the kitchen,” I said, pulling myself away from the butterflies Elliott Adams always provoked inme.

“Yeah, uh, I’ll be in the living room,” Elliott said quickly, handing me the bottle ofchampagne.

The afternoon slowly came together. After an amazing meal, the guys all hung out around the television, but instead of football, the musicians were wrapped up in watching their favorite music concerts of all time on YouTube. The same way the average man discussed the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys, those guys discussed Prince and MichaelJackson.

“They’re such nerds.” Laura laughed, tossing plates into the dishwasher. Just then TJ’s laughter filled the space, and it sent chills down our spines. “It’s good to see himsmiling.”

“Yes,” I agreed. “I’m glad he’s enjoyinghimself.”

“Both of them,” she said, nodding toward Elliott, who wasn’t smiling as big as TJ, but still, the small smirk wasvisible.

“He looks a little happy, doesn’t he?” Iasked.

She teared up and nodded. “Happier than I’ve seen him in a long time…because ofyou.”

“I doubt it’s me,” I told her. “He’s just finding himselfagain.”

She shook her head back and forth and placed a hand on my shoulder. “I wish you could see the way he looks at you when you’re not payingattention.”

“What?” I asked,baffled.

Kelly nodded. “I’ve known the guy for four years now, and this is the first time I’ve ever seen him look…I don’t know…” She shrugged. “Hopeful?”

“Even the fact that he’s in there talking about music… Years went by where he wouldn’t even mention it. He locked it away because it made him feel good, and Elliott didn’t think he deserved anything that made him feelgood.”

I smiled as the three of us continued to cleanup.

“Jasmine,” Elliott called me, nodding meover.

“Hey, is it time?” Iwhispered.

He nodded, glancing at his watch. “I think we should head over there so we aren’tlate.”

“Soundsgood.”

He cleared his throat, getting everyone’s attention. “Excuse me, everyone, but I, um, Jasmine and I prepared a Christmas gift for TJ, and we’d like to present itnow.”

TJ raised an eyebrow. “A gift? Forme?”

“Yes. It’s just, it’s not here. We have to go to it. If everyone could meet us at Frenchmen Street in fifteen minutes, that would beperfect.”

Jason’s eyes bugged out and he walked over to me, lightly tugging on my arm. “Did he just say FrenchmenStreet?”

“Yes.Why?”

He shook his head back and forth. “He hasn’t been to Frenchmen Street since Katie…” He dragged his hands over his face, shocked. “What kind of magical unicorn are you,woman?”

I laughed. “You know the corner TJ playson?”

“Yes.”

“Can you make sure he’s sitting right there forus?”

“Absolutely.”

“Thank you, Jason.” Ismiled.

“No,” he murmured in disbelief. “Thankyou.”

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