Page 88 of Just Business

“I hope it’s not too presumptuous of me,” I say into the microphone, the room quieting. “But I’d love it if my woman and I could just be two normal people enjoying a night at the bar. I hope y’all understand.” And just like that, it’s like a switch has been flipped. Everyone puts their phones away and the energy returns to normal, like I’m just another guy singing karaoke.

“How’d you do that?” she asks, still clinging to my neck.

“Don’t ask me. Cassie had it all figured out. She was planning to talk to Sheila, and nobody crosses that bartender,” I say, grinning. I glance over at the bar, where the woman from my first night here is standing. She winks at me, then goes back to mixing drinks, a smirk on her wrinkled face.

The night is absolutely perfect. Cassie and I pulled it off without a hitch. We close the bar down, dancing and laughing with our friends. Liam swings Cassie around the dance floor, and I even spot Josie shaking her ass with some frat boys.

I tug Penny from the dance floor, her hand never leaving mine as I weave through the crowd. Once we’re off to the side in a small corner of privacy, I kiss her like I’ve been dying to all night. Everything fades away, and right now it's just the two of us.

She pulls away, her eyes searching mine for answers. “So, what’s this mean?”

“It means I’m here as long as you’ll have me. My contract’s up and I’m signing with Second Creek. Movers will be here with my stuff as soon as I give them the green light. So if you’re willing to give this stranger in a bar a chance, I wanna be here with you.”

She drapes her arms over my shoulders, pressing her lips to mine again. “How’s forever sound?” she asks, when we break apart.

“Baby, forever sounds perfect.”

TWO MONTHS LATER

Two weeks after Austin officially moved here, his dad was arrested without bail. It turned out that, in addition to abusing his wife, he’d been trafficking a shit ton of drugs for years—heroin, pills, you name it. The new police chief had been suspicious from the get-go. After everything happened with Austin’s mom, it was exactly what they needed to get the search warrant for their house. The former police chief helped him hide it and there’s a good chance they’ll live happily ever after together in prison.

When the news broke, Cassie showed me the articles and news clips. I studied each one closely looking for traces of Austin in them. Maybe it’s because I know him, but it was damn near impossible for me to find anything other than a faint resemblance. The biggest difference was the eyes. Even when I thought Austin was a cocky celebrity, the kindness in his sky blue eyes drew me in. The eyes that stared back at me in every news article were dead. No life in them whatsoever.

After weekly therapy sessions, Austin is making progress and he’s doing well dealing with the changes with his mom. He even pays for her to undergo intensive therapy as well. While there’s no excuse for much of his childhood, he’s learning to take it one day at a time, figuring out how to build a relationship with her. Now that he’s living here with me, he even handed over the keys to his cabin in Texas. When he came up with the idea he said his home was always meant to be here anyway.

“You about ready?” he yells from downstairs. He’s softly strumming the chords to a new song he’s been working on all week.

Today is the town-wide Friendsgiving celebration. As far back as I can remember, the week before Thanksgiving, the city council sets up a long table right down the center of Main Street. The street is closed off and practically everyone in Singing River gathers to share a meal.

I swipe some mascara across my lashes and yell, “Almost!” I rarely wear makeup, but for some reason I wanted to today, even though I’m sure I’ll regret it by the end of the day.

I’ve been a ball of nerves, because this year Austin is the live musical artist. He wants this town to be the first to hear some of the songs we’ve recorded as a way of thanking everyone here for saving his life in more ways than one. But there’s a twist. He’s got a surprise guest whose name rhymes with Henny Schmiller. We’ve been collaborating on original songs he plans to record on his next album, which will be produced under a local independent label, Second Creek Records.

They’re not huge, but they do have a roster of Grammy-winning artists, which speaks volumes. This will allow him to control his schedule and the amount of concerts he does per year. But more importantly, it means he can take things back to what he loves—him and his guitar singing his own songs.

Ashley, Brad, Tyler, and even Austin’s mom are flying in today to be part of the festivities and to spend the holiday with us. I tried to convince them to stay here at my house, now that I have two empty guest rooms, but they decided it would be better to book rooms at the motel instead. I’m excited to show them around Singing River and watch them fall in love with my precious town.

When I step into the living room, he’s standing looking out the window, unaware of my presence. I bought something new for today’s performance, and this will be the first time he’s seen me in it.

It’s a two-piece dress with a bohemian-inspired blue and turquoise paisley design. The top is cropped with a plunging neckline, and the skirt has a deep slit up one leg. I’ve paired it with a belt I found while cleaning out my parents’ closet. It’s brown leather, encrusted with large chunks of turquoise.

Is it a bit much for a small-town lunch? Absolutely. Do I give a shit? Not one bit. This is my first time performing and I just wanted to feel beautiful. Austin handed me his credit card, and I didn’t feel guilty taking it. I let Josie, Cassie, and Lisa in on our surprise and they rode with me to Nashville to shop for the perfect dress. And, in Cassie’s words, Ilook like a fucking wet dream in it. She even joked that if she weren’t straight, she’d be trying to get with me after seeing me in this dress.

I clear my throat, and Austin turns, one hand going to his chest, his expression slightly dazed. I bite back a giggle, but it dies in my throat when his jaw ticks and his fists curl and release at his sides like he’s fighting the urge to touch me.

“Penny.” His voice cracks, and he clears his throat. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything as beautiful as you. God, you take my breath away.”

He twirls his fingers in the air, indicating for me to spin around, so I do.

"Absolutely breathtaking." He pauses, his blue eyes dancing. "You know I’m going to have a real hard time letting anyone else see you like this. If anyone so much as glances your way, I might have to throat punch them.”

The nervous giggle that’s been trapped in my throat breaks through.

"You can't punch people who look at me.Everyonewill be looking at me today."

"That's it. Thanksgiving is cancelled." He pulls out his phone and dramatically pretends to text everyone. “To the citizens of Singing River: Thanksgiving is officially canceled because my girlfriend’s a knockout, and I don’t want anyone looking at her but me.”

“You don’t look half bad yourself,” My eyes wander up and down his form. He’s wearing a white button-down shirt, the first few buttons undone, and a bolo tie. It’s one I found in my dad’s things. The sight of it tugs at my chest, and tears prick at the corner of my eyes.

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