Page 46 of Forever Endeavor

Gary promised to save Billie the best seat in the house in front of the bar, putting her directly in Sonny’s line of sight. That made it easy for him to focus on a cute audience of one in the crowded room as he strummed and warbled through a mid-tempo Mellencamp cover that had the audience singing along.

Billie was still clapping when he stepped down from the stage and made his way over. “That was terrific.” She beamed and stroked his arm. Better than a round of applause any day.

“Hey, you made it. I thought maybe you’d be too busy writing.”

“You kidding? I wouldn’t miss the chance to see you play.”

Gary parked a freshly poured beer in front of Sonny. “Nice one, pal. You up for another tune later?”

“Maybe. We’ll see how long the lady and I stick around tonight.” He winked at Billie.

Her eyes twinkled. “Oh? Do we have plans?”

“I always have plans for us. In fact, right now I’ve got one in mind that involves palm trees, warm massage oil and you in a very skimpy bikini.” He leaned in to nuzzle her ear and growled a sexy serenade: “Aruba…Jamaica, ooh I wanna take ya.”

She fisted the front of his shirt, holding him close as her lips brushed his cheek. “Uh-huh, that one’s definitely climbing the charts with a bullet.”

A cutting voice rudely interrupted their private party. “Well, well, well…isn’t this cozy.”

Sonny’s head snapped back. Waddling between them was a stranger with a beach ball belly and puffy face that looked vaguely like someone he was once married to. “Melissa? What are you doing here?”

“It’s open mike night, so I figured you’d be playing your little songs. Big surprise, look who I find you canoodling with.” Melissa’s tone dripped with condescension. But while her snarky comment was directed at him, her eyes were glued to Billie. “Hello, Tramp.”

Billie rolled her eyes. “Hello, Moby.”

Sonny’s brain struggled to catch up to his eyes as the two women were locked in an intense stare down. “What am I missing here?”

Melissa folded her arms over her protruding stomach. “I’d ask you to introduce us, but I’ve already had the displeasure of meeting this floozy.”

Billie chortled. “Figures you work at the bank because you remind me of a penny. Round, two-faced, and your two cents ain’t worth much.”

Sonny’s hand shot up like a cease-fire flare. “All right, enough. Would one of you please tell me what’s going on? Billie?”

“It’s no big deal. It’s actually a pretty funny story.”

Melissa shook her head. “Tsk-tsk. Didn’t she tell you about harassing me at work?”

Billie shrugged. “It wasn’t harassment. But I may have, uh, wandered into the bank, er…accidentally, on purpose.”

He grappled to make heads or tails of it. “Why on earth would you do that?”

Melissa continued taking aim. “Because she’s clearly stalking me.”

“Not true,” Billie said. “I wanted her to back off making us move out.”

“Us?” Melissa questioned. “You mean she’s living inmyhouse?”

“It’s stillmyhouse. And yes, Cal invited Billie to stay with us while she’s in town,” Sonny snapped. “It’s really none of your business anyway.”

“Just like our private matters are none of her business so she should stop sticking her nose in them,” Melissa sniffed.

Sonny frowned. “Why are you here?”

“We need to talk.” Melissa’s lips moved as she glared at Billie. “Alone.”

Billie snatched her purse off the bar and slipped down from the stool. “No worries, Moby, I was just leaving anyway. Sonny, you know where you can find me.”

Melissa hoisted herself onto the vacated seat. “Never thought I’d see you out with such a cheap piece of goods. How many dumpsters did you dive to come up with that one?”

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