Page 91 of Here's to Yesterday

“Everyone,” I answer as we approach ourfriends.

I watch as Maura and Rae do their weird squeal/hug thing and immediately fall into easy laughter. Every time she smiles or giggles, my body is taken over with warmth and happiness, and my heart gets out ofsync.

I must stare a bit too long, because when I finally peel my eyes from her, Hudson throws me a knowing look over the top of his glass as he takes a drink. Glowering in his direction, I take a seat at one of the emptychairs.

“It’s busy as shit in here tonight,” I say, glancing around and seeing a crowd that’s far bigger than it normallyis.

“I hear this hotshot singer that’s damn close to signing on a recording contract is playing what may be his last gig tonight,” Gaigesays.

I shrug. I know there are a lot of rumors swirling around about all of it, but I’ve yet to confirm anything since my brain is in limbo with it all. “Do you believe everything youhear?”

“Nah. Only things posted on the Net. The Net isalwaysaccurate,” hedeadpans.

“Can’t believe you brought him out in public,” I say toHudson.

He shrugs. “Yourroommate.”

“Hey, Tuck, think you can move your slot up by fifteen minutes? Crowd is starting to get antsy, and the skit before you go on got canceled,” Gary asks from the end of ourtable.

It’s kind of strange to have Gary talking to me. We’ve never really interacted at the club before during gig nights because we didn’t want people thinking Gary was playing favorites or pulling strings to get suits in here. We’ve always kept our father/son relationship separate from our businessone.

“Sure thing,” I say, and he walksoff.

Hudson leans in across the table. “It’s still odd to see you two together. It’s like seeing into the future or someshit.”

“Truth,” Rae says. “Your dad is hot,Tucker.”

“Hey! No! We don’t say those things,” Hudson says, glaring daggers at hisgirlfriend.

She shrugs. “Whatever. All I’m saying is Maura is lucky. Her boyfriend is gonna be a looker when he’s old andgrey.”

My eyes snap to Maura. It’s common knowledge that we have athinggoing on, but this is the first time since it’s started that someone has been so vocal about it. I guess from the small smile she gives me she likes the boyfriend label as much as Ido.

Hudson reaches his hand out and snips at the air with finger scissors. “That’s it, little lady,” he says to Rae. “You’re cutoff.”

We all laugh because there’s no way he’ll stick tothat.

As I’m about to go check whether my gear is ready for my show, Maura leans over and kisses me on thecheek.

“You doing an original tonight?” she askshopefully.

Glancing around the club again, I see how much the crowd has grown in the ten minutes we’ve been here. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen it this packed before, and I know it’s because of me and the rumors going around. It seems my social media following is more dedicated than I thought. But as awesome as it is to have a full house for what could be my last gig here, I don’t think they’reready.

Or it could be thatI’mnotready.

“Not yet. But soon,” I tellher.

She gives me an understanding smile and kisses my cheek again. “Go get ‘em,stud.”

I laugh at how she drops her voice to a husky whisper, mimicking Sandy at the end ofGrease.

I go into the closed off performers area and make sure my guitar is tuned to the song I want to sing to Maura tonight. The song I’m hoping conveys exactly how I’m feeling without having to say those three words outloud.

A few minutes later Gary hops up on the stage to quiet the house so the evening’s talent canbegin.

“Welcome to Mic’s—the club with a name no one ever knows how to properly pronounce. We’ve got a few new acts and a few old acts tonight. But first, let’s welcome Tucker Bentley back to thestage.”

The crowd erupts, and Gary pats me on the back, muttering good luck sentiments as I take my place on mystool.

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