Page 129 of Dream Chaser
“Terminal,” CJ says solemnly.
“May he rest in whipped, totally owned peace.” Remington smirks, raising his glass.
I shake my head, grinning. “Talk all the shit you want. You forget I heard all the dirt she has on all of you.”
That earns me a round of boos, French fries thrown like confetti, and a slow clap from Hart, who says, “Damn. That’s how you drop the mic without even picking one up.”
And across the room, Iz meets my eyes—knowing, smirking—and winks.
There’s a pause after the first song as they huddle and Maddox gets dragged on stage.
Maddox kicks it off with that soft rolling fiddle intro, drawing the bow across the strings. Within a few notes, I recognize the song, “Fishin’ in the Dark.” The girls play and sing like they’ve been rehearsing since birth, and I imagine they have.
Mags leans in from stage right on guitar, strumming the rhythm with steady ease. She’s in her element—barefoot, loose braid, eyes on Iz like they’re two halves of the same brain. Harper and London are singing, harmonizing perfectly, and Riley and Lo flank her with tambourine and cowbell, keeping time, bodies swaying.
Iz steps up to the mic with her harmonica and gives the crowd this little grin that’s all mischief and confidence before blowing out a few bright, twangy notes. It’s playful, teasing, like she’s luring everyone into something. Well, at least that’s what I’m feeling. And that feeling that usually pools in my balls with her, it’s spreading everywhere now.
And when the verse starts? Puremagic.
They don’t just sing it—theyglidethrough it. The harmonies are tight and sweet, guessing they were built from years of late-night porch sessions and too many shared bottles of wine. Iz takes the melody in that honey-smoked voice of hers, Mags slides into a soft alto under it, and London and Harper jump in with this clear, clean harmony that lifts the whole thing right off the stage.
On the chorus, the room joins in. It’s impossible not to.
“You and me go fishin’ in the dark, lyin’ on our backs and countin’ the stars …”
There’s clapping, stomping. Even Matthew’s trying not to bob his head but failing miserably.
Halfway through the song, Iz breaks off the mic and blows another harmonica riff—this one a little longer, a little … dirtier?
And when they hit the final chorus, Maddox lets loose on the fiddle, taking it on a joyride, high and wild while the rest of the girls laugh their way through the last lines, syncing their voices, playing off one another like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
By the time they wrap, the whole damn brewery is cheering. Boots stomp. Cowbells ring.
And Iz? She lifts her harmonica in a mock salute, cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling with adrenaline. She’s glowing.
I could sit here all night watching her have fun like this, surrounded by her best friends who are also related in one way or another.
When the song finishes, Jake and Sarah stop dancing and head this way.
“You’re fucked, man.” Jackson snickers. “Uncle Jake’s not going to go easy on you.”
“I think I’ll be all right,” I say as I stand and pull a chair out for Sarah.
“You like fishing, don’t you, Griffon?” Jake asks as he sits next to his wife.
“Love it,” I answer as I move to sit where I can watch Iz and not have my back to her folks. “Got a boat down home. You and Sarah should come down sometime, and I’ll take you out.”
“The one we saw on your declaration of love posts?” Jake asks, and all the guys chuckle. He scowls at them.
“Yeah,” I say, not trying to be cocky, just real. “Contender 35 ST. Triple engines, tuna tower, top-of-the-line sonar. She’s rigged for snapper runs, but rides so smooth my grand has fallen asleep on her more than once.”
Sarah perks up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Does she have shade?”
“Plenty.” I smile. “Coolers, Bluetooth, beanbags. It’s not just for the hardcore stuff.”
Jake whistles low, nodding with genuine appreciation. “I’ve fished on a few Contenders. You don’t play.”
“I don’t,” I say, eyes flicking back to Iz as she tips her head back and belts the harmony to“Take Me Home, Country Road,” eyes closed, joy spilling right out of her and into the crowd.
