Page 16 of Dream Chaser
“You good?” Grimes asks.
I look at him like,What the hell are you talking about?
Chapter 5
Event Time
Izzy
Lo’s counting the register drawers while Maggie fiddles with the sound system—again—because someone switched it toBluegrass Remixes of 2000s Pop, and she refuses to let that be the Knights’ soundtrack. Sydney’s helping Lily glue one last rhinestone to her hand-painted sign with“MY DADDY - MY KNIGHT.”Understandably, she sees him so much differently now that he has shared custody after years apart with visits here and there. Still, after Syd’s ex pulled them over and dragged Syd from her vehicle, leaving Lily strapped inside, terrified, and he’s the one who found them and saved them, he’s her Knight on an even grander level now. Hell, he saved Syd and took a bullet to do so, so I see him that way, too.
Moving on …
Riley’s balancing a clipboard on her belly while stress-eating a granola bar. And I’m moving to the front entrance with my own clipboard, chewing a pen cap, and mentally cataloging every possible disaster.
“Okay,” I call out to the group. “Ticketed time slots—ten-minute waves, twenty fans per group. The first group hits at noon. The final group is the youth leagues, JV kids, and Varsity kids last. Coaches requested it so they don’t miss practice.”
“Nice,” Lo says without looking up. “Make ’em wait just long enough to lose their minds.”
“Exactly.” I nod. “Also, Maggie, your speakers are fixed, but I had to rewire the whole outlet. Someone plugged that old beer fridge into the wrong circuit and almost tripped the breaker.”
“Ugh. Again?” Maggie mutters. “Was it Old Man Kessler?”
“He says it was ‘the ghosts,’” I answer. “But yes.”
Sydney snorts. “Anything else fall apart?”
“The Sharpies were missing,” I reply, looking at Lily. “Found them in the cooler with the garnish fruit. Probably Lily’s doing.”
Lily gasps from the bar, hands on her hips like a tiny, offended queen. “I was making sure they didn’t dry out!”
“You’re hired.” I wink at her then glance back down at my board. “Also,” I add, flipping to the next page on my clipboard, “the second heater out front was blowing cold air; got it replaced with the backup from storage. And the step-and-repeat banner came in with a typo on one line, which makes zero sense. Likehello, repeat! It said‘Knigths.’I attached a team flag over it. Boom. Crisis averted.”
“You’re a machine.” Riley raises a fist
“She’s terrifying,” Maggie whispers to Lo. “In a hot, clipboard dominatrix kind of way.”
“Thank you,” I say, becauseobviously.
Lo tosses a branded beanie at my head. “Same company that dicked up the hats?”
“Yeah. As soon as we get that money back, they’re done.” I huff. “I’ll figure out how to do merch my damn self.”
“Yeah.” Mags laughs. “Like you have time.”
Lo shouts, “Twenty minutes! Time to take this from brewery to broadcast-ready. Everyone knows where they’re stationed? Which influencer groups they are in charge of?”
Ava, London, and Harper walk in, followed by the moms and a Maggie.
“Harper and London have the influencers covered,” Aunt Tessa says. “That way, if the boys screw something up, they can refocus them on tales from their rock star lives and Broadway days.”
“Hey, what about me?” Ava huffs.
Tessa wraps her arm around her. “Your head’s been on the upcoming draft and contract negotiations.”
Ava laughs. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Means you’re wound a little too tight, my dear.” a Maggie giggles. “And we could use your help in the kitchen.”
