Page 28 of Finding Tane
I imagined myself cooking up kimbap and fried chicken, and felt my shoulders relax. “That would be really fun.”
“I can do some shifts at the shop if you need cover,” Aster said. “But I want to be in charge of marketing for this event, okay? I’m sure we can get traction on social media.”
“I can help out with shifts too,” Tane said. “There’s not much prep I need, just a microphone and a place to stand, really.”
I looked between them, hardly daring to believe... but they were both utterly sincere and looking back at me with excitement.
“Okay, um, yes. Let’s book this in, how about two weeks on Saturday?”
“Perfect!” Aster dashed out of the room.
Tane stroked my hair back from my face and looked deep into my eyes. “What else do you need, Dill?”
I took another breath and shook my head. “I just need to be in quiet a while longer, if that’s okay?”
“No worries, I’ll get us something for dinner. You sit here and take all the time you need.”
He kissed my forehead — an act that had butterflies hatching through my stomach and went into the kitchen. Aster must have dialed the lights down in the living room because nothing was too bright.
I hugged a cushion to my chest and lay down on my side, letting my brain accept that I was okay, there was nothing to be afraid of, and I had two wonderful people who were going to help with the shop.
Chapter Ten
Dillon
The two weeks before the event passed in a pleasant blur. I blew my own budget, ordering in food for the big day, and practicing how to cook it all.
True to their words, Aster and Tane came through, covering the till in the shop, and I got Christian in for some more shifts as well.
Aster had launched the store on all forms of social media he could find, and had already amassed quite a following. Although, when it came to listing the attractions of the day, Tane hadn’t been announced. He was billed as ‘mystery celebrity guest’and the comments on all the posts were going wild trying to guess who it could be.
Finally, the big day arrived. I was relieved when it dawned sunny and clear.
We’d decorated with fairy lights and bright streamers in every colour of the rainbow.
Aster had hired a popcorn cart from somewhere and manned it out the front with a striped apron over his jeans and button-down shirt.
I’d pre-prepared as much food as I could, and there were stations around the store where people could pick up samples.
I went to start up the cotton candy machine, the last thing I had to do before opening, and was surprised to find a queue of people waiting to come in.
Aster was already handing out little boxes of popcorn to the crowd.
I hurriedly flipped the sign and threw the door open. “Welcome in, everyone!”
The next few hours passed in a blur. Handing out samples, talking to everyone I could manage. Many regulars complimented me on the new stock, and on how nice the shop looked. None of them said anything about not being in so often, but I wasn’t about to confront anyone when the day was going so well.
At midday, Tane came out to stand in front of the shop. I’d organised him a microphone, and offered to introduce him but he turned me down. “I’ve got this, Dill.”
I stepped out to watch, dusting my hands off on my apron.
Tane stepped up to the mic, guitar in hand and surveyed the crowd. For a moment he looked uncertain, and my heart thudded. This was worlds away from the stadiums I’d seen footage of him performing in, it was nothing like a crowd of devoted fans, but it must surely be frightening all the same.
Tane
My stomach twisted. I knew these people were locals, they were here to celebrate Dillon and his shop, and not here to see me because ... well, they’d had no real idea I’d be there performing. I’d gotten to know some faces from putting on the Foggy Basin Grocer’s apron and working the till but I didn’t think many knew my stage name.
I wanted to play. I wanted to make this something wonderful. I wanted, more than anything, to break the block I’d had around performing.
