Chapter 23 #2
“That’s Mallory,” I told her. “Chase’s new assistant. She’s super sweet. I think we should bring her down here with us.”
Harper stood to rescue her, and when she did, Jerry went to the mic.
“Live night at Iggy’s!”
The crowd cheered.
“How y’all doing tonight? We have some of our good ole standbys you’re used to, but some fresh meat I think you’ll enjoy hearing as well. Make them all feel welcome. First up, you know and love her, let’s hear it for Katie Marie.”
Harper pulled up another chair for Mallory, who sat next to me. We all faced the stage, anxiously awaiting for Katie to start.
“Thanks for the invite to sit with the girls,” Mallory said in my ear.
My hand went to her leg with a compassionate tap. “Of course. You don’t need to deal with those bozos. You’re always welcome with us.”
There were enough bitches I dealt with at the office when I started. I vowed to never be one and to welcome newcomers the way I would have enjoyed being welcomed. Gage knew I worked on changing the climate in the company that way. He continued to praise me for it.
The music started, and we all got lost in her voice. She sang popular rock songs, and she did them well. The entire bar sang along with many, much like on karaoke nights.
Suddenly, my palms were sweaty and my heart was racing. Looking around, everyone was singing along and having a good time. But I was nervous for my guy. This was so important to him. I wanted him, no, I needed him to succeed.
The next several performers were a blur to me. I clapped, I listened. But I bided my time simply waiting for Chase.
“Next, we have a special treat for you. Not only does this guy have a one-of-a-kind voice, but he’s playing his guitar for you tonight as well. He’s the total package. Let’s hear it for Chase Parker!”
The place went wild. Not just our corner of the bar, the entire establishment went crazy for Chase when he walked on stage. More people were here for him than we realized. People we didn’t know.
As he approached the microphone and took a seat on the stool, he peered into the crowd. To my surprise, he seemed calm.
More than calm.
He looked at home.
Like he was meant to be on that stage.
“Hey, everyone. How ya doin’ tonight?” Chase asked the crowd. He adjusted the mic as he gave everyone one of his drop-dead gorgeous smiles. Dimple and all. “I have a couple songs you’ll know, but I have one you won’t. Hope you enjoy them all.”
The strum of his guitar silenced the entire crowd. Everyone hung on every chord as he played. Once they recognized the song, the smiles and singing started. It was a well-known Tom Petty song, easy for everyone to sing along with, I Won’t Back Down.
When he transitioned into the next one, the mood shifted.
The tempo slowed, and his eyes found mine.
With a smile, his gaze bounced around the bar, connecting with his audience as he sang a great John Mayer tune.
The women in the crowd loved it. They acted as if he were singing directly to them, which was a sure sign of a talented performer if you ask me.
No one else tonight had commanded the audience the way he did. He took control up there with every song he played. It was amazing to watch.
“Hope you’re enjoying yourself so far.” Chase smiled broadly as the crowd started whistling. “Good, glad to hear it. Next up is a little something I’ve written. It’s called ‘Stay This Way.’ I hope you enjoy it.”
When he strummed his guitar, silence fell once again.
No one else may have been familiar with the tune he played, but I’d heard it. It was the song he played in his office and his studio for me numerous times. A haunting melody that gripped me and brought tears to my eyes.
His eyes found mine as he started singing.
I felt an elbow against my arm. “Hey, looks like he only has eyes for you,” Mallory said.
And his eyes never left mine as he sang.
I’ve been the kind that never stays,
Midnight heart with getaway plans,
Neon nights and borrowed names,
Never holding anyone’s hand.
Then you walked in like a last call song,
Soft but steady, pulling me close,
Now every road I used to run
Feels like somewhere I don’t wanna go.
As I watched him on stage, my heart pounded against my chest. The words. His words. They hit home. As if they were meant for me.
I was a flame with nowhere to land,
You’re the spark that makes me stand
So stay this way,
Right here in my arms, don’t drift away,
Let the world keep spinning, we’ll be okay,
If you stay this way.
He continued looking directly at me. Into my eyes, my heart, and my soul. It felt as if the words reached inside me and stroked my heart, making it want to beat only for him. Our connection never broke as he continued with his song.
Stay this way,
Messy and mine at the end of the day,
I’ve been lost but I found my place
When you stay this way.
I used to love the sound of goodbye,
Freedom ringing in my ears,
Now the only thing that scares me
Is waking up and you’re not here.
We’ve talked about that. Waking up without the other there, and how we never wanted it to happen again. The bumps on my skin made me shiver even though sweat rolled down my back. The wetness building in my eyes threatened to spill over, but I refused to take my eyes from his.
You took a heart that never tried,
Showed it how to beat slow,
Now forever doesn’t feel like a lie,
It feels like home.
I was a flame burning out alone,
You’re the reason I’m coming home.
This was a declaration. This was so much more than a song. This was him telling me that…he wanted me in his life forever.
I tried to hear the rest of his words. I tried so hard. But all I could hear was the beating of my own heart in my ears. But I never lost eye contact.
When he sang the last word, and strummed the last note, the audience remained in stunned silence. Eventually, the claps, whistles, and hollers started and wouldn’t stop. The entire bar stood for his song.
They stood for Chase.
I joined them, standing and clapping. As I did, the tears fell. Tears of love and happiness. Because as I watched and listened, I not only knew he sang a beautiful song for me. I knew he had found what he had been missing in his life as well.