4. Stone
The bar was crowded tonight. One nod at Billy, the bouncer at Night Spirits, and he stepped to the side to let me in. He clapped me on the back as I walked by.
The employees at Night Spirits knew me, but they also knew that I liked my anonymity. They did little to draw attention to me, which I appreciated.
When I got inside, I made my way to the bar. Collin was bartending tonight. I settled on my normal stool near the wall, and Collin nodded in my direction to acknowledge that he saw me and that he’d be right with me to take my order. I pulled my cap down lower and studied the bar in front of me.
“Regular?” Collin asked as he set down a napkin.
“Yep,” I said.
A moment later, a Moscow mule appeared in front of me. I settled back on the barstool as I took a sip. The familiarity of the ginger, lime, and vodka washed over my tastebuds, and I felt my body relax. The band that was currently playing was pretty good. Troy could pick some bad bands, but this one had me feeling the music. I turned to rest one arm on the bar, so I could watch them play.
When they finished, the crowd erupted in cheers. I set my drink down and started clapping with them.
“They must be good if you’re clapping for them.” Collin’s voice drew my attention over. He was standing there with a big grin on his face.
“Troy’s getting better at who he’s picking,” I said as I picked up my drink and took another sip.
“He’s really trying to get the scouts to come out here. I think he said one would be in the crowd today.”
I nodded. Even though the music world was drastically different from sports, I knew what it was like to have someone in the crowd who could change your entire life. The nerves that came from that knowledge were like nothing I’d ever experienced since.
“I hope someone gets discovered,” I said as I shot him a smile.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have a newbie on our stage tonight,” Henry shouted into the microphone. He was Troy’s new MC and was doing a good job keeping the crowd pumped for the next set. “Let’s give Emerson King a huge Night Spirits’ welcome.” He held the microphone with his thumb as he clapped and waved for her to approach.
My entire body went numb as her name reverberated in my mind. I glanced around, wondering if I was the only one who heard the name he just called. But I seemed to be the only one affected. Everyone around me was staring at the stage, clapping and smiling, like the girl they’d fallen for in high school wasn’t moments away from walking on to the stage.
The entire world seemed to slow as Emerson walked toward Henry. She was holding a guitar, wearing a pair of overalls and a small tank underneath. Her hair was longer now. It fell in curls around her shoulders, and when she smiled at Henry, she tucked it behind her ear.
I knew I should pull my gaze away. I knew I shouldn’t be watching her, but I couldn’t help it. She was a ghost from my past, and yet she was standing in front of me, alive and breathing.
She pulled the stool closer to the microphone and settled on it. Her lips tipped up into a smile as she glanced around at the crowd. “Thank you so much for such a sweet welcome,” she said.
I closed my eyes for a moment as the familiarity of her voice caused my heart to pound. I’d spent so many years trying to forget her, yet one glance and all the memories came crashing into my mind like waves against the beach during a hurricane.
I wasn’t sure how long I watched her sing, and it didn’t matter. I was mesmerized by the way her lips moved as she sang. Her fingers effortlessly danced on the guitar strings as she closed her eyes. I’d heard her play back in high school, but this…this was something completely different.
Emerson was born to play.
A group of guys moved to stand in front of me. Normally, I’d just turn back to the bar, but this time, anger rose up inside of me. I didn’t want to stare at the back of their heads. I wanted to see Emerson. This might be the only chance I got to see her. I wasn’t going to waste it.
I grabbed my drink and slid off the barstool. Collin said something, but I was too busy listening to Emerson to care what he said. I moved around the group of guys and made my way closer to the stage. I kept to the shadows, not wanting her or anyone else to see me. I found an empty space on the far wall and leaned against it. I was about twenty feet away from her.
Far enough where she wouldn’t recognize me but close enough to make out the freckles that still dusted her nose. I sipped my drink and listened to the words that she was singing. Something about a broken heart and a broken family. I wondered if her lyrics reflected her life, but then I shook my head. One thing was for certain, she wasn’t singing about me, so the meaning didn’t really matter.
Her gaze drifted toward where I was standing, and I pulled my ball cap further down to shade my face. My entire body tensed as I waited for the familiar feeling of her gaze drifting over me. I studied my drink, praying that she didn’t recognize me. I didn’t want to bring up the past for her if she’d moved on—unlike me.
When I finally glanced back up, I saw that she’d turned her attention back to those sitting in front of her, so I let my gaze linger on her face. Her song ended, and everyone cheered. I set my empty mug down on the floor, so I could join in on their applause. She asked if they wanted an encore, and everyone cheered in agreement.
A smile spread across her lips, and my heart pounded in my chest from the sight. She looked so happy. I’d always wondered what happened to her. Where she went after graduation. The fact that she was up on stage told me that she’d chased her dream, which made me happy for her.
She deserved the world.
“Isn’t she amazing?” The guy I was standing next to had leaned closer to speak to me.
I glanced over at him and saw how happy he looked. He was smiling and clapping like he knew her. Did he?
“She’s great,” I mumbled.
“I never miss it when she plays,” the guy said. He glanced over at me and smiled. “I’m Emerson’s number one fan.”
The urge to punch him rushed through my muscles. I hated that he knew where she was going to be. I hated that he knew her name. I hated that he seemed to have an uncomplicated history with her—unlike me.
I stared at him, wondering if this was some kind of cruel joke. Not only did I have to stare at the girl I couldn’t seem to get out of my mind, but I had to stand next to the guy she seemed to have some sort of relationship with? Was she actually dating this tool?
Fate was a cruel mistress.
I turned my focus back to Emerson. And then guilt formed in my chest as our history came floating back into my mind. She wasn’t some stranger. We had a past, and I had been instrumental in ending our friendship. Suddenly, I felt selfish, standing here, taking her in like she was just another singer on a stage. This was her moment, and I felt like I was stealing it.
I shook my head, grabbed my mug, and pushed through the crowd over to Collin. I set the mug down on the bar before pulling a twenty out of my wallet. He nodded at me as he picked the mug and money up. He parted his lips to ask me a question, but I just shook my head.
“Keep the change,” I said before turning to leave. I couldn’t stand here and watch Emerson sing. I needed to leave.
I was halfway to the door when I felt a hand on my forearm. Her nails dug into my skin as my cap was pulled from my head. Alcohol-drenched breath washed over me as the woman shouted, “Stone Walker?”
Everyone around us turned, and I could feel their gazes on me as I moved to take my cap back.
“It is! It’s Stone Walker.” The woman had no interest in letting me go. “Babe, take a picture. My dad’s never going to believe this.” She shifted her body—all the while still clinging to my arm—until she was standing next to me.
Flashes went off around me, and all I could see were black spots. The music stopped as a crowd began to form around me. I turned to see if Emerson had noticed what was going on, but with the people and the residual blindness from the cameras, I couldn’t make anything out.
“Step back,” Billy’s voice boomed out. The woman’s hand was pulled away as Billy stood between me and her. He leaned toward me and said, “Follow me.”
I nodded and kept close to him as he pushed through the crowd to the door that led to the back room. People had their phones out and were snapping pictures, but I’d rescued my cap from the woman, so I pulled it down over my face as I kept my head bowed.
As soon as we were through the door, Billy shut it on the crowd. My ears were ringing in the absence of the chatter. I leaned against the cool brick wall and took in some deep breaths.
“Sorry about that, man,” Billy said.
I shook my head. “It’s no big deal. I should have stayed by the bar where it was safe.”
He nodded. “Still, you should be able to move around without someone grabbing onto you.” He pushed his hand through his black hair and then glanced to the side. “There’s a back door if you follow this hallway down and then take a right.” He lifted his arm and used his forefinger to emphasize the directions.
“Perfect. Thanks.”
“Let me know if you need assistance.”
I raised my hands and shook my head. “I should be good. Seems simple enough. I’ll wait until the crowd dies down a bit, and I’ll slip out.”
He studied me for a moment before he clapped me on the back and then slipped out the door. Now alone, I leaned my head back, tipping my face up and blowing out my breath. My stomach was in knots.
It had to be from seeing Emerson and then wondering if she saw me. After all, I was used to people stopping me to take pictures. That was an everyday occurrence. But with Emerson in the room? Did she see me? Did she know that I was there?
Did she care?
I cleared my throat and straightened. She probably had no idea that I was there, and if she did, I doubted that she cared. I was just a blip on her radar, that was all.
I saw some movement to my left, and I glanced over to see two girls peeking around the corner. They were giggling. I turned and nodded in their direction. “Ladies,” I said as I walked past them.
“Go Tigers,” one of the girls called out.
I glanced over my shoulder and smiled. But just as I did, I ran into someone. She let out a soft, “umph,” and without thinking, I reached out and grabbed onto her.
“I’m so sorry,” I stammered as I pulled the woman to my chest to keep us both upright.
It took me a second to steady myself. When I was certain that she was going to be okay, I glanced down. My entire body froze when I saw who I was holding on to. Her blonde hair and creamy skin were unmistakable. She didn’t have to look up at me for me to know who it was.
“You can let me go, now,” Emerson said.
I dropped my arms and jumped back like I’d just touched fire. My entire body heated, and the only thing I could think to do with my hands was to push one through my hair as I stared at her.
She took a moment to compose herself before she turned to face me. Her familiar green eyes studied me before she parted her lips and said, “Stone.”