42. Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Two
Betty
“ H e’s going to lose his…” Olivia doesn’t complete the sentence; she doesn’t have to because she’s right.
“Good, because that’s exactly the reaction I want.” We’re just inside the studio exit door, staring out at the dozen folding tables and chairs set up on the sidewalk. The sun is beginning to rise, and the tables are packed with hungry musicians chowing down on a complimentary breakfast provided by Patti’s Pancake House.
“There!” Olivia shouts with the excitement of a best friend. I follow her sight line and spot Laredo. He’s standing next to one of the breakfast tables, a foot resting on a folding chair, elbow pressed to his knee, a satisfied smirk on his face. Ricco is seated at the table, arms extended, commanding everyone’s attention with what I’m sure is an inappropriate story now that the recording is behind everyone.
My man stands to the side, a look of satisfaction on his face, happily ceding the spotlight again. Something he’s done repeatedly these last few days. Ariel’s workshop performance, foregoing joining Devil May Care permanently, his solo on this project. My heart pounds, filled with pride for all he’s becoming.
“Go get him.” Olivia nudges my shoulder; my giggle hides my happy stumble.
I look up at the fast-approaching deputy sheriff, his gaze locked over my shoulder at my best friend, a look of determination on his face. I whisper over my shoulder at Liv, “Looks like someone is after you too.”
Mark ignores me, shouting at Liv behind me, “Olivia Barnett. Don’t you walk away. I know what you did. You’ve got some explaining to do.”
I have no idea what is going on with the two of them, nor do I have the time to unravel it. Only one thing has my attention. My man.
My elbow presses the gift box underneath my arm, and I step around the labyrinth of tables toward Laredo.
When he looks at me, his tired eyes suddenly light up, igniting a surge of energy within me. Even now, a part of me struggles to comprehend that my mere presence can elicit such a response. Without thinking, my tongue pushes out between my lips, and my seven-year-old version of me flirts back the only way she knew how. By sticking out my tongue at him.
He snickers, lowers his foot from the table, and takes a step toward me. I close the distance.
“Best sight of the evening,” he says, pulling me into a side hug so as not to crush the present. My forehead tingles as his lips graze it, and I eagerly breathe in his intoxicating scent, already imagining how it will cling to every T-shirt I own.
“I got you something,” I say, looking up at him. “Actually, two somethings.”
“You didn’t…”
I cut him off. “Shhh. Let me show some appreciation for the man in my life.” I unwrap from his hug and reach into my back pocket, pulling out a small stack of business cards.
“While you were rehearsing for hours, I contacted every agent and executive registered at the festival.” I push the cards into his hands.
His gaze lowers, taking in the fancy card stock, the familiar corporate logos. He flips from card to card, his eyes widening with each new one.
“Those are just the ones that came by the studio this morning. I have another twenty or so in my inbox.” I take a tiny step back so I can read his reaction to this next bit. “Three of them said to expect a distribution offer for the single by noon today. Four others want to talk to you about the film access for a music video. A few want Adam to write songs for their artists. I’m sorry.”
I know my last two words will cause confusion, and the look on his face is precious. “I know you were probably looking forward to getting some rest and enjoying quiet these next few days. But your name is on the lips of everyone in the industry right now.”
“Everybody knows my name.” He whispers words that I know are not meant for my ears.
“Olivia says the hashtag #saveSeasideFoodPantry is trending on X. Donations are pouring in. You did it.”
“We did it.” Laredo squeezes the back of my arms, his touch tender, gentle. A side of him I never experienced last summer. He waves a hand toward the table. “It took a village.”
“Yes, but every village needs a leader. You were our front man. The best front man ever.” With a gentle nudge, I push the gift box closer to him, the soft rustle of wrapping paper catching his attention. Slowly, he raises his hands, holding it delicately by the corners in front of his chest.
“What’s this?”
“Just open it.” I push a strand of hair from my face and bounce on my toes as Laredo steps to the table and lowers the box onto the top. Others notice and make space for him, and the table goes silent as he begins to rip away the silver wrapping paper.
I pace around the table, not stopping until I’m standing next to him, my hand back in my back pocket with his last surprise. I chew on my tongue and wait for him to lift the top of the box.
“No, you didn’t?” he shouts, eyes open in recognition. Ricco, sitting next to him, chuckles and claps, and I release a breath I didn’t realize I held. It’s not till now that I realized I should have told Ricco what I planned.
Laredo reaches into the box and pulls out his gift. A brand-new baby blue denim jacket. It’s two shades lighter than the version Ricco has worn forever, an homage to his new mentor. A road map for the journey my man now travels.
Laredo lifts the jacket high for everyone at the table to see, his eyes turning misty. He understands why I’ve given him this jacket at this moment. I feel a pull on the black Sharpie I’m holding in my hand and look down, finding Ricco staring at it.
“May I be the first?” He asks my permission, and water rushes to my eyes. This is better than I imagined.
Ricco pushes back from the table, standing, and holds the Sharpie high in the sky like a sword. “May I?” This time, his question is directed to Laredo.
“Oh my god, yes. It’ll be an honor.” Happy tears roll down his cheek, and my strong, cocky, confident man goes full-on fanboy in front of everyone. It’s the greatest thing I’ve seen all night.
People at that table scramble, realizing what is happening. Phones appear in their hands; another memorial memory being captured. Laredo places the jacket flat on the table, and Ricco milks the scene. He’s been on the other side of this ceremony a few dozen times, but this is the first time that I know of where he is signing.
Ricco signs his name, big, loopy flicks of his wrists, as if he’s John Hancock signing the Declaration of Independence. Rising to his full height, he basks in the thunderous applause before gracefully taking a bow. He holds the marker out to Laredo, who lazily waves a hand at him before pointing to Dax, the drummer from Devil May Care, amidst the crowd.
Dax presses his hands over his heart, mouths the words are you sure at Laredo, and steps to the table.
Laredo gives him a nod. “Yes. I want everyone to sign.” He points fingers at the rest of the group of artists. Smiles grow on each of their faces when they realize their names will be right on a jacket next to Ricco’s.
They begin to line up behind Dax, and Ricco races to the table next to ours, notifying everyone. They quickly queue up, and Ricco disappears off to alert the next table.
My feet find their way to Laredo. I stand behind him, my hands resting on the top of his right shoulder, my chin resting on my hands. “You’re going to need a bigger jacket.”
“I was thinking the same.” He twists his neck, our noses nearly touching. I can’t help but give it a pack. “You’ve been a busy beaver, my Betty Belle.”
I feel the blush on my face with the mention of my silly nickname. “Not nearly as much as you.”
“It’s incredible what you can accomplish when you focus on the happiness of others.”
I nod, not sure if he’s speaking about the pantry or me and realizing it doesn’t matter which.
I spent most of the last year trying to run away from joy because I thought I needed to punish myself. I had somehow convinced myself the pursuit of happiness was the equivalence of being irresponsible. That I had to transform myself to become something I always knew wasn’t me.
Why? Because I thought I couldn’t have it all. I couldn’t have passion and pleasure outside the construct society had built for me. But I’ve never fit inside anybody’s box. Laredo had always seen that. His return reminded me of who I’ve always been. A person who embraces life every single day.
But now, I get to do that while also helping the community I love. I can still live life passionately and feel joy every day and impact others at the same time. It’s more than me. It’s bigger than me. It always has been.
I press a kiss into the crook of his neck. As the bright sunlight on the horizon hints at the new day ahead of us, I instinctively shut my eyes, seeking comfort in the solidity of the man’s shoulder beside me.
He’s staying. I’ve landed a job that appears to have been fated for me since I was a teenager. A job even my mother approves of. I press one last kiss to Laredo’s neck and stifle a giggle as his real name sits on the tip of my tongue. He’s staying. For me. For us.
I mumble into his neck my final words before sleep takes over.
“Never believe them when they tell you can’t have it all.”