Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
“I seriously don’t want to go in. I can’t believe you are making me do this,” Logan grumbles as I pull my jeep into the parking lot behind Bob’s.
The evening sky has become an inky blue and I smell the fresh, earthy scent of the changing autumn leaves.
The wind is cool and I’m glad I changed into a sweater dress and knee-high boots.
“Come on, it will be fun.” I pat his leg before opening the door and walking around to meet him on the sidewalk.
Placing his hand on my lower back, we walk towards the entrance.
He slows his stride so I can keep up. I don’t remember him being this much taller than me, and I appreciate the consideration.
There’s nothing ruder than when your date walks ahead of you.
Earlier in the week, Beck suggested that we all attend karaoke, and I accepted on our behalf, to Logan’s dismay.
Bob’s hosts regular theme nights every month and this is one of her favourites, closely followed by trivia night.
Tonight, will be the first time Logan and I have hung out with all our friends since we decided to get back together and I’m looking forward to it.
Logan wishes we chose to go pretty much anywhere else.
“I honestly don’t think I should show my face in there ever again.
” Even with a pout on his lips, he looks incredible.
The sleeves of his black button up are rolled showing off his tattooed forearms, black jeans, and brown boots.
Of course, he’s wearing the necklace turned bracelet I made him so many years ago.
His hair is perfectly disheveled like hands have recently been run through it.
For complete transparency they may have been mine about twenty minutes ago.
“Nobody will even remember,” I reassure him.
Sighing, he reluctantly opens the door for me and when we step inside, the entire bar stops talking, swivels in their seats and shouts, “Dancing Queen!” followed by a chorus of laugher as the ABBA song plays over the speakers.
Mortified, his eyes widen, and his cheeks become scarlet red as he spins to return the way we just come. Placing my palms on his solid chest, I intercept him before he can escape. “I promise I didn’t know that was going to happen.” I try to stifle my laugh, because let’s face it, that’s funny.
Carson weaves his way through the crowd towards us and claps Logan on the back. “Glad you could make it, man.” I snicker as Logan scowls at our friend.
Stepping back, he points his finger at Carsons chest. “You did this, you asshole,” he grouches.
“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Carson replies, unsuccessfully trying to keep a straight face.
“Come on. We have a table over here.” He leads us over to a large table where all our friends are chatting with one another.
In our girls group chat earlier in the day I learned that Erin insisted that Claire leave Ben with her for the night, and she reluctantly agreed.
Megan is traveling solo again, to nobody’s surprise.
I can’t remember the last time Jeff came out with us.
The table is already littered with a collection of shot glasses and empty beer bottles, all evidence that they got this party started without us.
A large platter of hot wings and a basket of French fries sit in the centre of the table to be shared.
After a chorus of greetings, we settle into chairs facing the dance floor.
Riot reaches across the table and hands me a beer.
“Thank you. I may need this if Beck expects me to join her on stage.”
“None for me.” Logan shakes his head at the beer in Riot’s outstretched hand. “I may never drink again and definitely not in this fine establishment.”
“That’s fair.” Riot nods and places the beer back in front of himself.
“You good?” I lift my chin towards my friend. The last few times I have been with Riot he has been quiet. He’s not a chatterbox most days, but he looks stressed out. It probably has something to do with the house he’s currently renovating. Logan told me it’s a money pit.
“Yep, no worries.” He smiles back but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. When I raise my eyebrow in question, he subtly shakes his head, silently asking me to let it go.
“You have no idea how excited I am for this to begin.” Beck steals my attention as she bounces up and down in her seat.
“I’m pretty sure we do. The thirty-four messages you posted in the group chat was my first clue,” Ryan says, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose with his index finger.
“Okay, okay, let’s try to get along tonight, shall we?
This mommy is child-free and doesn’t want to spend the night listening to the pair of you bicker,” Claire scolds, waving her hand between them.
“I gave up cuddling with Ben and watching a Marvel movie tonight for this, so don’t wreck it for me. ”
“It’s not me.” Beck shakes her head and points her finger at Ryan. “He just doesn’t know how to have fun. Why did you even come if you can’t have a good time.”
Arms crossed he glowers back at my friend. “I think you know I can have a good time when I want to.”
“What are you going to sing, Beck?” Riot interrupts, trying to defuse the situation, before it escalates.
“Wrecking Ball for sure,” she beams back, tossing her long black hair over her shoulder. Silver strands of tinsel she has woven through it glimmer as it catches the light.
“Fitting,” Ryan mumbles, dragging his hand through his hair. Meg bumps her shoulder into his in a silent plea to knock it off.
“Holy fuck, enough, or I will have to separate you.” Claire throws her hands in the air in exasperation.
“What about you, Logan? Have you picked a song yet? What about Achy Breaky Heart? You know all the words to it.” Carson’s eyes sparkle as he tries to get a rise out of my man.
Narrowing his eyes at Carson. “That’s not happening. I’ve already made a fool of myself once this month and I’m afraid that’s my personal limit. You go ahead, though.”
“That’s okay, Logan, you get a free pass, we won’t make you sing tonight.” Beck pats a relieved Logan’s hand. “But next time, I get to pick a song for you.”
“If you are handing out free passes, I’ll take one too.” Meg twirls a strand of her thick, auburn hair around her finger. “I just want to watch tonight.”
“Me too, I’m sick.” Ryan fake coughs into his fist. Rolling her eyes, Beck shifts in her seat so she can ignore him.
“It’s okay, Beck, I promise, I’ll sing with you.” I’m not the best singer, but I gave up worrying about what people think about me years ago. Your skin thickens quick when you are unwillingly thrown into the centre of a town scandal.
“I knew I could count on you, bestie,” Beck beams, blowing me a kiss across the table.
Everyone catches up while we listen to some horrific versions of some very popular songs. My girls still give Logan a hard time when the opportunity presents itself, but I know they support me and my decision to move forward with him.
The bar has become busier and louder since we arrived. I’m certain the crowd has surpassed the fire code capacity limits, but the party continues. The more people drink, the more ridiculous the performance becomes.
Logan nudges me and whispers in my ear, “is it wrong that I have secondhand embarrassment for some of them? I see all those cell phones out recording and I guarantee this town will make someone TikTok famous before the end of the night.” Leaning into his solid body, I suppress a giggle.
My poor traumatized man, he’s forgotten what it’s like to live in a small town.
“You will be old news by tomorrow once a new karaoke star has been crowned.” Turning my head, I gently place my lips on his.
He takes that as an invitation to deepen the kiss.
It only lasts a moment before the table erupts with a collective “AWWWE!” Smiling into his lips, I whisper, “To be continued later at home.”
“I’m counting on it,” he murmurs as he tries to discretely adjust himself before sitting back in his chair, his arm draped over my shoulder.
Clearing his throat, Logan asks his friend, “So, Carson, when are you going to let me tattoo that virgin skin? I have the perfect design ready.”
“No way, man. Drunk Carson agreed to that. Sober Carson is not responsible for any of the decisions drunk Carson makes. I fucking hate needles.” It’s amusing to watch a large, muscled man shiver at the thought of tiny needles.
“Besides, I’m not the only one with virgin skin,” Carson says dramatically as he points at Ryan. “Why don’t you hound him to get one, he doesn’t have any.”
Beck snorts, before her head snaps up wide eyed as she meets Ryan’s glare. They exchange an intense look before she looks away.
“Wait! What?” Carson narrows his eyes as he looks back and forth between them. “You have a tattoo? Are you holding out on me, Ryan? I thought we were friends, man?”
“Don’t look at me, I didn’t do it,” Beck mumbles. Biting the inside of her lip, she looks down at the beer bottle in her hand and starts picking off the label.
“Sometimes, drunk Ryan makes bad decisions as well.” Standing, he excuses himself and walks towards the bar. I look over at Claire and Meg and they both shrug. Riot’s face is giving absolutely nothing away, but I’m sure he knows something. He is everyone’s secret keeper.
Turning to Beck, I ask, “how do you know Ryan has a tattoo? You can’t stop bickering long enough with him lately to have an actual civilized conversation.” It may be my imagination, but I feel like their arguing has gotten worse over the past month.
“I don’t know. I don’t remember. Someone must have told me.” She waves her hand in the air dismissively before jumping up from her chair and pointing across the room. “I’m…I’m just going to go pick out a song for us, okay?”
“I’m sure you will pick something amazing.” Smiling, I watch her flounce away through the crowd.
“They have history,” Logan murmurs. “I clocked it the last time we were here.”