Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Monroe
String lights hang across the ceiling, twinkling like stars in the night sky while a massive countdown clock glows behind the bar. The silver hands tick away the minutes until midnight.
In one corner of the room, a photo wall shimmers with silver, gold and midnight blue streamers, cascading like a curtain, framed by balloons shaped like stars. In the other, there’s a giant stage set up with bright lights arranged like shooting stars.
My brother stands at the front of the stage, guitar in hand, as he belts out one of his most popular singles, Midnight Blues.
It’s perfect and oddly fitting. Bailey has outdone herself with the spin on Cinderella and her midnight escapades. Velvet drapes, candlelit tables, even little glass slipper charms at each place setting along the tables create the perfect ambiance.
Along the bar top, there’s a sign with the signature drinks playing into the theme too. Everything from Glass Slipper Martinis, Clock’s A Tickin’ Old Fashioned, and Midnight Sparkling cider for the non-drinkers. It's classy, nostalgic and everything we hoped for.
I linger near the entrance, watching the room fill with locals, friends and strangers who’d only heard about the “Meet Me at Midnight” bash on Theo’s socials and didn’t want to miss the intimate event with America’s Heartthrob.
Yet, despite the chaos of fangirls in awe at the man on stage, for the first time in months, I feel like life is the closest to normal it’s going to get.
“I can’t believe my little sister has done it again,” Jase says as he wraps his arms around my waist from behind. He whispers in my ear. “Have I told you that you look fucking breathtaking tonight, Moonshine?”
I laugh, feeling the warmth of his breath through my entire body like a zap of electricity flowing through me. “Only every hour since we left the house this afternoon,” I joke, but I’m too wired up to feel anything but his body pressed against mine.
Turning in his arms, I adjust the cuff of his dark blue dress shirt, a smile tugging at his lips.
His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, making him look like the ultimate sexy businessman more than the bartender who’s been serving up drinks all night.
He looks so fucking good, and the way his eyes linger on me in the sequin, strapless minidress I chose for tonight, in the same shade of midnight blue as his shirt, makes my heart flutter.
“You don’t look half bad yourself, baby.” He lets out a guttural groan, and it’s then I realize I’ve never called him anything but Jase or Jameson when I’m upset at him or when I was trying to keep lines from blurring.
“Fuck,” he says, slow and smooth as fucking silk as his body wraps around me. “Say that again, baby.”
I playfully smack him on his chest. “Feels a little magical, doesn’t it?” I say, looking around the room.
“Maybe,” he teases. “Or maybe that’s just you.”
Before I can answer, the lights dim and Bailey’s voice booms over the mic. “Please, once again give it up for the one and only Theo Bishop!”
The room erupts in cheers when my brother takes a bow, guitar slung across his chest as he grabs the mic.
He looks every bit the country superstar he is.
His signature charming grin, long curly hair combed to perfection and his wranglers fitting just right.
When he strums the first chord of his next song, the crowd instantly falls under his spell again.
“Got someone special to sing this next one with me,” he says, playing the tune to one of my favorite songs of his, a duet he has with another country megastar, Beverly Cash.
“Some of y’all around here may know her already, but for those of you who haven’t had the utmost pleasure, let me welcome none other than Crossroads’ very own cowgirl, Billie Cole. ”
The crowd roars as Billie struts out onto the stage in a glittering gold dress and dark blue bedazzled cowgirl boots.
Her long wavy hair is a beautiful strawberry blonde color that complements the tones of her dress perfectly, and as she takes the mic down from the mic stand, she looks every bit the country star I know she’s going to be.
The two of them share a quick smile before launching into the duet that traps the entire room in a trance.
I watch them, admiring how incredible they both are and feel Jase’s hand slide into mine.
“May I have this dance?” he asks, already leading me out onto the dance floor. We sway softly to the beat of the love song, and I can’t help singing along.
I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling his head down to mine as I sing against his lips. “Every kiss with you feels like the start of a new day, the end of a long night, the kind that takes my breath away.”
His breathing turns unsteady as his hands roam up and down my back until he’s gripping my waist, his fingers dig in like he needs to feel me, to make sure I don’t walk away.
Leaning forward, he continues the song, swaying us back and forth until I feel drunk on something stronger than what they’re pouring behind the bar.
“Every touch from your hands is sunshine breaking through, lightning in the night sky, the beginning of something new.”
My heart beats faster as the intensity of the lyrics radiates between us, causing an electric current to ripple through us. My body feels alive, my lips numb from how electrified I feel being this close to him, hearing him say these things to me and saying them back.
I want to kiss him, to close the distance between us and taste the liquor on his lips. “This is it, Moonshine. I can’t imagine it gets better than this.”
A blush creeps up my neck from the way he’s watching me. The intensity of his gaze burns through me like a laser beam cutting through. “I’ve never felt this way, so I really don’t know what to make of it.”
“Are you happy?” He asks so nonchalantly I’m not sure he meant it.
I pause and really think about what that even means.
I glance around at Nash and Bailey who join us on the dance floor, Theo up on stage with Billie glowing beside him, Monty and Beau laughing behind the bar, Raven snapping pictures at the photo wall with Lacey, the newest addition to our little family, at least for the night.
My gaze finds Jase again, standing here, his thumb brushing across my lower back while his other hand slides around my waist and lands on my stomach. His fingers move as he rubs them along my bump like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
“Yeah,” I whisper, my voice cracking with the emotion that swells up inside me. “I am.”
Jase’s lips lower to me but just before he kisses me, we’re startled when Theo and Billie start to count down, their voices rising in unison.
Ten…nine…eight…
Bailey rushes toward us with flutes of champagne, sparkling cider in mine of course, as the rest of my brothers and friends join us on the dance floor. All except for Monty, who’s surely gone off to hide who knows where, and Raven, who I assume got stuck at the photo booth.
Jase leans closer, his lips grazing my ear. “Midnight wish?”
Seven…six…
“Don’t need one,” I say, meeting his gaze. “I’ve got what I want.”
Five…four…
The crowd’s chants grow louder, glasses raised.
Three…two…
As the room explodes in cheers, and balloons rain down from the ceiling, Jase kisses me.
His lips start slow and gentle, unbothered by the eyes, noise or flash of cameras around us.
For a moment it’s just him and me, standing in the middle of a crowded bar, ringing in the new year.
A fresh start, a second chance and, just like the song said, the beginning of something new.
The noise inside the bar is deafening. Laughter, music, cheers, and champagne corks popping like fireworks. Everyone is celebrating, caught up in the magic of a new year. For once, the uncertainty of a new year, a new chapter, doesn’t feel overwhelming.
Jase’s hand hasn’t left mine the entire night.
“Come on,” he murmurs, tugging me gently toward the back exit.
A chilly breeze hits me as we step outside onto the small deck they’ve added as a space for employees to take a quick break during their shifts.
It’s quieter here, just the muffled hum of the party seeping through the walls, but out here I can actually hear my thoughts.
The sky above is scattered with stars, one reason I love living out here in the countryside.
Nothing but the stars in the sky and a single string of lights that glows along the railing.
I cross my arms tight against my chest, shivering from the cold and the fact I came out here without my coat.
“Fuck,” Jase groans, “I didn’t even think to grab your coat.”
“It’s fine, just wrap your arms around me.” The smile he gives me is like that of a little boy who was just told he could have dessert before his dinner.
“Don’t mind if I do.”
I let him wrap me in his arms as we stand out here, letting the cool breeze extinguish some of the heat coursing through our veins.
Yet, having him so close does the exact opposite.
My pulse spikes, still racing from the suspense of the countdown, from his kiss in front of everyone. He hadn’t hesitated, not for a second.
Jase leans against the railing, his eyes finding mine as he turns me to face him. He tilts his head, studying me. “When was the last time you let yourself feel that?”
I swallow, the question catching me off guard. My throat tightens, but I don't look away. “A long time.”
“Then I’m glad you did tonight. You deserve all the happiness in the world, Monroe. And if I can give you just a piece of it…”
The weight of his words settles over me, and when he pulls closer, my lips brush against his, soft and questioning. I answer him by leaning in, and kissing him. The world stops, and once again it's the two of us.
“Then I’ll take what you can give, Jase. And I’ll try to be the girl who deserves it.”
He deepens the kiss, his hands desperate to touch every inch of me as his tongue dances with mine. I can’t breathe, nor do I want to if it means my lips have to leave his.
“You already deserve the world, Moonshine. It’s I who’s willing to do whatever it takes to deserve you.”