Chapter 12
Well, it all made sense now. The family with melodic voices, the man whose voice consoled me like a lullaby.
It was because they were all musicians. Not in the professional sense—I didn’t think any of them were landing record deals or anything like that—but the passion they had for their craft spoke for itself.
My hips had started swaying as soon as I walked into the bar, and then when I realized the exceptional music was coming from him, I couldn’t help the way his voice lit up my body and made me want to move.
I danced and hummed along as Calvin and his brother did a few covers of some popular folk songs, and when he left the stage and our eyes locked afterward it was like nothing else in the world mattered.
I lost myself in the atmosphere of the bar as Melody made her way to the stage.
It was warm without it being stuffy. We had passed the cutest little built-in vintage phone booth when we came in, and the entire interior was made of huge, rustic log beams. Old guitars and violins were displayed like artwork along the walls.
There was a beautiful jukebox in the corner that wasn’t in use but I could imagine how loved it was with the shelves of records surrounding it.
The bar top ran the entire length of the building on one side, while the other held cozy booths with pillows on the seats, creating such a homey atmosphere.
There were a few tables staggered along the floor, a couple pool tables along the side, and there was an open space in front of the makeshift stage—which looked to be built out of some pallets and was lit up with twinkling lights.
As Melody got herself set up, her red hair seemed to glow under the lights, and I couldn’t help but notice Patrick, who tracked her every movement while she sang a cover of a song about stargazing and intertwining souls.
The bar was full, with more people than I figured could fit in here, but at that moment it was only Patrick and Melody.
“What’s the story there?” I asked Olivia as my eyes roamed between Melody and Patrick.
Olivia laughed softly. “Well, if you ask Melody, she’d tell you they’ve been friends forever and nothing more.”
“But if I asked anyone else…”
“Anyone else would tell you that man has had that exact lost little puppy dog look every time he sees Melody. Ever since Garrett pushed her on the playground one day, and Patrick punched him for it when she was probably seven.” She laughed.
I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me, too. It was so romantic, and I didn’t understand how two people with such a history, such a connection, couldn’t find a way to be together.
“Hi.” I was pulled from my thoughts of Melody and Patrick to the gentle but deep voice that soothed all the frayed edges of my soul. “Would you like to dance?” Calvin held his hand out to me with a shy smile on his face.
“I would love to.”