Chapter 13
JAKE
The last few weeks had been some of the best of my life. Dani and I hung out daily as she helped me pull up the carpet and repair the flooring. The work went faster because she made it fun, too.
Sometimes, it felt like we’d never been apart.
Our friendship picked up right where it left off.
With most people, it took a while to let them in.
With her, I was an open book. I told her all about Blair, my time in the military, everything but Katelyn.
I was starved for a deep friendship and didn’t realize.
She felt the same.
“I’m so glad we’re both back here in Sierra Rose Ridge. It’s like when we were kids but better. We’ve seen a bit of the world and know we belong here. I’ve been back a few years, but it wasn’t as good. Now I realize it’s because you weren’t here. There’s nothing better than this.”
She meant Sierra Rose Ridge, but for me, it meant her, too.
My libido finally got the message that Dani wasn’t for me, which made it easier when she traipsed around in her cut-off jean shorts and tank tops. Her back tattoo hadn’t made another appearance, but I hadn’t forgotten it.
“When did you get Diet Cherry Sparkle Soda?” she shrieked from my kitchen.
She spent so much time at my house that I stocked her favorite snacks and drinks in the fridge. It gave me a perverse pride to pay her back for what her family did for me.
Most of my days were full of hard work and good people.
My mornings involved working on my house with Dani some days.
Other days, I visited the local hot spots like the hardware store, the market, and the diner.
I went by the winery for the first time and was impressed, and the gallery blew me away.
Many of my dinners were spent with her parents, and my friendships with them grew deeper. It was a pleasure to confirm that the people I idolized as a kid were exactly who I thought.
Work was more fun than I deserved, but I enjoyed it.
I settled in at Dusty’s as though I never left, but I knew more about cars now and less about the people in town.
Dusty delighted in catching me up on all the gossip I missed, and Calvin and Sparrow took turns giving me shit. It felt like home, only better.
“What are your plans tonight?” Dusty asked.
“Almost done with the floors at my place. Once I get them finished, I still need to remove that ugly-ass wallpaper. Why?”
“Sparrow and I are having some people over for dinner, and one of her friends specifically asked about you.”
“Oops, sorry, I forgot I have very important plans. It’s Friday night.”
Dusty’s eyes sparkled, but he held in his mirth. Mostly.
“Did you find yourself interested in a Friday night date?”
I shuddered in a dramatic fashion for his amusement.
“Let me guess,” he drawled, “you’re going to spend your evening at a bar with your nose buried in a book instead of enjoying your youth.”
“I don’t know why that bothers you so much,” I argued. “It’s not weird to read in a bar. I’ve done it for years all over the world.”
“I’m an old-fashioned guy,” he joked. “When I go to a restaurant, I eat food; when I go to a garage, I work on cars; and when I go to a bar, I drink.”
“I drink.”
“One beer. Calvin said when he saw you at the Tavern, you only had one beer the whole time he was there.”
I glanced at Calvin, who was embarrassed.
“You knew my dad,” was all I said.
“Yeah, and I know you. You’d never act like him, no matter the provocation, so that’s a bullshit response. If you’re so worried about turning out like that piece of shit, why are you spending two hours at a bar?”
“Maybe he likes the ambiance,” Calvin suggested apologetically.
“Exactly,” I said. “My house is fine, but it’s quiet. I don’t want to talk to anybody, but it’s nice having other people around.”
“There will be people at my house.”
“I’ve already got plans,” I repeated.
“At the Firelight Tavern?”
“Yes.”
Dusty’s smile turned wicked, which made me suspicious.
“That’s what I hoped you’d say.”
“Why?”
“Have you gone to the Tavern on a Friday night?”
“No. Is it really busy?”
He made a noncommittal sound, but his eyes danced.
“If you’re not coming to our dinner party…”
“I’m not.”
“Then you should definitely go to Firelight and tell us all about it on Monday.”
Calvin grinned broadly.
“Agreed,” he smirked. “I might convince my friends we should go there instead of driving into the city. The Firelight is pretty fun on a Friday night.”
Their matching maniacal grins made me nervous, but how bad could it be?
I should have gone to the damned dinner.
It was open-mic night at the Firelight, which wasn’t as bad as karaoke, but only because there was less audience participation.
“Hey there, soldier,” Neil greeted me when I finally snagged a stool at the bar. “Didn’t expect to see you here tonight. It’s busier than you like. Dani’s currently changing out a keg in the back.”
“Is it always this busy on Fridays?”
“Yep. People love it.” He smirked. “You should get something stronger unless you’re going to get into it with Beau.”
“What’s he doing here?” I growled.
Neil shrugged.
“We’re the only bar in town. There’s a bigger one in the next county, but since he’s getting shit-faced every night, it’s probably safer for everyone if he doesn’t drive far.”
My brows creased.
“He’s been here all week?”
Dani hadn’t said a word.
“Yeah, but he hasn’t tried anything. He comes in, glares at Dani, and drinks until last call. Don’t worry. I won’t let him hurt your girl.”
“She’s not my girl. We’re friends.”
“Uh huh, and I’m totally cis.” Neil rolled his eyes. “If you two want to play the denial game, that’s fine by me. It’s entertaining.”
A loud cheer broke out, complete with clapping, boot stomping, and appreciative whistles. I raised my brows in question at Neil.
“Interesting,” he said.
“What?”
“This guy’s pretty good, but he typically plays later in the evening. He likes to rile up the crowd first.” After a pause, Neil added, “Ben’s asked Dani out a few times, but she was with Beau then. He probably heard she’s single.”
He was baiting me.
“What time should I sign you up for?” he asked impishly.
I grumbled at him, and he cackled louder.
“What if I don’t have any talents?” I bit out.
“Most people don’t,” he laughed. “Ben is a rare exception. There’s a guitar and a keyboard if that helps.”
I shouldn’t hate the guy for hitting on Dani or wanting to impress her. She’s gorgeous, funny, smart, and giving. Yet I had to relax my jaw to keep my teeth from grinding. Now there were two people whose faces I wanted to smash.
Neil’s laughing eyes said he knew it, but he didn’t call me out.
“Fine. I’ll do it.”
He cackled with delight.
“What should I put you down for?”
He snickered when I responded.
“This is gonna be so much fun,” he gloated.
Laughing, he left me to glare into my drink. A much-too-young woman tried to get my attention, but my glower hadn’t lost all effectiveness.
All too soon, my name rang out over the speaker system, and I lumbered to attention. I searched for Dani and found her eyes on me, happiness and surprise in her expression. My heart lifted. Maybe I was a fool, but I was her fool.
“Woo, Jake! Break a leg,” Neil shouted.
When I tuned the guitar, nerves and excitement assailed me.
It had been years since I’d sung in public.
I wasn’t worried about making a fool of myself up here, though.
For one, the ring of drunk, boisterous women made it clear that if I sounded like a frog, they wouldn’t care. Plus, I was a mechanic, not a musician.
No, I was worried I’d give myself away. I’d sung this song a thousand times but never in front of Dani. Hopefully she wouldn’t guess I learned it for her.
It was her favorite song when we were in high school, and I practiced it night after night as I worked up the nerve to ask her out. Then she dated some asshole, my dad sold my guitar, and it was moot.
After boot camp, I got a new guitar. It had been years since I played this song, but my mind came up otherwise blank when Neil asked what I planned to perform. I refused to think about why.
After I gave a closed-mouth smile to the audience, I settled onto the stool and hooked my boots into the rungs. With the guitar nestled on my lap, I strummed while they quieted. I cleared my throat and sung the first line.
My voice grew stronger once I got past the first few words. Excited hoots rang out as some of the audience members recognized the former hit and sang along. That put me at ease, and I settled into the rhythm of the song.
I sang the lyrics etched on my heart about loving someone forever even after they left. The words came easily once I started, and my emotions spilled out as I sang of enduring love, sadness, and heartbreak.
My love is forever and always
Even after you’re gone
I’ll never forget you, never get past you
You’ll always be my only one
It was your typical sad country song, but it was also mine.
With my eyes fixed on a point, I made it through the song without choking up too much, and I only fumbled the verse once. Not too shabby. Once it ended, I stood up. The mob of women clamored for my attention, but Dani pushed her way through to reach me.
“That was amazing,” she gushed. “I love that song. How did I not know you could sing and play?”
I shrugged.
Her expression was wounded, which made me feel like shit, but I couldn’t exactly say I’d practiced in private to win her affections as a whiny teenager.
“I had a guitar for a bit before my dad sold it. Didn’t pick it up again until I joined up. Had a lot of time to practice when I was deployed.”
Her face underwent a series of emotions from betrayal to anger to worry.
“You were fantastic. Poor Ben is going to regret letting you use his guitar.”
“Poor Ben, huh?”
“Yeah. He’s the local stud around here.” She rolled her eyes and lowered her voice. “He thinks he’s all that because he can sing and has good hair. As if that’s all it takes.”
Then she made a face.
“Who am I to talk? I dated Beau for years.”
“You’re not with him anymore, and you didn’t let him win.”
Before our conversation could continue, she had to go back. I fought my way through the crowd to find my seat again, which Neil promised to save for me. He did, and I took the stool gratefully.
“Why did you let me think you couldn’t sing?” he demanded.
“I didn’t say anything. You assumed.”
He huffed and flounced off, and I bit back another laugh. I’d laughed or smiled more since I returned to Sierra Rose Ridge than I had in years. Damn, it was good to be home.
As if I conjured her, Dani floated into my periphery as she brought colorful drinks to a table of middle-aged women celebrating with cheers and laughter. Fuck yeah, it was good to be home.