CHAPTER FOUR
Todd
"FRANK, MAN, YOU'RE NOT PISSED SHE didn't come to you first?" I looked at Frank with disbelieving eyes. Frank was never this forgiving. I'm glad he wasn't mad though. As much as Lily was most likely sent here to torture me for my past wrongs, I couldn't help but want her to stay. There was something about her. God, I sounded like a fucking pussy.
"No, I'm sure she had her reasons. I couldn't even talk to her at the funeral. It was so hard. She was part of my life for so long, Todd. When I knocked up Pam, well… it was like Lily's world ended. She should hate my ass. I destroyed her family. All for what? That dirty bitch almost ruined my life. At least I got Evy out of it." Frank's stare softened. "Lily's a good girl. I want to help her. Evy… she doesn't want any part of my life. Since she joined that damn church, she's all high and mighty. Thinks her shit don't stink. Maybe Lily can help us all heal, you know."
That thought penetrated my thick wall and hung there like a prize waiting to be claimed. He meant his family could be restored, but even though that was way too much weight to put on one person, a small part of me thought maybe she could help heal me. A light knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.
"Uh… hey, Frank." Lily's sexy voice ran all the way down my spine. It pissed me off the effect this chick had on me. Apparently, I needed to get laid. I turned and watched as her eyes shifted between Frank and me. Lily looked incredible. She had on a tight as hell black V-neck sweater that made her hair appear ten times as bright. The copper curls were tamed into a high, thick ponytail. The freckles on her cheeks more evident with her hair pulled back. The freckles on the bridge of her nose were my favorite. If you looked at them just right, they almost looked like a constellation.
"Hey." Frank took a deep breath. "So I hear you work here now." He cocked his left eyebrow. Lily pinned her annoyed gaze on me.
"What?" I asked sarcastically, knowing damn well why she was pissed. I didn't give a shit. This was my bar; I'll do what I want.
"You're such a jerk." She pulled her bag off her shoulder and moved to leave.
"So I hear." My laugh stopped her, and a small growl escaped her lips making me laugh even harder.
"What's going on?" Frank's voice held no humor.
"I wasn't supposed to tell you she was working here. She wanted to."
"Lily get in here and shut the door." Frank's voice had a parental quality. I sat up straighter in my chair feeling like a child. Lily shut the door a bit too hard, and it caused me to jump.
"Have a seat." Frank gestured to the chair next to me. Lily sat stiffly and dropped her bag to the floor.
"Frank, I just wanted to tell you myself. I know it's not a secret who I am to you. But I wanted to get this job on my own. I didn't want you to think I was using—"
"Stop right there, young lady. I don't give a shit what any of these kids think around this damn bar. You're like a daughter to me. I know… I've made giant mistakes. I would've been happy to help you, and you know it."
I watched as Lily schooled her features, holding in the sentiment that obviously needed to boil over. Her chest moved up and down with effort, like she was desperate for air.
"Thank you… thank you for being there. He would have loved that, you know." She rubbed at the ring around her neck. I had the weird urge to pull her small body close to mine. I wanted to feel the deep movement of her chest against mine as she struggled for control. The need to take over, relieve her chaos and watch her let go, was stirring up a storm in my gut, and I didn't like it. I couldn't care like this again. I just couldn't.
"Is there a reason I still need to be in here? I've got shit to do." Standing, I waited for Frank to let me out of this stifling office. I heard Lily's quick, hostile laugh. She thought I was such a prick, but it was better that way.
"Make sure you call that idiot Ray. I need to get the graphics for this album done by next week."
"I'm on it, Frank." I passed Lily on my way to the door. The smell of coconut and sunscreen hit me. Last night in the break room her scent had surrounded me, and I felt lost for the first time in a while. She smelled like the beach, and it was such a contradiction to her fair skin and light features. I almost couldn't take it when we were dancing, as she bent down teasing me with that perfect ass, making it almost impossible to not succumb to the temptation. I wanted everyone to disappear that second so I could show her just what she was playing with. She made me feel out of control, and I hated her for it.
I shook my head and headed for the office door.
"Next time, I'll know better than to trust you. Thanks for that." Her words were bitter.
I opened the door without looking at her. If I let myself see the disappointment in those unearthly eyes, I'd apologize, and I couldn't allow that. Everything I'd ever wanted had been taken from me in some way or another. I couldn't let myself want her. I had to keep it together. Control… it's all I have left.
"No problem, Red." I shut the door behind me. The steps I took away from her hurt more than they should have. I rolled my shoulders back, tilted my head to the left and to the right, stretching the muscles in my neck. Pull it together, Dixon. Yeah, I couldn't afford to care again.
"DAMN IT!" I'D THROWN my cell phone down a bit harder than I should have, causing the screen crack. "Shit!" I did a quick once-over of the screen, coming to the realization that I would need a new phone for sure. I didn't have time for this. It was getting close to the rush, and I had to get out on the floor. The sound system was playing "Believe" by The Bravery as I walked over to the bar. The crowd was big tonight. It was Friday, the first weekend of spring break, and the place was crawling with hot girls. This was just what I needed to get my head back in the game.
"So? Where the hell is this band we booked for tonight?" Tiffany asked while she shook up a drink in a tumbler.
"Canceled… I don't know what to do." I shrugged my shoulders in defeat.
"We could do an open mic." Tiffany poured the drink into a martini glass. Open mic on a Friday? This was going to suck.
"I guess that's what we'll have to do. I'll get it going."
"Get what going?" Lily asked, her face full of skepticism.
"Open mic. The band for tonight canceled." I tried not to sound pissed. But open mic on a Friday was bar suicide. People wanted to dance, get wasted, and listen to live music… not go to amateur hour.
"Really?" Lily's voice lifted with excitement. "Cool, I love open mic nights."
"Great, that makes one person in this bar that won't leave." Tiffany laughed.
I chuckled at Tiff's joke. There was no reason to stay pissed, might as well make the best of it. I grabbed some equipment from the back. We had two spare guitars that I'd brought onto the stage, and Jace and I moved the piano forward that had been pushed to the back for the band that never showed. On our regular open mic nights, my band played, so all our equipment was already up here. No drums tonight though. I set up the microphone and signaled for Tiffany to lower the music. I waited for the crowd to quiet down.
"Hey guys, unfortunately, Red Light canceled tonight's show…" The din of disapproval rose throughout the bar. "…I know. Well, we're going to open the stage to you guys. Open mic, yeah?" A few people whistled. "All right then, let's get started and let's be respectful of those preforming. Thanks." I smiled at this hot blonde that was eyeing me from the dance floor. Maybe this night could turn out okay.
CHAPTER FIVE
Lily
I COULDN'T WAIT TO GET ON that stage. I've been dying to sing. I just wish Frank was here. I was told he always left around six, except on Tuesdays — the regular open mic night. Todd was here, though, and it was half his label too. I didn't like the idea of trying to impress him. He was so confusing. One minute he was sweet, the next a total dirt bag. I grabbed a beer and handed it over the bar to a customer as he handed me a five-dollar bill.
"Keep the change." He smiled.
"Thanks." I grinned back. I quickly made change in the till.
I watched as the first person started a bad rendition of some Aerosmith song, and I chuckled.
"That's bad," a new, unfamiliar voice grabbed my attention. "Really bad." His shoulders shuddered with laughter, and he shook his head in disbelief. "Hey, can I get a Jameson on the rocks?" The man's voice was smooth and my eyes met his as he pulled at his tie, loosening it from his neck. His large, broad shoulders looked heavenly wrapped tight in a white button down.
The smile he gave me heated my cheeks instantly making it difficult for me to process what he was asking. "Did you hear me, doll?" he asked. He had dark brown, almost black hair, which was neatly tousled. The thing that was throwing me off, besides the fact he had a face that belonged in magazines, was that his very businessman button down was rolled to his elbows exposing sculpted forearms that were covered in tattoos.
"Jameson on the rocks," I repeated while I grabbed the glass and filled it with ice and whiskey. The man's deep blue eyes never left mine as I handed him his drink. His full bore appraisal left me blushing.
"You new here? I haven't seen you before." He took the drink from my hand and sipped the amber liquid. He closed his eyes, and his nostrils flared. Holy damn this guy was hot. "I needed this, thanks. So yeah, you new?" he asked again while handing me his credit card. I placed it with the others that were being held for tabs.
"Yup, day two for me. Are you a regular?" He didn't miss the flirty smile I gave him, and I was awarded with a cute sideways smirk.
"You could say that. What's your name?" he shouted the last part. The sound system kicked back on. The first participant on stage had finished.
I leaned in closer and watched as he did as well. A pleasant warmth filled my limbs. "Lily."
"Lily." My name rolled effortlessly off his lips. "I like it."
Before I had a chance to ask his name, Todd's voice broke my bubble.
CHAPTER SIX
Todd
THIS IS NOT FUCKING HAPPENING RIGHT now. My jaw clenched at the sight of my best friend and Lily looking a little too close for my damn comfort.
"What's up, Seth?" I nodded my chin in my roommate's direction. Lily leaned back when she heard my voice. She was flirting with Seth, and her cheeks were pink. I wanted to punch Seth in his damn face.
"Hey, bro." Seth grabbed my hand and pulled me in for a hug. He placed a firm pat on my back as I did the same to him. "What's up with this open mic shit? I came here for Red Light."
"They canceled." I watched Lily as she tried to appear unaffected by the fact I knew Seth. "Lily, I see you met Seth, my roommate?"
"And best friend." He winked at her. He fucking winked. We needed to talk. This was not happening again.
"Really? Todd has friends?" She smirked at me.
I leaned over the bar, purposely getting in her personal space. "I've got lots of friends, sweetheart." I held my eyes on hers. The yellow was subdued in the dim light, and the blue and green tones mixed and created the most unusual color. I almost lost my game. Almost.
"I bet you do." She looked back at Seth dismissing me. "Nice to meet you, Seth."
"Likewise." Shithead gave her a cocky grin.
"Can I talk to you for a second?" I tried to keep my voice under control.
"Sure. Talk to you soon, Lily." He grabbed his drink and followed me to the back office.
Once we were in my office, he spoke, "So you got it bad for that chick?"
"What? You could tell?" I sat on my desk as he leaned in the doorjamb.
"You just basically came over and pissed on her, bro. So yeah, I could tell. I was just flirting. I'll back down. No worries. Okay?" Seth looked at me with pleading eyes. All the humor – gone. Seth was there when I lost everything. When my world dissolved. When I left Elizabeth and everything else behind me. Even though Elizabeth deserved Sawyer, and he one hundred percent deserved her, it didn't make it any easier. The thought that I even cared enough about this Lily chick that Seth had noticed… well, it was killing me. Two days and she's got me all mixed up. This was such bullshit.
"Thanks man. I don't know. I think she hates me."
"Oh yeah, she hates you all right. Fucking loves to hate you." I didn't miss his double meaning. He punched me in the shoulder, and I laughed.
"Yeah, she does. Let's go get you another drink." I smirked.
"Sounds good."
"How was work?" I asked as we headed back out to the bar.
"Sucks, I hate finance. Working for my dad is killing me, bro. I've got to get that job up on campus. I'm still waiting to hear back." Seth furrowed his brow.
"You'll get it. They'd be stupid not to hire you. You know everything there is to know about music. You'd be a great teacher." I shoved him lightheartedly in the shoulder.
"Thanks, sweetie. Should we hug now or later?" Seth gave me the dumbest shit-eating grin I'd ever seen.
"You're such a tool bag." I smacked him on the back of the head.
"Pot… meet kettle." He laughed.
Our laughter was cut short.
The sound of a guitar playing softly caught my attention as I walked through to the main part of the bar. The slow melodic flow of "Rivers and Roads" by The Head and the Heart, one of my favorite songs, drew my appreciations to the stage. My breath hitched as she sang the first few lyrics. Seth bumped into me because I had stopped mid step.
"Dude wh—" His words dropped off as we both listened to the haunting voice. Lily sang the familiar lyrics, lyrics that spoke of loss, family, and distance. The unbelievable sound coursed through my veins. It was the most remarkable thing I'd ever heard.
"Holy shit," Seth spoke close to my ear. "Are you hearing this?"
"Shh." I couldn't take my eyes off her. She sang with such purity it almost hurt to listen. The emotion was profound. In that moment, I could feel everything. It was as if she was making all my hate, pain, loss, and love surface like a rushing faucet. It was to the point that I had to take a deep breath to untie the knot in my chest. This damn girl blew into my bar, into my life, knocking everything over like a fucking tornado. Her voice, her eyes, her smart mouth, all of it. I didn't know if I was coming or going. I just wanted some part of her, and I didn't care how much.
She strummed the last note and the bar was dead silent. She raised her head and her eyes glittered with unshed tears. Lily's eyes found mine and for a split second, before the crowd burst into applause, I lost every bit of control and smiled like I had won the goddamn lottery. Because at that moment, she looked at me like she had won the lottery too.
"DUDE! DID YOU JUST hear that shit?"
I was still watching Lily as she placed the guitar on the stand. The words of the song swam in my head; her voice silenced everything around me.
"Todd?" Seth's amused tone filtered through my thoughts. "Bro, you guys need to sign that shit like yesterday."
"What?" I was still trying to gather myself. Lily had me so screwed up.
"Lily, your new bartender? That's serious fucking talent, man."
"I know. Frank's got to hear her first, though."
Lily walked to the other end of the bar. A substandard musician started playing a song on the piano while Lily got right back to work helping customers.
"Well, Frank's going to lose his mind, that's all I'm saying." Seth poured the rest of his drink down his throat.
"He's going to do more than lose his mind. Let's get a drink. I want to talk to her."
CHAPTER SEVEN
Lily
SETH TOOK PERCH ON THE STOOL he was in earlier. Todd mixed him a drink, and I couldn't help admire how his large body moved with grace behind the small bar. My teeth drew across my bottom lip in an attempt to hide my smile as I thought of how Todd watched me while I sang. My body was alight with goose bumps. He looked at me like he'd never seen something so remarkable in his entire life. Todd's mask had completely fallen for four whole minutes. In those precious moments, I thought I had glimpsed his soul, and it was the brightest thing I'd ever seen.
I wasn't quite ready to tal
k to him yet, so I busied myself with customers. This side of Todd was unsettling. I almost preferred the asshole. At least I knew how to deal with that.
"Holy crap, girl, you've got to sing for Frank!" Tiffany's eyes were wide. I laughed at her serious expression as I handed a patron their beer.
"Really?" I giggled.
"That was amazing, Lily." Jace pulled me in for a hug.
Todd pushed away from the bar where he was talking with Seth; his eyebrows pulled inward, and his mouth made a tight line. The former guise firmly back in place.
"Jace, I need you to go grab some more bottles of Blue Moon from the back," Todd's commanding tone had me on edge again. Jace nodded and released me from his embrace. I thought I heard Tiff snicker under her breath, but the music was loud so I couldn't be sure.
"I'm outta here, bro. Good job tonight, Lily. It was nice to meet you." I noted Seth's manner was now friendly, the previous flirting long forgotten. Which was probably a good thing seeing how I couldn't help but notice that Tiffany watched Seth's every move. I may be new around here, but the relationships everyone shared were starting to show, the surface façade slowly dimming.
"See you later, Tiff." Tiffany looked up from the sink where she was scrubbing pint glasses just in time to catch a stunning smile from Seth. Tiffany's hard exterior melted away as her cheeks turned bright pink. She gave him a quick smile and went back to work. My lips split into a big grin.
"What's funny, Red?" Todd's voice was smooth and too close. While I had watched the exchange between Seth and Tiffany, Todd must have moved closer to where I was standing. The heat from his body filled the space between us. The crowd was dwindling, and, for some reason, I was glad. I didn't feel like working anymore, and I was ready to talk to Todd. I wanted to know if he thought I had a chance to impress Frank. Frank. My smile fell. Todd had me feeling like I was on an emotional rollercoaster. I hadn't forgotten how pissed I was at him for how he'd acted earlier. It was like he got off on messing with me.
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