by Karigan Hale
“Lizzie?” Nick asked. “Still there?”
“Yeah, sorry. Listen, Nick. I know you mean well, but I have it under control, okay? I’ll let you know if I need you to punch him in his nose or whatever.”
“Great. Now, the real reason I called was not to talk to you about your sex life,” he said.
“We’re just friends!” Lizzie shouted.
“Sure. Anyway, things are blowing up at work with Dad retiring soon. I really haven’t had time to help at the house. Can you smooth things over with Mom by any chance? Maybe distract her from nagging me for like a minute?” he said.
“I’ve been busy, too. McConnell’s is reopening tonight. We still have clean-up and inventory to do,” she explained.
“I don’t know why Mom doesn’t just hire someone to pack the house. She hires people for everything else,” he mumbled.
“You know she likes to handle her own things. Plus, it gives us an excuse to go through our rooms and clean them out.”
“If I didn’t take the shit with me when I moved, I certainly don’t need it now,” he said.
She laughed. “I’ll see what I can do. But it probably won’t happen until next week. I need to get through the weekend first.”
“Thanks, Lizard. I appreciate it. And tell Zander to keep his dick in his pants,” he said.
“Friends,” she repeated. She heard him snort as he disconnected. Okay, so she’d just lied to her brother. But his reaction was a little more…aggressive than she anticipated. Also, she definitely did NOT want to tell Zander to keep his dick in his pants. Not yet, anyway.
She stowed her shoulder bag and helmet in their usual spots in the office then jumped in to help with set-up.
"Okay, girl, tell me about it," Gabby said after they'd been working for about an hour. They were getting all the last-minute inventory stocked and decorating as best they could for the grand re-opening in a few short hours.
"What are you talking about?" Lizzie asked not meeting her eye.
"You had sex last night. I want to know about it," Gabby said.
Lizzie's face heated even more. She shook her curls over her ears even though they wouldn't cover her flushed neck or cheeks. She cleared her throat and said, "Who would I possibly have sex with?"
"Stop answering my questions with questions. I'm not letting up until you tell me. I haven't had sex in a while, so I need to live vicariously through you," Gabby said. "Now spill."
Lizzie sighed. "Just because you're obsessed with sex doesn't mean the rest of us are having it. Maybe I'm just excited about the reopening tonight."
Gabby laughed sarcastically. "Give me a break. You've had a shit-eating grin on your face since you walked in today. And your skin is glowing. Stop denying it."
"Fine," Lizzie gave in. "I had sex. Happy now?"
"Details, please," she said. "Who? Where? When? How?"
"I'm not saying who. I need to keep one secret for me. But the first time—"
"First time?" Gabby squeaked. "As in you did it more than once?"
"Yes," Lizzie laughed at Gabby's expression. "He stayed the night."
"Amazing. Teach me your secrets," Gabby said. "I can barely get a guy to come in my house much less stay over."
"Well, let me recommend against the wall. It was spontaneous and amazing and hot. He held me up with nothing but one hand and his man muscle. We barely got undressed," Lizzie said. She tingled all over from the memory. "But that's all I can say, or I might need a cold shower."
"Can you share him? Would you recommend him to a friend?"
"Oh, five stars for sure. But I'm not sharing. Sorry," Lizzie said.
"Sharing what?" Xavier asked walking through the front door. Lizzie's face heated again.
"Nothing. Girl talk," she said quickly giving Gabby a look she hoped conveyed "don't tell Xavier I had sex."
"Did you bring your guitar?" Gabby asked him.
"No. Why would I?" he asked warily.
"Because you're playing tonight. For the reopening," Lizzie reminded him.
"I never actually agreed to play," he said.
"Well, I may have already put it on the website, so..." she trailed off then braced herself for the tirade.
"Lizzie!" he shouted.
"You'll be great!" Gabby said. "Just pretend we're around a campfire. Your voice is amazing, Xavier. You have to know that."
He shook his head at both of them and stomped into the back area. They watched his stiff back as the swinging door closed behind him.
"He'll get over it," Lizzie said. "Right?"
"I hope so. What are we going to do if he refuses?"
"He won't. Let me text his brother to bring his guitar up later. Once Xavier starts playing and sees the crowd's obviously supportive reaction, he'll be fine." She grabbed her phone to text Zander.
LIZZIE: Bring Xavier's guitar to the bar when you get a chance
ZANDER: Did he agree to play?
LIZZIE: Not yet but he will
ZANDER: What do I get in return?
LIZZIE: Guess you'll have to come here to find out
ZANDER: Be there in 5
She smiled and then caught Gabby staring at her with her mouth open. "What?" she asked.
"You had sex with Zander!" Gabby exclaimed.
"What!?" Lizzie squeaked effectively giving Gabby confirmation.
"Oh my god. Does Xavier know?"
"No!" Lizzie said. "So shush. No one can know. It's just temporary while he's here visiting. No big deal."
"I knew it!" Gabby said. "You two have been hovering around each other since he got here. I could see the sexual tension between you two at the bonfire. I bet it was explosive. Was it explosive?"
"That's one way to describe it," Lizzie said. But didn't quite do it justice. Maybe they could have a repeat performance tonight after the bar closed, so she could come up with a better adjective. "Now get back to work. And don't mention it to anyone, or I'm hiding the grapefruit vodka from you," Lizzie threatened. Gabby mimed locking her mouth with a key.
They finished stocking the bar and were turning down all the stools and chairs when Jerry and Brendan returned from their afternoon catering job.
"The place looks great guys!" Brendan said after hauling in all the supplies from the truck.
"I think we're ready," Gabby said. "We were able to get more inventory than I thought we would."
Lizzie tensed up. Please don't let Brendan notice it was too much. "I have a good rapport with one of the suppliers," Lizzie said. "They put a rush on delivery at no extra charge to help us out."
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I'm so lucky to have you, Lizzie. I don't know if I would have survived this on my own. Not after all the set-backs McConnell's has had since it opened."
"You'd have been fine. This was a drop in the bucket compared to what you overcame by yourself. I mainly just helped with the paperwork," Lizzie said.
"Wonder why," Xavier said under his breath as he joined them in the bar room. Lizzie gave him a warning look. "Jerry could use some help in the kitchen cleaning up from catering and getting prepped for tonight."
"I'll help," Lizzie offered. "Gabby, why don't you take off for a little while. Come back half an hour before we open. I have a feeling we'll need all the help we can get tonight."
"I won't argue with that, boss. I'm gonna try to get lucky, too," she winked at Lizzie. Geez, was everyone trying to reveal her secrets today? "See you guys later!" Gabby said and hustled out the door before Brendan could contradict Lizzie.
"What did she mean 'get lucky, too'?" Xavier asked looking pointedly at Lizzie.
She shrugged and avoided his gaze. "How should I know?"
He followed her back to the kitchen and caught her elbow in the hallway. "I noticed Zander didn't come back last night. And you dropped him off this morning. Doesn't take a genius to figure out what's going on," he said.
"The storm knocked my power out. He offered to stay. I have extra bedrooms. Remember? The one
s you've stayed in on more than one occasion?" There. None of that was a lie. Just not the whole truth. He could assume all he wanted, but she wasn't going to come right out and confirm or deny anything.
"You're too good for him, Lizzie. I love him, but he's a man whore. I don't want to see you get hurt."
"Why does everyone think I need a freaking babysitter? Do I look fragile and idiotic? Do I have a sign flashing, 'Damsel in Distress' on my forehead?" she said. "I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself. I know exactly what I'm doing, okay?"
At least she hoped she did.
"Sure you do," he said. "Just like you know what you're doing by hiding those invoices from Brendan, right?"
She scowled at him for good measure, then stomped into the kitchen to help Jerry.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Zander pulled on the front door to the bar. Locked. He hefted Xavier's guitar case and microphone bag and walked around to the kitchen door. If he'd been thinking, he would have tried this door first. But his head still swam with thoughts of Lizzie. He heard voices before he reached the propped open door.
He knocked on it before entering, so he didn't startle whomever was in there. Jerry, Lizzie, and Xavier were in constant motion inside.
"Hey guys," he called. His eyes betrayed him by staying focused on Lizzie.
"Zee. What are you doing here so early?" Xavier asked looking between him and Lizzie then down to Zander's hands. "Wait a minute. What the hell is that?"
"Lizzie said you needed your gear," Zander explained.
"I do not need it. I'm not playing tonight," he said. "Sorry you made the trip for no reason."
"I'll just go put it in the office," Zander said. "Just in case. Do you guys need help here?"
"Brendan may need some help in the courtyard," Jerry said. "We're already tripping over each other in here."
"I'll show you where to put Xavier's guitar," Lizzie said taking off the gloves she wore. She led him out into the hallway, ignoring Xavier's raised eyebrow on her way passed him.
"Put it on the desk so Xavier sees it when he comes in here. I know he'll cave and end up playing. Especially when Brendan asks him," Lizzie said. Zander pushed the door closed with his foot on his way in. He dropped the case and the bag onto the floor and hauled Lizzie against him for a kiss. She allowed it for a half-second, then pushed him away laughing.
"Stop it. Not here. Someone will see," she said. "There are already rumors and now we're in here with the door closed."
"You mean Zay will see," he said. "He already gave me the third degree when I came in this morning."
"What did you tell him?" she asked.
"The storm knocked your power out, so I offered to stay."
"I told him the same. He called you a man whore," she said.
"I don't do one night stands," he assured her. But he had had a lot of partners. Especially compared to Xavier. "I just don't have super long relationships. I already told you why."
She nodded. "We better go back. Want me to come to the courtyard with you?"
"No. It's fine. I'll have time to strategize with Brendan about how to get Zay to play tonight," he said lifting the guitar case onto the desk as Lizzie suggested. She nodded again and walked out the door towards the kitchen.
"I hate to see you leave, but I love to watch you go," he said with a low whistle.
"With those tired lines, I'm surprised you get any opportunity to be a man whore at all," she called over her shoulder. But he saw her strut just a little bit as she turned the corner into the kitchen.
She did fill out her jeans quite nicely. He'd always been a sucker for an athletic build. Maybe because Lizzie had always had one. He put that thought in his back pocket to mull over later. Right next to the one where he wanted to be connected to Lizzie forever.
In the courtyard, Brendan stood on a ladder rechecking the lights. A box full of alcohol bottles rested on the bar top. "Need any help?" Zander asked.
"If you're offering, I won't turn it down. Can you finish checking these lights while I stock the bar?" Brendan asked.
"Sure thing." He took over where Brendan left off.
"What brings you here so early? Besides Lizzie," Brendan said and winked.
"She asked me to bring Xavier's guitar and mic. She still thinks she can convince him to play tonight," he said ignoring Brendan's innuendo.
"I'll nag him, too," Brendan said. "I don't have the long eyelashes like Gabby and Lizzie, but I learned how to guilt trip from the best of them."
"Your mom?" Zander asked.
"Oh yes," Brendan confirmed.
"Mine, too. Do they go to special mom school for that shit?"
"I often wonder the same thing," Brendan laughed. "I'll just mention how much Xavier playing would help the bar."
"Perfect," Zander said. "Hopefully he'll just give in to shut us all up if nothing else."
And that is exactly what happened a few hours later when the bar filled up with customers. Brendan had pointed out how they didn't have their big screen televisions yet, so in order to keep butts in seats, they needed some sort of entertainment. Xavier finally relented and agreed to a short set around 8pm.
The size of the crowd didn't surprise Lizzie at all. Their regulars were there, of course, but so were many of their other past customers as well. With the way Brendan had uplifted McConnell's reputation throughout the years people were sure to come and support him.
"I told you we'd be busy," she said as she passed him behind the bar.
"I've never been so happy to be wrong," he said. "Once this dies down a little, I'm going to help get Xavier set-up in the courtyard."
"Sounds good. I want to video at least one of his songs so we can put it on the socials. He already has quite a fan base as a bartender with the local ladies. There's going to be panties dropping as soon as he opens his mouth to sing," she said.
"Hopefully we can convince him to be a regular performer. When we don't need him behind the bar or in the kitchen," Brendan said.
"I think once he gets a taste for it, he'll be all on board. He's always been a bit of an attention whore," she said. "But don't tell him I said that."
"Hey McConnell!" a customer called from the end of the bar. Brendan waved and sauntered over.
Zander caught her eye from the other end of the bar and motioned for her to come over.
"Need another round?" she asked. "Or are you getting tired of being here?"
"I'm waiting for Zay to play. Then, I'll probably head out for a while. I actually have some business to do tomorrow. And I didn't get nearly enough sleep last night."
"I guess you don't want to meet me at my place after we close then," she said.
"Well, I could get a nap after Zay's set. And my meeting isn't until like 10am," he said, his eyes glinting.
She leaned on the bar. "What would you tell Xavier about staying out again?"
"The truth. Or do you want to keep me your dirty little secret?" he said smirking.
"You're leaving in a few days. I have to stay here and deal with the inevitable disdain from both he and Nick if they found out. For some reason, they both think I can't make good decisions," she said.
"So, dirty little secret, it is," he said. She frowned. But it would make her life easier if Zay and Nick didn't know. Plus, she was pretty much lying to everyone else lately, why not add one more to the list. "I don't mind, Lizzie," he said misinterpreting her expression.
"You could come over, but just not spend the night," she said.
"Why do I feel like a teenager sneaking around my parents," he laughed. "I'll just tell him I hooked up with a girl here, and she took me back to her place. He'll believe that in a heartbeat."
Lizzie was about to reply with a scolding for lying—hypocritical, she knew—when the microphone issued some feedback and drew everyone's attention.
"Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the Grand Re-opening of McConnell's. We are so humbled you all came out to support us even with our limited selection," B
rendan said. A roar of applause and whoops went up from the crowd. He smiled from ear to ear.
"We'd also like to offer an award for information leading to the arrest of the vandals who struck our building earlier this week. The tip line established by police is posted on our website."
"Assholes!" someone shouted from the crowd.
Brendan smiled and continued. "Now, without further delay, we have a special surprise for you all tonight. Our very own Xavier Drake will be entertaining you with his sultry voice. Ladies, he's much more than just a pretty face. Give him a big McConnell's welcome." Brendan stepped aside so Xavier could take the spot behind the mic. The crowd lost it with applause and cat calls.
Xavier smiled despite being visibly nervous. "Thank you all. Be kind. This is my first time playing in public. But Lizzie and Brendan guilted me into it, so blame them if it sucks." The crowd laughed good naturedly. "I wanted to wait to start until later after you were all liquored up," he continued. Another laugh. "So, drink up! And someone get me a shot."
Lizzie and Zander moved closer so they could get a better view. She took out her phone to get ready to video him. A pretty girl in a tube top—were those still a thing?—quickly handed Xavier a shot glass. He smiled at her and shot it back quickly. "Thanks. Woo. Okay, let's do this."
He picked up his guitar. Lizzie started her video.
"This first song is an original. Go big or go home, right? I wrote it for someone special." Lizzie, watching through her phone screen, swore she saw his eyes flick towards her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The first chord rang out loud and clear through the bar. Lizzie smiled at Xavier in encouragement. He opened his mouth and started to sing.
I'll be here
When you need to cry.
I'll be here
When you realize his lie.
I'll be here.
When all you're left with is why.
