by K. M. Galvin
“Do you know that guy, Mari?” Kayla asked.
“Uh, yeah, that’s Jason.”
“What?! Really? Why didn’t you tell us he knew Johnny’s friends?” Kayla accused.
“Cause I didn’t know, Kayla, obviously.” I rolled my eyes. I looked over at Johnny who was staring at Jason intently. “Do you know him?” He looked at me a moment before answering.
“I know of him.” He said. Wow, cryptic much?
“Good or bad?” I asked, wary.
“He’s a good guy, but-” Johnny was interrupted when the lead singer grabbed the mike and began speaking.
“How’s everyone doing tonight?” He yelled into the mike, pausing while everyone hooted and hollered. “Awesome! We’ve got a great set for tonight and we are in great company because our good friend Jason is here to help us out! Thanks for being here, we are the Boonies and we hope you enjoy the show!” With that he counted down and one of the guys whipped out a banjo and began the fast intro to one of my new favorites from Mumford and Sons. I tapped my foot as the lead singer started singing the words to Holland Road.
I looked over to Kayla who was nodding her head along with the music and gave her a big grin. Nothing made me happier than music and listening to it live, especially when the band was good like these guys were. Johnny got up and offered a hand to Kayla who looked to me before going out on the dance floor. I waved them away, perfectly content to sit and listen.
And watch Jason’s sexy hands play the hell out of the guitar.
His head was bent towards the guitar and he had his lower lip caught between his teeth as he focused on playing the difficult riffs of the song. As the chorus drew nearer, he looked up at me and smiled again before singing into the mike like he was singing directly at me.
I have no idea why I was blushing, but I could feel the heat in my cheeks as I smiled back at him. He was so talented. He could play the hell out of the guitar because anyone covering a Mumford and Sons song had to. His voice blended so well with the others, but I was dying to hear how he sounded on his own.
I could feel myself starting to fangirl over him so I took a sip from my beer and tried to calm down. So what if he was a musician and a good one at that? I glanced over the dance floor looking for Kayla and Johnny and found them slow dancing. Well, more like they were plastered against each other and swaying.
Kayla looked up from Johnny’s shoulder and shot me a wink and then tilted her head towards Jason. I rolled my eyes and shook my head back at her. Thank the Lord we lived a good forty minutes apart, she couldn’t be trusted to mind her own business when it came to my love life. Or lack thereof. My foot tapped to the beat of the new song the band transitioned into. They were really good. I closed my eyes and absorbed the music.
There was nothing like listening to music live. I could feel a small smile stow way across my face and I realized that this was the first time in weeks that I truly felt happy. They played for a good thirty minutes before the lead singer announced they were going to take a short break. The nerves found their way into my stomach again so I drained my beer. I glanced up at my sister and saw that she was doing the chicken dance in slow motion and felt laughter take place of nerves. What a nutcase.
“Look at that! Your face knows how to do things other than scowl.” A low voice murmured in my ear from behind me. Jumping in my seat, I looked behind me to find Jason standing there grinning. He walked around the table and took up the seat opposite from me. “How’d you like my performance?”
“Well you’re talented. That much is obvious. I couldn’t really hear your voice though.” His eyes were intent on mine, like my opinion really mattered. “Are you only doing that one set?”
He smirked a little, “Can’t wait to hear me sing can you? Aren’t you afraid you’ll immediately drop your panties and beg me to have my way with you?”
I let out a surprised laugh at his audacity. “Well you have the rock star ego so you’re one step ahead towards stardom. Don’t know about you making my panties drop though. I just like good music and you seem like you can deliver on that front.”
He leaned across the table and got right up in my face, “That’s not the only thing I can deliver on.” I stood on the rails of my bar stool and leaned closer to him, forcing him back a little. His eyes widened and his nostrils flared a little, making my insides smile.
“I can imagine. Which is the only way you’ll ever be delivering anything to me. We’re just friends remember?” I murmured a breath away from his lips. I let my eyes fall there for a moment and mentally sighed when I saw they were slightly parted. It would be so easy to close that inch and kiss him. Flopping back in my seat, I inhaled a deep breath.
“Of course, the very best of friends.” He said quietly as he took his seat and signaled the waitress for another round while keeping his eyes on me. “So you know the guys?” He tilted his head towards the band still on stage.
I shook my head, “Not yet. Johnny knows them.”
“They’re cool, they used to go to Flagler which is probably where your sister’s boyfriend knows them.”
“Hmm.” I answered absentmindedly, scanning the crowd again looking for Kayla and Johnny. I sit up a little straighter when I notice they’re both on their way over to the table. Kayla has a huge smile on her face, immediately freaking me out.
Yikes this was going to be awkward. I pray to God Kayla didn’t start in with this match making shit. I give her the evil eye the entire time it takes them to reach us. Before I can introduce them Kayla opens her mouth.
“Hi! I’m Kayla, this loony’s older sister. This is my fiancé Johnny.” She takes the seat next to me and we watch as Johnny faces off with Jason. They do the whole “long and meaningful handshake” with required amount of eye threats from Johnny as per the adoptive older brother code. Stupid male posturing.
I snort a little as Johnny finally let go and takes the seat on the other side of me. Jason looks over at me with his dang eyebrow raised. One day I’m going to shave it off. I swear it.
“Guys, this is my friend Jason. I have an interview with his sister on Monday to nanny.”
“Oh! This is Bartender Jason?” Kayla gasps in total mock surprise, the little over actor. I roll my eyes.
“Been singing my praises have you, Crazy?” Jason asks, highly amused.
“Crazy?” Johnny asks.
“It’s my little nickname for Marisol since she calls me Bartender.”
“Crazy fits, but she already has a nickname!” Kayla laughs. Dread settles in my stomach. Jesus Mary no-“It’s Pi-“
“Kayla, finish that sentence and I will cut your hair in your sleep. I swear I will.” I growl at her. Johnny starts laughing.
“She will, too. She did it before after I cut all the hair off her Barbie’s.” Kayla nods sadly.
“Crazy! Who knew you were so vicious?” Jason laughed, thoroughly delighted to have the dirty on me.
“We did!” Kayla and Johnny said eliciting another eye roll.
I glanced over at Jason who was grinning at my sister and then he turned his attention to me. My stomach did this weird pulling sensation when he looked at me. I felt like I was going to be sick and laugh at the same time. What the actual fuck? He tilted his head and opened his mouth as if to ask me something when I saw the guys from the band making their way over to us. I sat up in my chair and tried not to fidget, though I was grateful for the distraction.
As covert as possible I ran my hand through my hair, hoping it was still in place. I felt a pointed shoed foot connect with my shin and shot a glare at my sister. She put both of her hands under her boobs and did a mock lift like she was fluffing them and batted her eyelashes at me while she nodded at the guys heading over here.
I flicked her off. I loved her, but she was annoying. I wasn’t primping, per se; I just didn’t want to look raggedy in general. Not for any other reason. I shot Johnny a “get her under control” look and gave Jason a quick glance. He was still staring at me over
his beer while he took a sip.
“What?” I practically barked at him and then winced. Maybe drinking wasn’t the best idea.
“Not. A. Thing.” He enunciated and smiled thinly at me. Moody bastard.
The band had reached us and greeted Johnny, slapping him on the back; I pasted on a smile and waited to be introduced to the bountiful man candy.
“Guys this is Kayla’s little sister, Marisol. Mari this is Blake, Trent, and Declan.” Johnny said pointing first to the lead singer, the drummer, and the banjo player.
I gave them a little wave and scooted my stool closer to Kayla, to make room for them to pull up a seat. Once everyone was all settled, I looked across the table at Declan.
“You rocked the hell out of that banjo.” I smiled.
“Yeah?” He smirked, leaning forward, both forearms on the tabletop. “You like banjos, sweetheart?”
I returned his smirked and mirrored his position, “Oh yeah, sweetheart. I love banjos.” I crooned. He laughed.
“She’s being modest. She freaking obsessed with them. Always wanted to learn.” Kayla interjected.
“Really?” Declan asked, looking at me appreciatively.
“Sure, but I heard it was incredibly hard to learn and I haven’t met anyone who was able to teach me.”
“Have you ever played an instrument?”
“Nope. Always wanted too, though. I love music.” I glanced at Jason, smiling, since we already discussed how much we both loved it, but he was staring hard at Declan. I frowned a little and then looked back at Declan when he spoke again.
“It’s actually easier that way believe it or not, since you play the banjo and read the music a little differently. If you want, I could maybe show you sometime?” There was nothing flirtatious in his offer, which was good; I could always use more friends.
“Actually, that would be really cool. Hopefully, I’ll have a job after Monday and I can pay you.”
“Don’t worry about it, it’ll be fun and it’s more practice for me.”
“Are you sure?” I asked skeptically.
“Definitely!” It’ll have to work around my work and rehearsal schedule, but it’ll be cool. We can work it out, give me your number and I’ll text you next week with what works best.”
“That would be awesome!” I handed my phone over to him and he gave me his to input our info in each other’s cells. I started bouncing in my seat with excitement.
I’ve always loved the sound of the banjo. Everyone always thinks it’s a hillbilly instrument or that it was unsophisticated, but there was something about the sound that plucked at my heart.
“I can’t believe this shit! I’m the lead singer and friggin’ Huckleberry Finn over here gets more play then me!” Blake said. I looked over at him; he was cute in an all American/Ken doll way. I couldn’t imagine him having any trouble in that area. Declan had deep auburn hair with blue eyes with sharp cheekbones and lush lips. They should have made him look feminine, but he was incredibly masculine despite being so damn beautiful.
“Shut up, dude, you don’t get any play because Lindsey would kick your ass!” Trent said laughing, and shoving Blake’s shoulder. Trent was your regular Southern boy. He had curly brown hair, or at least I assumed since he had a Gators cap pulled low on his head and smooth tan skin. He had big brown eyes and long lashes that he probably didn’t appreciate. Why God wasted long lashes on men was beyond me.
“Lindsey is Blake’s girlfriend. They’ve been together forever and are so in love.” Declan explained, batting his eyelashes and putting a hand over his heart as he gave a dramatic sigh. I laughed at his antics.
“It’s really not about looks anyways. Not that I don’t find you attractive, Declan, but it’s all about how you handle that instrument.” I laughed as I grabbed the table and growled at him.
“Don’t get your hopes up, Dec, Mari here isn’t looking for anything other then friendship.” Jason said, flatly. I glanced at Jason as he says this. He’s looking right at me as he takes another sip from his beer bottle. Who knew drinking beer could be so passive aggressive?
And what the hell? What he said wasn’t untrue, but he didn’t have to get all cave man about it. I frowned at him and looked back at Declan. Dec was glancing between us with interest.
“You’re just jealous, Jase. First girl to not fall at your feet after playing.” Trent laughed. “Don’t let him fool you, Marisol, this guy has plenty of chicks who love how he, uh, strums his guitar strings.” He cracked up at his not so subtle innuendo.
I raise my eyebrows at Jason who’s blushing. I never noticed how cute it was when a guy blushes. I think I loved the color that rode high on his cheekbones.
“Shut the hell up, Trent.” Jason mumbled, eyes on the table.
“Oh don’t be modest, Jase! Who knew you were such a stud?” I said. I loved that he was uncomfortable. It was a nice change of pace considering the majority of the time I was a blushing, stuttering mess around him. “You have fans.”
“Yeah, when he used to tour, we all gave him the nickname, Jason ‘Panty Dropper’ Scott because the minute he started playing the girls just threw their underwear at him.” Trent continued.
“That’s right! You went on tour with these guys on the festival circuit about four years ago and then just quit on them. Blake still bitches about Panty Dropper, dropping them.” Johnny yelled. He was definitely getting drunk.
He tended to get progressively louder with each beer. I pushed my beer over to Kayla, who was laying her head on Johnny’s shoulder taking everything in. Neither of them would be ok to drive by the looks of it, so I would need to keep a clear head. Especially since I wanted to remember this conversation.
“You went on tour?” Turning back to Jason. His eyebrows were furrowed and he was still staring at the table, but at my question he glanced up at me. I tilted my head in question at the look in his eyes.
“It was a couple months, years ago.” He said shortly. Touchy touchy, I thought intrigued.
“Why’d you stop? By all accounts you had quite the following.” I joked, trying to lighten him up. He was getting tenser as the conversation continued.
He just shrugged and turned his attention to the crowd. I caught a look between the guys and was about to keep fishing when Jason pushed back from the table and went over to the bar. He immediately caught the attention of two bar flies next to him and I had to swallow the vomit when they slithered their barely clothed bodies next to him.
It took all the maturity in me to not yell ‘Slut!’
I’ve graduated high school, I’m a mature woman, and I am way more sophisticate-The redheaded troll’s hand just inched up his thigh!
I stared at her hand, willing it to catch fire when I saw that Jason had swiveled his bar stool towards our table. I immediately jerked my gaze to Declan, “Wanna dance, Declan?” Before he could answer, I hopped down from the chair and almost fall when my heel slips on something wet. Do not look down, I yelled in my head as I slapped the table, jerking Kayla awake off Johnny’s shoulder. Way to be subtle, Marisol.
“Come on!” I grab Declan’s hand and move out to the dance floor. I weave in and out of couples until I find a little room to turn around and put my arms around Declan’s shoulders.
He just stood there, a little shell-shocked. I took his hands and put them on my hips and then put my arms back around his shoulders.
“Dec come on, even if we sway back and forth like eighth graders, it would be better than just standing here.”
“I don’t like to dance.” He mumbled at his shoes as he barely shuffled. I moved my hands down to his hips and gripped them.
“Dec, look, move your hips side to side, slightly while moving in a circle.” I moved his hips with my hands before putting them back around his neck. “It’s a slow song so we don’t need to dirty dance.” I snickered out a laugh when he moved his hips exaggeratingly to the left and right. I looked up at his face and saw that he was smiling down at me.
“Come on, dork!” I was about to take his hips again when he grabbed my right hand and spun me in a circle, before he dipped me. My mouth dropped open as he leaned over me and whispered in my ear.
“I said that I don’t like to dance, not that I couldn’t.” He leaned up yanking me with him, until I was flush against his body. Holy hand grenade, that was hot. Hot, hot, hot.
“Are you trying to get in my pants, Banjo boy?” I murmured at him, looking over at Kayla who basically looked like she was going to explode out of her seat and tackle me in happiness. I smiled at her and shook my head slightly. While Declan was hot and flirty, I felt nothing from him but friendship.
“Nope, no offense, you’re hot, but I’m interested elsewhere.”
Bingo. “Then what’s with the moves, Travolta?”
“Just trying to help you accomplish your mission.” He said innocently. I jerked back a little in his arms and looked back at him.
“What are you talking about?” I said, surprised.
“Come on, Marisol. The minute those chicks started hanging all over Jason, I saw the daggers shooting out of your eyes.”
I glanced down at my shoes now, imitating him early. He tucked his hand under my chin and lifted my head up until I was looking into his eyes. “Declan-“
“Do you like him, kiddo?” He asked softly.
“I’m not looking for anything like that right now. Dude, believe me, not a whole lot to offer at the moment. I’m just focusing on me right now.” I said, sounding completely rehearsed.
“That’s not what I asked.”
“He said I wasn’t his type.” I hedged.
“Marisol-” He began, his grip tightening on my chin. Feeling frustrated with the turn of events, I jerked out of his grip and practically barked out my answer.
“Do I like him? Sure! I don’t know him very well, but I can see that we get along and have chemistry. Am I attracted to him? I’m not blind. Do I want a relationship with him? No, absolutely not. Not even a casual one. We are friends. Possibly becoming really good friends. That’s what I need.”