Now I understood why he chose this place.It was dark, crowded, and everyone seemed more interested in the live music than the other patrons.
“You too.”He pointed at the cold beer waiting for me.“Thought you could use that.”
“Thanks, but…” I knew Mav was a recovering alcoholic and didn’t feel comfortable drinking in front of him.“But I could’ve had whatever you’re having,” I said, pointing at his half-empty glass.
He chuckled.“I appreciate that, but in this business, you can’t hide from booze.So, I don’t even try anymore.”
“Must be tough,” I said, taking a sip from my bottle.
“It was torture in the beginning, but I’ve gotten used to it.”He smiled.“One day at a time, as they say.But I don’t take my sobriety for granted.Every alcoholic is only one drink away from messing up their lives again, and I’ve got too much to lose to let that happen.”
“Yeah, you do.”
“I’m glad I talked Luc into letting you hit the road with me, man.”He tapped his glass against my bottle.“You killed it tonight.Just like I knew you would.”
“Thanks.”I let the cold beer coat my throat before I asked, “Luc didn’t think I was ready?”Not that I could blame him.I hadn’t even had a chance to play those festivals and fairs he’d talked to me about before they hustled me into the studio to start cutting singles.
“It wasn’t that.He just wants that album of yours out yesterday.Strike while the iron is hot and all that, and you’ve got crazy momentum right now.”
“That’s what Avery tells me.”Apparently, the person managing my social media accounts was gaining thousands of new followers every day.I didn’t care much about that stuff, but Avery warned me I better start caring if I wanted longevity in this business.
“But you’re all about the music, aren’t you?Writing, performing, that’s what you’re passionate about?”
“Uh, I can’t speak to the performing, since I haven’t done enough of it.But being up on that stage felt good.It felt right.And song writing comes naturally to me.Don’t ask me why, it shouldn’t.”
The waiter approached with a pizza, placing it down between us.“Anything else for you, gentlemen?”
Mav glanced at me and I shook my head, before he said, “No, this is good, thanks.”He waited until the waiter walked away before he said, “I hope you don’t mind me ordering for us.I was starving.”
I smirked.“No, this is good, thanks.I’m hungry too.”
“Good, let’s dive in.”
We ate in silence for a few minutes before Mav said, “So, you and my sister-in-law.How’s that going?”
I knew we would get to that eventually.Grace told me Mav had become like the overprotective big brother she’d never had since he and Codie got together.
“Things are good.”
He eyed me, before wiping his mouth with a paper napkin.“Come on, you gotta give me more than that.”
I shook my head, smiling.“What do you want to know?”
His words were laced with warning when he asked, “You seeing anyone else?”
“You really think she’d let me get away with that?”
He laughed.“You’re right.Grace has never been big on sharing.”
“Neither am I.”With other women, it wouldn’t matter, but I’d see Grace with another man over my dead body.
“Huh, so you guys are exclusive.Interesting.”
“You sound like my kid sister,” I said, rolling my eyes.“If you don’t shut up, you’ll get your man card revoked.”
He grinned, before taking another bite of pizza and chewing slowly.“You know when I talk to my wife later she’s gonna be asking me what you said about her sister.”
“Tell her I’m in love with her.That should put an end to the questions.”
