“Ayyyy, chica!”Daniel cheered and pulled Reagan into a twirl around the kitchen.
“Well, that’s too much information for this older brother. So, on that note, let’s eat some breakfast.” Simon passed out plates full of pancakes, crispy bacon, and fresh berries.
The next few moments were quiet as they all enjoyed the food. Simon finished first and leaned back in his chair with his coffee. He fixed an affectionate gaze on his sister and said, “Okay, so in all seriousness, I am excited for you and Chase. I suspected you had a thing for him. Do you know when you’re going out?”
Reagan shook her head. “No, we haven’t made any final plans. He’s playing at the pub tonight and asked me to go.” She paused thoughtfully. “We haven’t actually talked in a couple of days, so he doesn’t know I’m up here. Should I tell him?”
Daniel responded with a sly smile, “No, be a woman of mystery. Let him wonder where you are. Or you could always text him that you are busy with your ‘boys’…”
Reagan laughed in reply. “That’s not fair, Danny, he doesn’t know about you two!”
With a shrug, Daniel said coyly, “That’s part of the mystery.”
Simon stood up to clear the table. As he walked past Daniel, he paused and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “You’re trouble, my love. Leave Reagan alone. She doesn’t want to scare Chase away just yet.”
Reagan watched her brother and brother-in-law interact with such open love and affection.I want that…she thought wistfully. An image of Chase flashed into her mind, as she remembered how open and flirtatious he had been over text message. Would that easy connection translate into real life? She was starting to feel hopeful that it would.
* * *
Chase bent his head over his guitar and tried to focus on tuning it before he went on stage. He loved performing at The Lucky Strike, whether he was singing by himself, or had some guys backing him up with other instruments. Today it was just him, which left far too much time alone with his thoughts. As it always did right now, his mind drifted to Reagan. He had tried to give her space to approach him, as he recognized their flirting had gone to a much deeper level over text. The last thing he wanted was to come on too strong, even if his feelings were that intense—and more. Unfortunately, he hadn’t heard from her in a couple of days, and he realized that she had never answered him when he’d asked if she would come to the pub to watch him perform. Briefly, he’d considered talking to Ryan, to try and see if Anna knew Reagan’s plans, but he had dismissed that as being way too needy. Which brought him to now. Ready to sing for his audience and hoping to see Reagan’s beautiful face in the crowd.
When he stepped out on the low stage and sat down on the stool Ryan had set up for him, he quickly scanned the crowd. With a frown on his face, he noticed that Reagan wasn’t at the bar where Anna was helping Ryan serve drinks. In his next breath, he remembered that, Reagan or no Reagan, he still had to perform. So, he forced his disappointment out of his mind and turned his focus to his songs. There would be time to figure out where she was after his set.
An hour later, Chase stepped off the stage, put away his guitar and made his way up to the bar. He sat down on a stool and waited for Anna or Ryan to come over. While he waited, he pulled out his phone, and debated whether or not he should send Reagan a text.
“When does Reagan get back from Simon’s house?”
Ryan’s voice pierced his thoughts, and he glanced up to see him and Anna both headed his way.Who the hell is Simon…?
“Not sure. They were going out tonight I think, apparently Daniel wants to go dancing. She was over borrowing some shoes from me yesterday when she got off work.”
Anna’s response just about made his jaw drop. Simon, Daniel, dancing, what the hell was going on?
“Hey, Chase, great set, man. Do you know when Reagan gets back?” Chase didn’t detect anything weird in Ryan’s question, which gave him hope that maybe he had misunderstood.
“Ummm, no. I didn’t know she was away.” Chase hoped his voice sounded calm.
“Oh, okay. Yeah, she’s up in Seattle visiting her brother. Simon’s cool, he has been in to the pub a couple of times but, come to think of it, I don’t think he’s ever come on one of your nights. His husband Daniel is a riot. He’s Latino and loves to tease everyone, so consider yourself warned.”
Chase’s breath expelled in a sigh of relief. “Oh, she’s with her brother. And her brother’s husband. That’s cool.”
Anna looked at him and giggled. “You thought she was with another guy? Oh, Chase, she’s only had eyes for you for months!”
He rolled his eyes in response. “Well, give me a break. I didn’t even know she had a brother. Then I hear you guys talking about not one, but TWO other guys, what am I meant to think? God now I sound like a pansy-ass,” he groaned.
Ryan and Anna both laughed, then Ryan passed over a shot glass full of an amber liquor. “Drink up, buddy, I know you don’t normally drink on nights you’re performing but it’ll calm your nerves.”
Chase grabbed the shot glass and slammed it. “Thanks. Fuck, you guys, I feel like an idiot.”
Anna reached over and put her hand on his arm. “Don’t. It’s an easy mistake to make. Next time just think of who Reagan is. Would she ever do something like go behind your back with another guy?”
“Hell no, she’s loyal, and open, and honest, and…” Chase’s defensive words trailed off. “She’s everything. You’re right, I should’ve known she wouldn’t do that.” He looked over at Ryan and said, “I don’t normally drink, but tonight I need to. Pour me a beer?”
Ryan laughed in response. “You got it, man.” As he poured Chase a drink, Anna walked off to serve another customer. Ryan pushed the beer toward Chase and said with a smile, “It’s on the house tonight.” Then he too headed down the bar to fill other drink orders.
Chase took a long drink of his beer and pulled out his phone. He opened his conversation with Reagan and began to type. He needed to talk to her, even if it was over text. He needed to get her to confirm their date, now.
Chase: Rumor has it you ditched me for two other men, Red… I’m not sure how I feel about that.
