Vic clapped him on the shoulder, still grinning like an idiot.“She’s single, Mitty.And she’s great.You should talk to her.For real.”
Mitty nodded, words failing him.He watched as Vic walked away, still chuckling to himself.
Sheri looked up from the table and caught his eye across the booth.She gave him a small, curious smile, the kind that made his stomach do a slow flip.
Mitty swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and walked over.
He had no idea what he was going to say.But he was sure he could find some words.Hopefully they’d be the right ones.
***
Sheri
The house lights were already down and the crowd noise was just starting to build when Mitty appeared at the side of the merch booth.
Sheri looked up from the stack of tank tops she was folding and felt a little flutter in her chest.He’d changed into a clean black OY crew shirt that fit him well—maybe a little too well.He hesitated for half a second at the edge of the table, then stepped in and picked up a folded tank top, matching her movements without being asked.
“Hey,” he said, voice a touch rough.“Mind if I help?”
Sheri smiled, warm and easy, refusing to let the earlier awkwardness linger.“Please.These things multiply when I’m not looking.”
Mitty nodded, focusing a little too hard on folding the next shirt.His fingers fumbled the logo alignment once, twice.He cleared his throat.
“So...uh...thanks again for coming out on short notice.I know it was last-minute and all.”
Sheri met him in the middle, keeping her tone light and friendly like they had been before he’d pulled back earlier.
“I was happy Vic called,” she said honestly.“And I’m really glad I came.You guys sounded incredible during sound check.The new songs are killer.”
Mitty’s shoulders relaxed a fraction.A small, genuine smile broke through.“Yeah?Thanks.We’ve been working hard on them.Tonight should be a good one.I promise you’ll get a hell of a show.”
“I’m counting on it,” Sheri replied, folding another tank top and setting it neatly in the display.She glanced sideways at him again.He really was handsome.He had warm brown eyes, an easy smile when he let it out, and that quiet competence that came through in everything he did.
She’d spent the last couple of hours watching him run around, making sure everything was perfect for the band.He cared.Deeply.And something about that quiet steadiness pulled at her more than she expected.
Now or never, she thought.
Sheri set down the shirt she was holding and turned to face him fully.
“Mitty...after teardown tonight, would you want to grab something to eat with me?Nothing fancy.Just food.Maybe talk without boxes between us.”
The words were barely out of her mouth when Mitty answered.
“Yes.”
He said it so fast she nearly laughed.His cheeks flushed bright red, but he didn’t look away.
“Yes,” he repeated, softer this time, but no less eager.“I’d genuinely like that.”
Sheri felt a warm bloom of pleasure spread through her chest.She smiled, slow and real.
“Good,” she said.“It’s a date, then.”
Mitty’s grin was wide and a little boyish, like he couldn’t quite believe his luck.“Yeah.It’s a date.”
He went back to folding tank tops beside her, but the energy between them had shifted, become lighter, full of possibility.Sheri found herself humming along with the distant sound of the band members laughing and warming up onstage, heart beating just a little faster than before.
Tonight was going to be a good one.
