He started mentally planning the layout for the merch tables, how to handle crowd flow, and getting ready to ask for security from the Rebels if needed.Marie’s was the perfect venue: intimate enough to feel special, big enough to move product, and loaded with history.Playing there again would be like a victory lap before they stepped into the bigger rooms Bethany was lining up.
Vic showed up a few minutes later, looking relaxed and happy in a way Mitty hadn’t seen in a while.The man had been floating since Bonnie said yes.
“Merch looks killer,” Vic said, picking up one of the hoodies.“Bonnie’s gonna lose her mind when she sees these.”
Mitty nodded toward the growing pile.“That’s why I want us to do a one-off at Marie’s.Full night, new merch on display, just walk-ins like the old days.Feels right.”
Vic’s grin widened.“I like it.Real grassroots.I’ve got a friend who can run the booth if you need someone reliable.She’s done merch for a bunch of bands on the circuit.No drama, great with crowds.”
“Call her,” Mitty said immediately.
Vic stepped outside and made the call.A couple of minutes later, he came back in, giving Mitty a big thumbs-up.
“She’s in.Says she can be here whenever we need her.Name’s Sheri.She’s good people.”
Mitty felt a surge of satisfaction.Everything was falling into place.The new label deal with Iron Indian was giving them structure and support, but this—a single night at Marie’s, surrounded by their people, getting the new merch into found-family’s hands—felt like them.Like the heart of what OY was becoming.
He looked around the garage at the stacks of boxes, imagining the crowd at Marie’s losing their minds over the new designs, singing along to the fresh material, seeing the band as the tight unit they’d become.
This was going to be good.
Really good.
Mitty clapped Vic on the shoulder.“Tell Sheri thanks.And tell Bonnie we’re doing this.Let’s remind everyone why they fell in love with us in the first place.”
Vic’s smile was bright and sure.“Already on it.”
Mitty went back to organizing boxes, humming one of the new songs under his breath.Finally, fucking finally, everything felt like it was exactly where it was supposed to be.
The band was solid.The merch was fire.And in a few nights, they’d take it all back to Marie’s, the place where so much had started, and show the world what came next.
He couldn’t wait.
***
The late-afternoonsun was just starting to dip when the trucks rolled up behind Marie’s.Mitty stood in the middle of the controlled chaos, clipboard in hand, directing traffic like a general preparing for battle.Bear, Hurley, and a couple of the prospects had shown up to help, turning what would’ve been a miserable two-hour slog into something almost fun.
“Careful with that one!”Mitty called as Bear hoisted a heavy box of hoodies onto his shoulder like it weighed nothing.“That’s the premium stuff.Bonnie will kill me if we scuff them.”
Bear just grunted and grinned, clearly enjoying the manual labor.“You worry too much, Mitty.We’ve got this.”
They worked efficiently, the stack of boxes steadily shrinking as they carried them through the side door and into the merch area near the entrance.The new display racks Mitty had ordered were already set up, waiting to be filled.It was all coming together exactly as he’d envisioned.
Then he saw her.
A woman was already at the booth, moving with calm efficiency.She was wearing jeans and a simple black tee, her dark hair pulled back in a practical ponytail.She was opening boxes, sorting sizes, and arranging the merch into a display so clean and eye-catching that Mitty stopped dead in his tracks.The way she folded the hoodies, angled the tees, and layered the stickers created a visual flow that was better than anything he’d sketched out.
He set down the box he was carrying and walked over, wiping his hands on his jeans.
“Hey,” he said, offering a smile.“I’m Mitty.I’m the one who roped Vic into calling you.”
She looked up, and Mitty felt something in his chest do a strange little flip.Her eyes were warm, intelligent, and she had a quiet confidence that immediately put him at ease.
“Sheri,” she said, extending her hand.Her grip was firm and sure.“Nice to meet you, Mitty.Vic said you were the guy running point on all this.I figured I’d get a head start.”
Mitty shook her hand, trying not to notice how soft her skin was compared to his calloused fingers.“You didn’t have to do all this.I was planning to set it up myself after load-in.”
Sheri waved him off with a small laugh.“I was so pleased when Vic called.I’ve been following his career for...God, seven or eight bands now?Klatmatch Ends, Silverline Drift, even that weird experimental thing he did for a few months.The second he said it was for OY and they had new merch dropping, I cleared my schedule.This is going to look amazing tonight.”
