Sonder started as Nick's business eight years ago, back when this town needed somewhere people could breathe without judgment. Now it's a foundation with Jay as part owner. He's expanded the brand into bars across the country—Los Angeles, Nashville, Austin, Chicago, New York. On top of that, he's launched his own beer line.
He never brags about any of it. Just keeps his head down and keeps moving forward.
Something the both of us got real good at over the years.
I slide into our booth—the corner one, leather worn smooth from years of use. Same spot where we watched a young kid with more ambition than sense play song after song, hoping one would stick.
Julian.
Same stage I stood on for my first open mic eight years ago, back when Sonder had just opened. That nervous version of me, fumbling through"Name"by the Goo Goo Dolls, trying not to let the weight of the night crush the music out of me.
So much has started here. So much has grown.
The beginnings that seemed small then are what made everything else possible.
Jay drops into the seat across from me with a grin.
"How're the boys going with the new album?"
"Going is one way to put it. Tommy's been MIA again and Thatch is freaking out a little," I say.
He smirks. "Looks like karma's a bitch."
“What do you mean?”
"All those times I had to come find you," he says. "Dragging your ass home when you'd go disappearing for days on end without a single word."
"Yeah, fine asshole.” I laugh.
A waiter drops off a beer for Jay and a lemonade with extra ice and lime for me.
Jay lifts his glass.
"Two thousand five hundred and fifty-five days."
I blink. "You actually counted?"
He grins. "Maybe."
I stare at him. "You're insane."
"Dedicated," he corrects. "As your best friend, it's my job to keep count of how far you've come. And as my best friend, it's your job to tell me if what I'm about to do is the right thing."
He reaches into his jacket and pulls out a small black box.
"I'm going to ask Camilla to marry me."
My smile comes easy. "Okay first of all, fucking hell. That's some diamond. And secondly, what do you mean if it's right? A blind person could see how much you love her."
He exhales, nerves slipping through his confidence. "Yeah, but proposing is like a different kind of pressure. It's Camilla we're talking about here."
I lean back. "Exactly. It's Camilla and she's gonna die when she sees that." I point to the ring. "So what's the plan?"
His grin turns mischievous. "Okay. So. Hear me out."
I already regret this.
"I'm thinking a flash mob."
