Page 7 of Lyric & the Heartbeats

As Lyric drove home, she was already planning her disguise. The best part about going out was dressing up. Ever since the announcement of her tour, it had become even harder to stay hidden from fans and paparazzi, and she’d had to get creative.

Once she arrived home, she checked her phone to an announcement that Andi would be picking her up at eight. Dress code? Casual.

I can do casual.

When Andi drove them up to the building ten past eight, Lyric studied it doubtfully.

“Club, huh?” she asked with a smile.

“That’s what the flyers said,” she admitted with a shrug.

The brick building was small, and the entrance was classy, all dark wood and black beams, glass doors that reflected their images back at them.

“Hey, I’m cute,” Lyric commented, and fluffed the ends of her ‘short’ hair.

Andi rolled her eyes. “You’re always cute. But don’t even think of cutting your hair.”

Lyric eyed her pixie cut and glared. “Says you. Bet I could pull one of those off.”

“Do it and I’ll break our contract,” she threatened sweetly.

Lyric laughed and bumped her shoulder into hers as they pulled open the doors. Letting out a low whistle, Lyric took in the low lighting that set the mood against the dark wooden walls and iron tables. There was a dance floor, but it was completely empty at the moment. Sconces were set in the walls with electric candles, casting a soft glow around the room.

“This is gorgeous,” Lyric remarked. “But definitely not what I had in mind when you said it was a club.”

“Me either, to be honest. But you know… I don’t mind,” Andi replied.

She grabbed Lyric’s hand and pulled her along, covering their entry fee at the opening of the room. They stuck to the walls, and Lyric avoided eye contact with the people seated. Soft conversation and a buzz of excitement filled the room, low music flowing through the speakers.

Strangely enough, the tables nearest the stage were the emptiest ones. Everyone was gathered toward the back near the bar. It was set into the wall and blanketed by a second floor balcony.

The dance floor was set in the middle of the room, and the tables were dispersed around the edges near the walls and toward the back by the bar.

Once they’d secured a table near the stage, against the wall to stay out of the way, Lyric studied the stage setup. The house lights looked expensive and very nice. They lit up the stage with a soft yellow glow, matching the sconces and electric candles dotted along the walls.

“I think I’m in love with this place,” Lyric admitted.

“It is nice. But don’t get any ideas. We’ve already had to upgrade venues in three cities.”

With her best puppy dog eyes, Lyric gazed at Andi longingly. “But…”

“No. That won’t work on me. Try someone else.”

“Fine,” she huffed, only partway kidding. “Will you at least get me a drink then?”

“Deal.” Andi disappeared in a flourish of black clothing as she waded through the throng of people littering the empty space throughout the club. Lyric couldn’t even spot her purple pixie cut until she drew near again, two glasses in hand.

“What’s wrong?” Lyric asked as she sat the glasses down. “I know that’s not vodka. Would they not serve you?”

After an awful drunken weekend, both her and Andi vowed never to touch vodka ever again.

So she sipped the water as she waited for Andi’s answer, and Andi slapped two packages down on the table.

“This bar doubles as a dispensary. How cool is that?”

“You’re kidding!” Lyric sat her glass down to lift the tiny package. It was a bite-sized gummy wrapped in foil, and she unwrapped hers at the same time Andi did.

“Cheers?” she grinned.