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Rowena offered out her hand. “Here. I’ll put it in my purse, if that’s okay? I promise I’ll keep it safe until we go home tonight.”
“Sure.” Jimmy reluctantly passed it over. He watched Rowena wrap it up in a thick scarf and then carefully tuck it away. “Thank you, seriously.”
“Stop thanking me all the damn time.” Rowena laughed. “It’s not really that big of a deal. If you wanna make it up to me somehow, audition for me.”
“Fine.” Jimmy sunk down into the seat. “But trust me, I’m not that great.”
“Mm. We’ll see.” Rowena chuckled, pouring them drinks to sip on their way to the club.
It didn’t take much more for Jimmy to catch a bit of a buzz, grateful for the alcohol to soothe his nerves. He hadn’t sung in front of an audience in a very long time.
La Belle et la Bête was a beautiful theater, and even in the daytime the lights of the marquis were incredible. Jimmy was looking forward to finally seeing what it looked like on the inside.
Jerry parked right out front, and Rowena led Jimmy around to a side door she unlocked to allow them inside. Looping her arm in Jimmy’s, she hummed an upbeat tune to herself as she strolled through the empty club. Jimmy could hear a piano playing, but he didn’t see one yet.
The seating on the ground level had been removed to make way for tables, and the theater concession area had been converted into a bar. The stage was massive, flanked by elaborate carvings of wicked beasts and roses and framed by thick red velvet curtains.
Jimmy stared in awe at the incredible architecture, hypnotized by the details and rich colors. He grinned and checked out the private booths overlooking the stage. The second level looked as if it had also been updated to hold more tables, and he could see another bar.
It was absolutely magical.
Up on stage was a young man with short black hair, his nimble fingers coaxing a sweet melody from the grand piano he was seated at. He wore a Star Wars shirt and jeans, almost comically out of place amongst the finery.
The young man lifted his head, a pure and adoring smile lighting up his face when he saw Rowena. He looked like an eager puppy whose master had returned home after working all day. When his eyes met Jimmy’s, however, he frowned suspiciously.
“Hello, lovely!” Rowena greeted. “I have someone for you to meet!”
The young man stood up and peered down from the stage, waving at Jimmy. He still didn’t look very pleased. “Hey.”
“This is Jimmy Poe,” Rowena said, giving Jimmy a little squeeze. “He’s my brother’s new beau, and rumor has it that he’s quite the little singer.”
The young man appeared relieved, his smile kinder now when he looked at Jimmy. “Oh yeah?” He grinned and sat back at the piano. “Well, it’s really nice to meet you, Jimmy. I’m Dario Romero.”
Chapter twelve
Jimmy managed to navigate his way through the back around the curtains and joined Dario on stage, shaking his hand with a friendly smile. “Hey, love your shirt!”
“Thanks!” Dario beamed. “Empire was always the best, you know?”
“Oh! Freakin’ totally!” Jimmy gushed. “Have you seen the new ones yet? Tell me, did you like—”
“Hey! Turn down the geek,” Rowena called out, taking her place at the table positioned closest to center stage. “It’s super adorable, it is, but I need to find out what we’re gonna do with you, Jimmy. If you can sing, you’re so in. If not, well, we gotta find something else.”
“Right.” Jimmy smiled sheepishly. “Sorry.”
“So, any experience singing?” Dario asked.
“I used to do choir, some glee club in high school.” Jimmy rubbed the back of his neck as he walked up to the microphone stand. “I love musicals, show tunes, anything really.”
Dario ran his fingers over the keys for a moment, as if trying to think of an appropriate song to test Jimmy’s singing prowess. He suddenly smiled, both of his hands moving over the piano as he appeared to come up with the perfect one.
“Seriously?” Jimmy laughed and turned around to grin at Dario as he recognized the tune immediately as “Since I Don’t Have You.”
“Come on, man, get your Buckaroo Banzai on!” Dario teased.
Jimmy swallowed hard, the sound echoing in the microphone as he clung to it like a lifeline. Smiling shyly at Rowena, he forced himself to calm down. He did his best to imagine the Hong Kong Cavaliers behind him, and he swayed his hips to the music as he began to sing.
Softly at first, but he grew stronger and more sure of himself with each word.
