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“It’s a work in progress. Thirty-some years of knowing one way is hard to erase.”
But he’s working on it, and I can’t help but feel proud of that step. Fall for him a little deeper. I lift my head and take his lips without thinking about anyone or anything else, only him. This feels so right. It can’t be wrong.
Is it wrong?
Order after order comes to the bar from the sitting area. No matter how fast I serve, there’s no end to them. Tristan and Chase, the new bartender, are the ones taking orders and handling the bar. They’re keeping up with the clientele, but after they serve one, two more approach the bar.
Reed mentioned earlier that the place would be busy. It’s Friday night. There’re rumors that MJ or JC Decker might make an appearance. Not true. Matt just arrived from Vancouver, and I doubt he’s going to step into the bar.
To verify the information, I checked their social media accounts earlier to confirm said rumor. Neither one has posted in the past couple of days. Matt’s last post was#MJDecker making movie magicand a picture of the set.
His brother, on the other hand, posted a cryptic message saying,#JCDecker goes solo. The tour is about to start.Their hashtags are trending tonight, along with#FarewellSilverMoon.
The bar is closing in a couple of weeks. Reed finally made a decision about his future. He’s retiring to Belize. In the meantime, the contractors are prepping the nearby buildings. It’s only a matter of time before Tristan Cooperson makes a statement and changes the landscape.
As for me, I have an appointment with a realtor next Monday who’s helping me find an affordable apartment close to my new job. Christian opens his practice early next month. Everything is happening too fast. Adapting isn’t easy, but I have to make it happen if I don’t want to lose myself in this new stage or lose anyone who matters.
Concentrating on getting the orders right while thinking of the two men who keep my head pretty busy makes it hard to pay attention to the rest of the bar. It’s not until I hear screeches that I move my attention from the counter and look at my surroundings.
Two bodyguards stand in front of the main door. The bar is at full capacity, and the improvised stage for open mic night is set. Jacob holds a black Fender. His sun-kissed hair is shorter than usual, and he’s wearing a black T-shirt that reads “Decker’s Band.”
He takes center stage, Chris is on his right holding another guitar, and his sister stands to the left with a fiddle in one hand. The other hand types on the laptop next to a big keyboard. Matt’s behind the drums, and even with all the people between us, his eyes find mine and his smirk weakens my knees as usual.
We hold each other’s gaze for a few seconds before Tristan moves behind me. As I look back, I watch him and Coop exchange a glance. The sound of the cymbals echoes through the speakers, and everyone goes silent. Jacob scratches a string, and his sister presses a key to match it.
“Marry me, JC Decker,” interrupts some crazy fan.
I shake my head and look around the bar, spotting Gabe Decker entering through the back room.
“Hey, sweetheart.” Gabe walks to me, giving me a hug. We exchange the typical greetings that we do almost every day when I go into his husband’s offices for either a consult, or training. “Do you need any help back here?”
“I want to have your babies, MJ.” I hear the scream all the way from the bar, and it makes me scrunch my nose. Getting used to his “adoring fans” is going to take longer than I thought.
“I meant to invite you earlier today to Sunday family dinner at our house. You’re coming, aren’t you?”
Dinner with the Deckers?
I feel myself tense up at the thought. But before I can think about it further, the music starts to play, and I turn my attention to the stage. I’m saved for now. At least, that’s what I think until the back of my neck prickles.
Something doesn’t feel right. When I scan the area, I think I see him. Dad. But he disappears. Maybe it’s the music. I can’t stand listening to Dreadful Souls, Chris Decker’s voice, the lyrics.
The memories…
It’s okay, Thea,I tell myself.You’re safe.
But am I?
ChapterFifty-One
Tristan
The ordersslow down when the music starts.
Chase and I are able to restock the bar with the help of Gabe Decker and Reed. This is the end of Silver Moon as they knew it. They both seem… sad.
The idea is to close the bar down after this weekend. During yesterday’s inspection, they found too many problems. Neither Reed nor I want to remain open and face an issue down the road. That’s why last night the Deckers came up with the idea of having one last concert.
I was against it until Matt told me it was his father’s idea. Chris Decker loves the place. He wanted to perform one last time in the place where he began both his solo career and his career as a producer.
