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“And chocolate chip cookies. Oh, and rock music,” Shelly chimed in.
Chase pretended to write a note on his hand. “Breakfast, cookies, music. Got it.”
I shook my head and swung open the front door. “You are all idiots.”
“You really do look great,” Chase whispered as we walked outside to his car.
“So do you.” His jeans and polo combination, that would have looked average on anyone else, seemed to be tailored to fit his exact measurements. The yellow shirt brought out every facet of color in his hazel eyes.
“Wow. A compliment?” He clutched his heart. “I will cherish it forever.”
I rolled my eyes, but could feel myself smiling as Shelly and I slid into the back seat. Maybe the night would not be as bad as my nerves were anticipating.
As we pulled up to the bar, I stared out the window at the rundown, wooden shack that was Big Nose Kate’s. Horseshoes were stamped into the cement stairs leading up to the door, and a tall bush was trimmed into the shape of a cactus outside. The Old-West-style saloon seemed out of place in the northern city we lived in, but the food was delicious so nobody really questioned it. Friday nights especially attracted a huge crowd with a local band playing all the typical cover songs from the eighties and nineties. There was already a line to get in, and it was only nine o’clock.
Brody’s friend, Nick, was checking IDs at the door. He did a double-take when he saw me walk up alongside Shelly.
“Hey, Adams! Look at you!”
“Put your eyes back in your head, Nicky.” Shelly patted his shoulder as he let us in ahead of the line.
“Hey, Nick.” I followed quickly behind Shelly. I did not feel like getting into conversations with the people I had not seen since the funeral.
Inside, the wooden floor creaked under our wedges as we made our way to the bar. The musty air mixed with smells of sweat, cologne, and desperation of girls that were trying way too hard. A band was setting up on the small stage near the tall windows. I noticed several pairs of eyes on me as we walked over to our friends at the bar. I wondered if it was because of my accident, or the fact that I was walking alongside a Brooks brother. I tried my best to ignore the stares.
Kenzie and Tina were waiting at the bar for us. Their eyes were wide as they looked me up and down. Their mouths fell open when they saw Chase walk up beside me.
“Doesn’t she look hot?” Shelly yelled over the blaring music.
“Would you stop saying that?” I hit Shelly’s arm, a little harder this time.
“Nice rack, Adams!” Tina joked, poking my cleavage with her index finger. “Where have you been hiding these puppies?”
I shot her a look and swatted her hand away. She was worse than Shelly.
“You look great,” Kenzie laughed, squeezing my arm. “I’m so glad you came out tonight. We’ve missed you!”
“I missed you, too.”
Tina and Kenzie were sisters, but they could not be more different. Tina’s dark bob suited her tough, punkish exterior, her skin was covered in colorful tattoos. Kenzie looked like a blonde-hair-blue-eyed southern belle; she was the younger, and sweeter, of the two. We had been friends since freshman year of college. They lived on the other side of the island. Though the island was small, people that lived on the north shore rarely came to the south shore, and vice versa. Each end of the island had everything one would need, so there wasn’t a reason to leave. Tonight, the sisters had ventured down to the south end of Staten Island to see me.
Shelly turned to Chase, motioning to the girls with her thumb. “Do you know Kenzie and Tina?”
“Hello, ladies.” Chase gave them a wave.
“You guys are packing this place out tonight. How do you feel?” Tina asked him.
“I can’t wait. It’s been a while. Hopefully I don’t sound like shit.”
I scrunched my nose up in confusion. “What?”
“Oh, I didn’t tell you?” He grinned. “I’m the band that’s playing tonight.”
“No, you somehow forgot to mention that.”
“Well, if you’ll all excuse me. I have to go set up.”
“Break a leg!” Kenzie called.
