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She shrugs. “I don’t really like it.”
“Why not?” he asks.
She looks at both of us. “Because I like to see things how they are, not for what they’re trying to be.” She crosses her arms, something she does when she’s feeling insecure.
I lift an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
The corners of her mouth turn up. “It’s just that this picture is flat, but it looks like it’s trying to come out of the frame, like it’s trying to be a column or something. I don’t like being fooled. I like to see things for exactly what they are.”
My dad grins and motions toward her. “I think you got yourself a good one here.” He turns and walks away, yelling for someone to take that picture off the wall.
I hold out my hand, and she takes it, so I can lead her back out to the car.
* * *
We’re lyingin the grass by the pond watching the sunset when I ask, “What were you talking about with that picture earlier?”
She giggles and rolls to her stomach, so she can look at me. “I don’t like illusions, Dane.”
“Why not?” I roll to my stomach the same way she did.
“Illusions aren’t real; they’re a lie.”
“How can a picture be a lie? It’s just art.”
“Not all illusions are pictures. You see illusions every day whether you notice it or not.”
I cock my head to the side. “Care to elaborate?”
She rolls her eyes like she can’t believe I’m not picking up on what she’s spelling out. “People create illusions all the time to make themselves look better. Girls wear makeup to give the illusion they’re better looking than they are. Guys buy crazy expensive cars to make themselves look cooler. People plaster on fake smiles and tell a lot of jokes to make people think they’re happy. I know because… I used to do the same thing.”
“You don’t wear makeup. And between you and me, you’re not that funny,” I joke.
She laughs and smacks my arm, but then settles on her back, looking at the sky. “It’s all just a trick of the eye, Dane. I used to live that way. I got good at making people see someone that wasn’t me.”
“So, what happened? When did you give up the facade?” I settle between her legs, so I can feel her under me and look into her beautiful, blue eyes.
“When I met you.” She smiles. “I didn’t have to pretend to be happy anymore because just being with you makes me happy.” She lifts her head until her lips are pressed against mine, making my entire body tingle.
* * *
The week passes by quickly,and before I know it, it’s Saturday night. Alissa will be waitressing while I’ll be on stage. I’m pumped that I get to play in the bar and grill. The band has been practicing all week.
Before the place opens, we take our time setting up all the equipment. Mark and Zach are excited and bouncing off the walls. This is our first real gig. Sure, we’ve played hundreds of times and gotten paid for most of them. But this will be our first time playing in a business, not just some house party.
Dad unlocks the doors at seven P.M., but we don’t go on stage until nine, so we sit back drinking soda and eating whatever they’ll give us. The jukebox is loud while people drink, play pool, and have dinner. I keep an eye on Alissa to make sure nobody messes with her. The guys beg her to serve them beer, but she isn’t allowed to deliver drinks to anyone since she’s underage. My dad would freak out if he found underage kids in here drinking; he’s already told me not to even try it.
When nine o’clock rolls around, the jukebox is shut off, and Dad takes the stage. “Excuse me, everyone. I wanted to thank all of you for coming out tonight. This has been a dream of mine since before I started the shop. I’m not a man of many words, but the fact that you all came here to celebrate with me means the world to me.” He wipes an unshed tear from his eye. “Without further ado, please welcome the band that’ll be here every Saturday night, Empire of None!”
The whole place screams as we take the stage. Passing by my dad on the way up, he gives me this look that radiates pride. It makes this warm feeling spread through me. He’s proud of me. I’ve never felt this before.
I take my place behind the mic and introduce the band. Mark counts us down, and I start singing a hard rock version of “Here I Go Again”, by Whitesnake.
The crowd is mostly adult couples and friends of my dad, so the classic rock music is the perfect vibe for this crowd. Several ladies come up to the front of the stage, and they dance along with the music, swaying their bodies back and forth in front of me. My eyes automatically fall to watch them. Who doesn’t look when a big chested woman starts to dance in front of you? But as soon as my eyes land on a full rack, Alissa pops into my head and instead of watching the women, I search for my girl in the crowd.
I find her standing by the bar, holding a tray at her side while she watches me with a smile on her face. I keep my eyes locked on hers and sing like she’s the only one in the room.
When the song ends, we lead right into “18 and Life” by Skid Row. With the sounds of the music filling the bar, the crowd comes to life. Everyone is out of their seat, dancing to the music, or bobbing their heads. I find my dad standing behind the bar with his arms crossed over his chest like he’s a bouncer. He’s even bobbing his head to the beat of the music.
