AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We play several more songs before we come off stage for a break. Alissa bounces into my arms and lands a long, strong kiss. “Oh my God, you’re amazing!” Her cheeks are flushed, and she’s wearing a wide smile.
“Thank you. Come outside with me and cool off.” I take her hand and lead her toward the door.
“Dane, I’m working. I probably shouldn’t just run off when I have tables to wait on.”
I wave her off. “You’re due for a break.” I pull her behind the bar and press her against the wall before moving my lips to hers.
The reaction of the crowd gave me a huge high. I’m buzzing with excitement and feel like the world is mine for the taking.
“Alissa!” my dad yells.
We jump apart and turn to see him standing at the corner of the building.
“You’re on the clock. Get back to work.”
She scurries off, apologizing along the way. I sag against the building, waiting to get my ass chewed out. But instead, he comes to stand beside me. “I had no idea you were so good.”
I laugh. “Thanks, Dad.”
“You know, I may have been wrong.”
“Wrong about what?” I turn to look at him.
“About you not being able to make money with a guitar. I think you’ve got what it takes.”
I’m in utter shock. My whole life he’s told me I have to work hard and get good grades. That I’d never make it anywhere with a guitar in my hand. “Are you messing with me right now?”
He laughs. “No, I’m serious. You’re becoming a man, Dane. It’s time for you to find what you’re passionate about and go after it.”
“I thought you said that was a pipe dream. Now, you’re telling me to go after it?”
He shrugs before standing up straight. “Nobody’s right all the time. We’re all just trying to do our best in life. That’s all you can ask for.” He walks away, leaving me alone in the dark.
* * *
The restof the night passes by in the same fashion. The band quits at midnight, and we’re all exhausted from the show we put on. By the end of the night, everyone in the bar was up dancing. Dad even had to pull a couple women off the bar top when we played, “Pour Some Sugar on Me” by Def Leppard. It’s a night I’ll never forget.
Dad hangs out at the bar to make sure everything’s taken care of and closed up properly. Alissa and I take advantage of being able to get hidden away in my bedroom before he comes home. I have an appointment to check out a house tomorrow, and while I don’t have my hopes up, I pray it works out before we’re caught and kicked out of my dad’s house.
I remove my clothes and crawl into bed, pulling Alissa as close as I can get her. I drift off to sleep with her head against my chest while listening to her steady breathing.
* * *
We wakein the morning and get dressed. I watch as Alissa sneaks out my window, and once her feet are firmly planted on the ground, I turn to head for the steps. Just as I’m reaching for the handle on the front door, my dad walks into the room.
“Where are you going so early?”
I motion toward the door. “To pick Alissa up. We’re going to have breakfast and spend the day together.”
“Alright, have a good time and be home by curfew.” He takes a drink of his coffee and heads back into the kitchen.
I find Alissa sitting in my car. When I slide in, I look over at her. “Are you ready to go see our new house?”
“I’m more than ready.” She smiles widely.
We drive into town and pull up to the rundown, two-bedroom house. The outside is done up in a sun-damaged wooden siding. The yard is grown up at least a good foot, and the shrubs and greenery lining the worn-out porch are overgrown and taking over.
I look at Alissa. “Don’t worry. We can fix this.”
