I kept my eyes closed until I was comfortable and sang covers from Jack Johnson, Zack Brown Band, and Bob Marley.
I knew everyone was watching me as they drank margaritas and chatted softly, but I tried not to let it get to me. Once I got into the music, I could forget about the audience and enjoy myself.
It was just in the beginning, before I was swept up in the chords and melody, that my father’s words would intrude and bring about my nerves.
You’ll never amount to anything.
Focus on things that matter, not that stupid guitar.
God, how did I raise such a fuckin’ wooz?
And, that was all by the age of nine, before I’d even been old enough to get a job or pick a career path.
My father was always an arsehole, but after my mum died, he’d become a deadbeat, too. I was grateful he was no longer in my life. I wouldn’t want him anywhere near Jazzy or her family. The Lewises showed me what family really looked like.
Hopefully, Jasmine and I would be able to build a family like theirs.
There I go, getting ahead of myself again.
I sought her out, like I had continuously while I sang, before making sure I made eye contact with everyone. Something funny happened inside of me, seeing her sitting there, enjoying herself while singing along with me.
I imagined what it would be like to sing just for her, maybe a song that I’d written, and wondered if she’d like it or think I was foolishly wasting my time on something that had no future.
I finished up the song and smiled out at the group.
They started clapping as I stood, the guitar hanging from my hand, and Gabe placed his fingers between his lips and whistled, just like he’d been doing since the first time I played for him in college.
“Thank you,” I managed quickly, embarrassed by their praise.
“Someone get this man a drink,” Gabe called out.
“I’m headed in,” Jed said, rising from the table. “Beer or margarita?”
“Beer, please. Thanks,” I replied, and looked at Zoey. “Where do you want this?”
She took the guitar from me and said, “I’ve got it. Thanks for playing; you’re so good. Made me want to get up there and sing with you again.”
“Next time,” I assured her with a smile, although, if she’d come up and sat next to me tonight, I would have been more than happy to pick out some duets.
The seat next to Jasmine was free and although I wasn’t sure if it was by design or accident, I was choosing to believe she saved it for me.
“I had no idea you could sing, or play,” Jazzy said, turning to me as I sat.
“Yeah, I picked it up as a kid,” I said, then quickly added, “It’s just fooling around, though.”
I didn’t want her to think I was a bum. It was bad enough I was still bartending, rather than utilizing my degree.
“It didn’t sound like fooling around,” she said gently, her eyes searching my face.
I hoped my vulnerability wasn’t there for all to see. Music was a touchy subject for me, always had been.
Jasmine reached out and covered my hand with hers. “You’re very talented.”
“He writes songs, too,” Gabe offered.
I glared at him across the table, but Gabe just grinned and lifted his beer in acknowledgement.
“You do?” Jazzy asked.
“Oh, will you play something of yours?”
This came from Chloe.
“Come on, guys, leave Shane alone for a bit, it takes all his energy to get up in front of everyone and put himself on display like that,” Jed said as he joined the group.
He handed me a beer and I said, “Thanks.”
Jed grinned, knowing I was talking about the drink, and the assist.
“Sorry,” Chloe said, looking guilty, and quite adorably tipsy.
“No worries,” I assured her, not wanting her to feel bad. It was flattering that they liked to hear me play and wanted to hear my songs, but I’d never sung an original in public.
Only Gabe and Jed had heard me sing my own songs. I wasn’t ready for anything beyond that.
“Okay, so Shane can sing and play guitar, what about everyone else? How can you entertain us?” Jasmine asked, and I squeezed her hand softly, thanking her nonverbally for taking the pressure off.
“I can win a Super Bowl,” Gabe said with a cocky grin.
Jazzy rolled her eyes and said, “Next.”
“I can write you all into a book and have you do whatever I want,” Zoey offered.
“How about something that can entertain us right now?” she asked.
“Jazzy and I can sometimes finish each other’s sentences, although, not on demand,” Dillon said, smiling at his sister.
This was the first time I’d seen them relaxed around each other since he found out we were married. I hoped it was a good sign.
“I can roll my tongue,” Chloe said, opening her mouth and demonstrating.
“I can shake my eyes.”
I sat up and peered around Jasmine to look at Reardon.
“You can what, mate?” I asked him.
“Shake my eyes.”
“It’s true, he can,” Jasmine said, finishing off her drink.
“How?” Jed asked.
“Come closer,” Reardon told us.
Jed and I got up and moved to where Reardon was sitting. Apparently everyone else had already seen it, because they stayed put.
Once we were crouched in front of him, staring into his eyes, he did it.
“Whoa,” Jed cried with a laugh.
“That’s pretty wicked,” I agreed, clapping a hand on Reardon’s shoulder before going back to my seat.
It became louder as everyone began to chat. I took my seat and leaned in to ask Jasmine, so that only she could hear, “And, what’s your talent?”
“You mean other than the twin thing?” she asked, her eyes twinkling.
“Mmmmhmmm.”
Jazzy bit her lower lip and looked around the table, before her heavy-lidded gaze captured mine once more and she crooked her finger, indicating I should come closer.
I leaned in and turned my head, so that my ear was inches away from her lips.
What she whispered had my eyebrows rising and my dick hardening. I leaned back and looked at her.
“You ready to get out of here?” I asked, and when she nodded, I stood up and yelled, “Welp, g’night!”
“Uh-oh…”
“They’re gonna go at it again.”
“Gross.”
That last was from Dillon, but I didn’t pay attention to any of them. I took my wife’s hand in mine and led her the fuck out of there.