“Not when I’m around you. You’re all I want 24/7, babe,” he said as he put me down and kissed me.
As Luke grabbed his keys off the counter, I grabbed my purse, and we headed out the door.
***
Walking hand in hand and Luke carrying his guitar, we strolled into the bar and over to the table where his parents were sitting. Before sitting down, I gave them each a hug while Luke went to the bar and grabbed us a couple of beers.
“It’s so good to see you again.” I smiled at Annie.
We sat at the table and talked as Luke showed his father around the bar. I could tell how excited Annie was that Luke was finally going to buy it. She reached over and put her hand on top of mine.
“You have no idea how happy I am that you’re in Luke’s life. The past year has been so difficult for him; for all of us, really.”
As I tilted my head, I smiled at her. “I’m sure it’s been very difficult. It seems the past year wasn’t good for any one of us.”
“No, it wasn’t, but the only thing that matters is that you and my son found each other, and you’re both happy. I’m thrilled he’s decided to buy this bar. It’s all he ever talked about for years. Now, he’ll finally put that settlement money to good use.”
“He never mentioned the settlement money to me.”
“He doesn’t like to talk about it; I think it’s a reminder of the accident. The man who ran the red light was drunk and driving on a suspended license. He was a partner at a prestigious law firm in Los Angeles. Needless to say, he’ll never be practicing law again. Luke settled for five hundred thousand dollars. His attorney said he could probably get more, but Luke just wanted to be done with it. It was settled out of court to avoid publicity.”
As I sat there, pondering the fact that my boyfriend had five hundred thousand dollars that he didn’t tell me about, Luke and his dad sat down at the table.
“What have the two of you been talking about?” Luke asked.
“Just girl talk.” I smiled. “You haven’t told Bernie yet that you’re buying the bar, have you?”
“No, I just sent him a text message, telling him that I need to meet with him tomorrow and that I’ve made my decision.”
I reached over and kissed him on the cheek, leaving a lipstick mark on his face. I laughed as I grabbed a napkin and wiped it off. We ordered some chicken wings, had a couple of beers, and enjoyed the company of his parents. Luke leaned over and told me he’d be right back as he got up from his seat. As I continued to have a conversation with Tom and Annie, the lights on the stage caught my eye. I looked up, and Luke was sitting on the bar-stool in front of the microphone.
“Good evening, everyone.” He smiled and waved to the patrons in the bar.
Everyone cheered and said hello as Luke strummed his guitar. “This song I’m going to sing for you tonight is a song I wrote for a very special woman in my life.”
Annie looked over at me and smiled as she placed her hand on mine and gently squeezed it. My eyes started to swell with tears before he even started singing. He strummed the chords as our eyes met, and he started to sing.
––––––––
Even the Clouds will say
There’s nowhere we can get away from everything There’s nowhere we can practice positivity
When all I see is me
So let’s drop let’s stop this teenage rivalry
––––––––
And every heart will break
There’s just no way to keep it safe from anything If the only thing that makes it break is somebody Please don’t give it to me
’Cause seeing you cry makes me want to leave
But losing you scares the shit out of me.
––––––––
Or maybe, I’ll sail the ocean blue
Or I’d fly a rocket to the moon
But I’m good for nothing without you
It doesn’t matter what you say
I think about you every day, girl, I
Am good for nothing without you
––––––––
Even the clouds will say
That Saturdays and rainy days were meant to be If you’re indoors and in the arms of somebody
Under the blankets and sheets
Well the sky is clear; it’s the middle of the week So come my dear, let’s make believe.
––––––––
Or maybe, I’ll sail the ocean blue
Or I’d fly a rocket to the moon
But I’m good for nothing without you
It doesn’t matter what you say
I think about you every day, girl, I
Am good for nothing without you
––––––––
Cause I want you
––––––––
I want you
––––––––
I want you
––––––––
To want me to
––––––––
I want you
––––––––
I want you
––––––––
I want you
––––––––
I do
––––––––
But I won’t fool this heart anymore
Or maybe, I’ll sail the ocean blue
Or I’d fly a rocket to the moon
But I’m good for nothing without you
It doesn’t matter what you say
I think about you every day, girl, I
Am good for nothing without you
––––––––
Even the clouds will say
There’s nowhere we can get away from everything And if the only thing that breaks your heart is somebody Please don’t give it to me
‘Cause seeing you cry makes me want to leave
But losing you scares the shit out of me.
––––––––
Annie and Tom both looked over at me as the tears that swelled in my eyes slowly fell down my face. The crowd cheered as Luke strummed the last chord and exited the stage. I stood up from my chair and wrapped my arms around him when he approached me.
“I love you,” I whispered in his ear as I tightened my grip around him.
“I love you too, babe. I’m glad you liked it.”
“I loved it, Luke. It was perfect; you’re perfect.”
As he sat down, he brought me onto his lap and kissed me.
“That was a beautiful song, honey,” Annie said.
“Great tune, son.” Tom smiled as he held up his glass.
We talked for a while longer and then called it a night. I had work in the morning, and Luke had a meeting with his lawyer to talk about the purchase of the bar. As we hugged Annie and Tom goodbye, we got into the Jeep, went back to my apartment, and I made sure Luke received his punishment for calling me mean.
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