“Uh...sure.” I can almost hear Adrian’s jaw clenching as I leave the bar.
I walk on stage and pull out my guitar before heading to the mic and announcing a special performance by Bo. The moderately packed bar goes wild for him as he slides onto the stool next to me. Silently, I’m busy hoping that he, and the crowd, doesn’t ask me to sing with him. I hurry back to the bar as he warms up for a few minutes.
“Let’s go outside,” Adrian whispers into my ear.
“Just a sec. I want to listen to him. Before you get all territorial, yesterday was the four-year anniversary of his parents’ death. The least I can do is sit through one song.”
“I’m gonna go get some air.” Adrian whips off the stool and charges through the back door.
Despite barely making eye contact with me all night, the second Bo starts singing a song of his that must be new, he locks eyes with mine through the now-crowded bar. My pulse matches the speed at which goosebumps spread across the surface of my skin. Three songs later, his eyes haven’t left mine, and I’ve lost track of time. He’s singing to me, I know he is—my body knows he is. Adrian’s fingers on my shoulder startle me.
“Shit, I didn’t hear you come up behind me.” I gulp my beer.
I engage Adrian in quiet conversation, my back turned to the stage. Suddenly, a familiar nineties tune echoes from the stage and pulls a lump to my throat.
“Pearl Jam...seriously?” I whisper as I turn around to find Bo looking directly at Adrian and me as he sings “Better Man.”
My jaw drops as I stare at the stage while Bo sings about people convincing themselves they’re in love with someone all wrong for them. I didn’t notice Josh and Monica reenter the bar, but they hear the song too.
“Oh, holy shit.” Monica shakes her head and tips back her beer with a mocking grin. Adrian’s fists are clenched. I hop down from the stool, pulling him outside.
“Don’t worry about him, Adrian. He’s had a shitload to drink.” I walk onto the beach, putting as much space between Adrian and the bar as possible.
“Fuck him, Ember. He sang that song deliberately to piss me off.”
“Like you’ve never tried crazy shit over me before. Recall orchestrating a work merger?” I roll my eyes and walk down the beach.
After a few minutes of strained silence, I can tell Adrian’s calming down. He’s holding my hand, and his breathing has returned to normal. We turn and take a few minutes to walk back to Finnegan’s. Once we get there, Josh, Monica, and a few of our other friends are outside drinking under the twinkle lights. Adrian heads inside for a beer and I pull Monica aside.
“Sorry for the almost-drama at your party.”
“It’s fine. That was some crazy shit.” She giggles behind her beer.
“Yeah. Crazy is right. Where is he now?” I try to peer inside, but see no sign of him.
“He left after that last song. He threw his keys at Josh and walked down the road. He’s probably headed for Lost Dog.”
“Oh, that’s just great. There’s no fucking way he can go home tonight. He was drunk before leaving here and now he’s headed there?”
I cut the rest of my thought off as Adrian returns with beers for both of us. I manage to push thoughts of Bo out of my mind for the next hour. We all enjoy the warm July breeze and tease Josh and Monica about perceived married life. None of us are married; they’re heading out into uncharted waters.
Adrian’s been distant since our argument this morning. I have, too. His accusations and assumptions hurt. I’d never cheat on anyone. That he questioned my character has weighed heavily on me all day. It’s weighed on him, too, according to the amount of beer I’ve seen him put away tonight. I stop drinking since it looks like I’ll be driving everyone home.
Two hours later, I’ve deposited Josh and Monica at her place and returned to get Adrian from Finnegan’s, when I receive a text from C.J.
C.J.: Bo’s here. Dude’s in bad shape—he needs to get home.
I growl and punch my steering wheel. I knew this would happen, and I’ve used the entire night trying to plan how to deal with it. I text Regan.
Me: Hey, are you guys in town or in Concord or what?
Regan: Concord, why? Everything OK?
Me: Not really...don’t say anything to Rae but Bo’s drunk and can’t drive home. I’ll figure it out. Seriously, don’t say anything to Rae.
Instantly, my phone rings. It’s Regan.
“Ember, what’s going on?” I can tell he’s gone outside by his breathlessness.
“Bo drank a lot tonight. I don’t know if he’s planning on driving home to Concord, but C.J. texted me and said Bo’s in rare form at Lost Dog right now. Adrian’s gonna be pissed.” I mumble the last part under my breath.