“What about Paco? He’s an amazing singer. And he knows all of your songs.”
“Paco? The dishwasher?” Gracie asked, frowning.
Maysie nodded. “Yeah. I know it’s weird. But it’s five hundred bucks and given the way everything’s in limbo right now, you can’t turn down that kind of money. And it’s only one gig. And it’s Barton’s. Who will ever know?” she asked, and the guys started to nod.
“We’ll need to run back to the house and grab our gear. But yeah, I say let’s do it. I think we could all use this,” Garrett agreed.
I couldn’t believe that they were going to put someone else up on that stage with them and let him sing. I couldn’t understand their willingness to replace Cole so quickly.
Garrett must have seen the look on my face because he leaned in and lowered his voice.
“This is Cole’s choice, Viv. Don’t look at us like we’re the bad guys here,” he said and then he and Mitch were up and out the door. Off to get their equipment while Jordan went into the kitchen to talk to the dishwasher turned singer.
“I can’t believe you suggested that,” I told Maysie, feeling depressed by the whole thing.
Maysie shrugged. “Cole’s not coming back to the band, Viv. What else are they supposed to do? They’ve got to move on.”
“How do you know he’s not coming back?” I demanded.
“Because Garrett talked to him this morning. And they got into it. And it was left that Cole was looking into other opportunities. Generation Rejects is going to have to start looking for another singer.”
It annoyed me that Maysie didn’t seem bothered by it. That the fact that Cole, who had been with the band for years, was suddenly leaving and no one seemed upset by the news.
Was I the only one who couldn’t believe Cole would leave his band like that?
“That just doesn’t sound like Cole. Maybe Garrett misunderstood,” I suggested.
Maysie looked at me as though I were speaking tongues.
“I don’t think you know Cole as well as you think you do, Viv,” Maysie said shortly, clearly annoyed that I was defending the former lead singer at all.
Jordan came out of the back with a very excited looking Paco.
“Maysie, my love, thank you!” Paco tried to hug Maysie, who put her hands out stopping him with a laugh.
You needed to keep your distance from Paco. He was bit on the touchy feely side. The middle aged, paunchy, and balding dishwasher looked nothing like lead singer material. But he was enthusiastic; I’d give him that.
Moore and the other wait staff started to clear tables, making room for the amps. I had seen them do this a thousand times before. I had always loved watching the guys set up for a show.
There had always been an air of excitement when I knew Generation Rejects were going to play.
Not this time.
This time I felt like crying.
An hour later, the guys were plugged in and ready to go. The normal ring of Barton’s customers fanned out around them, seeming as confused as I had been to see Paco at the front, microphone in hand.
Jordan, before sitting down at his drum kit, took the mic from Paco and spoke into it.
“It’s awesome to be back at Barton’s!” He pumped his fist into the air and everyone cheered.
“We sure have missed you guys!”
Another round of cheering. Paco stood awkwardly off to the side. His Barton’s shirt grease stained and torn.
“I’m sure you’re wondering why Paco is up here with us tonight,” Jordan grinned, though from here I could see that it was strained.
He held his hand out to indicate the dishwasher. “Well, I don’t know if you’ve ever heard this guy sing, but he’s incredible. So we asked him to join us tonight.”
“Where’s Cole?” someone yelled out from the crowd. I saw Jordan, Mitch, and Garrett exchange glances.