Must be work.
A large group comes through the doors, laughing and chatting, catching all of our attention, and I feel my jaw drop as I realize it’s the entire Boudreaux family, even Declan’s mama.
“Hi everyone!” I smile at them all and then look questioningly at Declan, but he just smiles. “What are you all doing?”
“Well, we came to watch the show, of course,” Dec’s mom says and winks at me. “This place sure is beautiful. No wonder they wanted to put it on television.”
“Thank you.”
“We mostly want to watch Dec make an ass of himself,” Beau says as he claps Declan on the back.
“That’s your job, big brother,” Declan replies.
“Well, have a seat wherever you like, and I’ll have my cocktail waitress come get your drink orders.”
I walk over to Declan and lean in so only he can hear me. “Did you know this was happening?”
“I told Beau and Eli about it when we worked out together yesterday. I didn’t know that they used the family phone tree to fill everyone else in, but I think it’s nice.”
“It’s better than nice,” I reply. “I just didn’t expect it.”
“They like you,” he says simply, kisses my cheek and joins his family just as the opening credits of the show begin.
The room grows quiet as we watch, and I’m thankful The Odyssey is the first bar showcased in the show because waiting until the end would be pure torture.
“Lookin’ good, Callie!” Rhys calls out to me when I first appear on camera, and the other boys whistle and cat-call.
“I’ll break your fingers,” Declan says in that smooth way he has, as if he was saying the weather sure is nice.
“You should have let Charly do your makeup, Dec,” Eli says when it’s Declan’s turn on the screen. “You might have looked prettier.”
“Boys,” their mama says sternly, and all three of them pout as if they’re tiny children again, making me laugh.
“You wore the shoes!” Charly exclaims.
“Of course,” I reply. “I love those shoes.”
When our segment is over, which feels like it was three seconds and three hours all at once, we all applaud and cheer. I’m happy with the results. They made the bar look hip, fun and classy, and that’s exactly the atmosphere I’m looking for.
Having Adam with me, and Declan’s family too, is just icing on the cake.
***
“Everyone’s gone,” Declan says after coming back in from walking his family to their cars. “And they had fun.”
“Me too.” I grin, and catch a look that passes between Declan and Adam.
“Hey, Callie, I think there’s something on the roof that needs your attention,” Adam says.
“The roof? The roof is closed.”
“Well, the movement sensors went off, so you should go see what’s up.”
I frown and cock my hip, my hand braced on it. “You’re too chicken shit to go up to the roof, so you’re sending a musician and his girlfriend to check it out?”
“Hey, I may be a musician, but I can kick serious ass when I have to,” Declan says.
“I can too,” I reply with a wink. “Okay, let’s check it out. I’ve told you for years, Adam, this place is haunted.”
We climb the stairs, and I find nothing out of place in the bar area, and then when I step out onto the terrace, I stop cold.
One of the firepits is lit, and on the table is a spread of food from my favorite restaurant.
The Highland Tavern.
“Declan,” I breathe and rush to the table. “How?”
“I have resources,” he says with a smile. “I also have cupcakes from Nic’s shop in Seattle.”
I turn and simply look at him, my arms hanging limply at my sides. He did this for me. This took planning and work, and he did it for me.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles. “Let’s eat before it gets cold.”
“It’s hot?” I grab a burger and bite into heaven. “Oh, my God.”