me for a moment, probably measuring my sincerity. “No problem. Conner and his friends are very special to Lea, and Iʼd do anything for her,” she looked back away from me. “Besides, itʼs just handing out a few fliers. Iʼm not playing a guitar for him, just helping you guys find someone who can.”
The thought of her playing guitar like Alex made me laugh inside. God, that would be the worst thing ever. I ʼd never get her out of my mind if she could make music with me. Selah and I made music together . I decided she couldnʼt, I didnʼt even want to know if she could. I was crazy about her too much already. “Yeah, that would be a hoot. Those delicate little hands of yours playing Alexʼs heavy riffs, now that would be hysterical to see.”
She gave me a little glance, but said nothing. We continued our walk and placed posters up in about half a dozen bars. Everywhere we went people came up to me and patted me on the back saying they ʼd spread the word about the auditions. Everyone was sorry to hear that Alex wouldnʼt be able to play for a few weeks, but each person was visibly excited about who would possibly become a new member of Mad World, at least for a little while.
Grace was outgoing and friendly to everyone that stopped to talk to me. Each guy that came to talk to me only had eyes for her, and each girl gave her a jealous once over and walked away angry. She captivated every person she met, from the old guy who swept the floors in Tramp ʼs Bar and Grill, to the ten-year-old kid who helped his father bus the tables at Macʼs Pub.
She even fell into a relaxed conversation with me as we walked alon g the busy city streets. Anybody passing us by would have thought we were a couple. Maybe from the way I looked at her, or maybe the way I put my hand on the small of her back and the comfortable way she leaned into my touch. Whatever it was, it was like a small sliver of heaven to me.
“Hey,” I tugged on her coat softly as we stood in front of the bar we posted the last flier in. “I was going to head over to Boozer ʼs, maybe grab a beer, want to come?”
“Yeah, that sounds great,” she replied. A smile swept over her lips, illuminating her eyes. My God, she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in this life .
“Well, damn, Grace,” I whispered. “When you smile, it certainly does some serious damage to a man’s insides.”
Blinking quickly, she looked away and started walking, shoving her hands deep into her coat pockets. I had to run to catch up to her and we walked the rest of the way to the bar in silence. However, there was a huge smile plastered on her face and I knew it was what I said that put it there.
Chapter 6
Alex was sitting alone at our regular table when we got to Boozer ʼs. We ordered a bucket full of beer and a basket of cheese fries as soon as we joined him. Lea and Conner met us there, after I texted Conner. Brayden, Ethan, and Tucker came in a few minutes after.
When Tucker saw Grace, he shoved my chair over, with me still sitting on it , and pulled over another chair in its spot, to sit in between us. “Hey, Shane, you donʼt mind, right?” Oh, hell yes I mind . I didnʼt say anything though. Tucker would act like a jerk within an hour and Grace would hate him. Heʼd screw it up himself and I needed to have her witness for herself how much of a jerk he was. I wasn’t going to be a douchebag friend and tell her.
Alex burst out laughing at Tucker ʼs efforts to get Grace to notice him. “Wow, Tucker. What are you, like twelve?” Alex teased.
Tucker lifted his shoulders and let them drop dramatically. He tilted his head adoringly at Grace, “Dude, I just want to sit next to the prettiest girl in the bar, that ʼs all.” Oh, he was so slick, wasnʼt he?
Alex laughed at him and slapped the table. “Tuck, you think she looks pretty now? God, you should have seen her in her little pink teddy bear pajamas before. It made me start thinking of
The thought of her playing guitar like Alex made me laugh inside. God, that would be the worst thing ever. I ʼd never get her out of my mind if she could make music with me. Selah and I made music together . I decided she couldnʼt, I didnʼt even want to know if she could. I was crazy about her too much already. “Yeah, that would be a hoot. Those delicate little hands of yours playing Alexʼs heavy riffs, now that would be hysterical to see.”
She gave me a little glance, but said nothing. We continued our walk and placed posters up in about half a dozen bars. Everywhere we went people came up to me and patted me on the back saying they ʼd spread the word about the auditions. Everyone was sorry to hear that Alex wouldnʼt be able to play for a few weeks, but each person was visibly excited about who would possibly become a new member of Mad World, at least for a little while.
Grace was outgoing and friendly to everyone that stopped to talk to me. Each guy that came to talk to me only had eyes for her, and each girl gave her a jealous once over and walked away angry. She captivated every person she met, from the old guy who swept the floors in Tramp ʼs Bar and Grill, to the ten-year-old kid who helped his father bus the tables at Macʼs Pub.
She even fell into a relaxed conversation with me as we walked alon g the busy city streets. Anybody passing us by would have thought we were a couple. Maybe from the way I looked at her, or maybe the way I put my hand on the small of her back and the comfortable way she leaned into my touch. Whatever it was, it was like a small sliver of heaven to me.
“Hey,” I tugged on her coat softly as we stood in front of the bar we posted the last flier in. “I was going to head over to Boozer ʼs, maybe grab a beer, want to come?”
“Yeah, that sounds great,” she replied. A smile swept over her lips, illuminating her eyes. My God, she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in this life .
“Well, damn, Grace,” I whispered. “When you smile, it certainly does some serious damage to a man’s insides.”
Blinking quickly, she looked away and started walking, shoving her hands deep into her coat pockets. I had to run to catch up to her and we walked the rest of the way to the bar in silence. However, there was a huge smile plastered on her face and I knew it was what I said that put it there.
Chapter 6
Alex was sitting alone at our regular table when we got to Boozer ʼs. We ordered a bucket full of beer and a basket of cheese fries as soon as we joined him. Lea and Conner met us there, after I texted Conner. Brayden, Ethan, and Tucker came in a few minutes after.
When Tucker saw Grace, he shoved my chair over, with me still sitting on it , and pulled over another chair in its spot, to sit in between us. “Hey, Shane, you donʼt mind, right?” Oh, hell yes I mind . I didnʼt say anything though. Tucker would act like a jerk within an hour and Grace would hate him. Heʼd screw it up himself and I needed to have her witness for herself how much of a jerk he was. I wasn’t going to be a douchebag friend and tell her.
Alex burst out laughing at Tucker ʼs efforts to get Grace to notice him. “Wow, Tucker. What are you, like twelve?” Alex teased.
Tucker lifted his shoulders and let them drop dramatically. He tilted his head adoringly at Grace, “Dude, I just want to sit next to the prettiest girl in the bar, that ʼs all.” Oh, he was so slick, wasnʼt he?
Alex laughed at him and slapped the table. “Tuck, you think she looks pretty now? God, you should have seen her in her little pink teddy bear pajamas before. It made me start thinking of
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