“No way,” I tell him. “She’ll call my mom, who will call my sisters, and they’ll all be in here checking out Nola. I’d rather not put her or me through the scrutiny.”
Liam and I both chuckle. “Is it safe to say, you’ll never bring anyone home to your mom?”
“Pretty much, unless she’s someone spectacular.”
The back door opens and someone spectacular peeks around the edge of the door. How can I even think that of her when I don’t know her? None of these feelings and thoughts I have are making any sense.
“Quinn,” she says my name softly and with a smile. “It’s time for you to go on.”
“Thank you, Nola.” Nola is such a unique name. A different name. It has to be short for something else. She holds my gaze for a few more seconds before heading back in.
Liam nudges me toward the door. “Wow, you’ve got it bad. How long have you known her?”
“Like ten seconds. We haven’t exactly had a conversation.”
“Well, shit,” he says as we head back inside.
By the time we make it to the stage, Liam has changed his appearance as much as he can with one of his trucker caps. There’s a few in the crowd who already figured out he’s here and call out his name. He doesn’t acknowledge them though as he sits down on the stool in front of the microphone. I handed singing duties over to him for this evening. He’s a much better singer and while we wanted to perform the song we were working on the other night, it’s not ready. Thing is, I had already invited him to play and couldn’t exactly rescind the invitation.
“You’re so hot,” a voice yells from the back of the café. Both of us look at the same time, wondering who yelled it. I’m not surprised to find my aunt Josie standing in the back, waving like a crazy fan.
“And you’re sexy,” Liam says into the microphone. “Can I get your number?”
“Sure it’s—”
Someone gasps loudly and yells that he’s married. At least three of us chuckle.
“Don’t worry, she’s my wife,” he says to the audience. “And with her here, I think my nephew and I will change up what we play for you.” Liam looks over his shoulder at me. “Five songs?”
I nod, and he leans over to tell me what we’re going to play. They’re all songs I’m familiar with, thankfully. The first one requires drums, so I take my place behind the house set and pick up the wooden sticks. It would be perfect if JD were here right now to start us off with the piano, but Liam compensates by strumming his guitar.
“Nothing good ever happens after midnight,” he bellows into the microphone. “Wake-Up” is the first song 4225 West ever sang in concert. It was also their first single. Liam wrote it about my aunt. In fact, most of the band’s songs were written about the women in their lives.
By the time the first verse concludes, I start banging away on the drums. As soon as I look up, Nola is standing there, swaying back and forth. She’s not watching Liam, but me. She’s completely focused on what I’m doing. And that’s where I keep my eyes through this set, on hers.
I don’t know what’s going on, but I like it and I think I’m ready to explore this connection between us.
We get a standing ovation. Liam’s name is chanted, and I’m fine with that. Every now and again, people need a treat and I was able to do that for them. Backstage, Josie meets us. She hugs me first and then falls into her husband’s arms. Their level of PDA should be outlawed. Right along with my parents.
As I make my way through the crowd, people pat me on the back, ask questions about Liam, which I ignore, and tell me how hot and sexy I am. All compliments that I’ll take with me but tend not to respond to. I learned that lesson from the guys.
Each night that I perform, Zeke holds a table for me. Tonight though, it’s occupied. Dana Cantu, the lead singer for my sister’s band, is sitting here. She looks at me expectantly, leaving me no choice but to sit down.
“Great performance. I didn’t know you could play the drums.”
Nola appears and sets a beer down for me. This time though, her smile doesn’t reach her eyes. I suppose to an outsider, it looks like I’m on a date or had one planned. And while Dana is smoking hot with her tight little body, and I’d probably sleep with her if given the chance, but Nola? She’s the one who’s caught my attention and I want to know her outside of these four walls.
“Drums, piano, bongos. I learned them all.”
“A man of many talents.”
I nod, pick up my beer and take a drink while scanning the room for Nola. It’s about impossible to find her with the number of people here. “I’ve never seen you here before. What brings you to the Bean Song?”
“I’m here to beg, Quinn.” She reaches across the table and grabs my hand. “I need you.”
“But you don’t. You’re a brilliant lyricist and have what looks like a solid group behind you. I’d only be in the way.”
Dana shakes her head. “You’d be Sambora to my Bon Jovi.”