All I Ever Wanted(62)

Located on the far end of Main Street, Sea Breeze Park hosted many annual events, but nothing compared to the reunion   of the town's very own famous boy band. Picnic baskets and coolers were allowed in, although several food trucks were arriving to provide a variety of choices of local favorites. The air already smelled of charcoal, barbecue, fried foods, and sweet cotton candy. Merch tables lined the sides of the green space, laden with shirts, mugs, posters, hats, and various other keepsakes that were already going fast. A large tent manned by staff from the Susan Heart Lupus Foundation had mountains of information, leaflets, magnets, and other takeaway reminders to spread awareness and remind people to give to the foundation. Media, both local and national, started filing in, setting up vans and equipment. 

The day already hummed with excitement.

Grady took a drink of his water and smiled when Jesse approached him. "Hey there. What's up?"

"I'll be so damned glad when Oliver's damned no-drinking rule is over," Jesse said, and made a disgusted face at his own water bottle.

Grady chuckled. "You and me both."

"Well, everything is falling into place. Pete Carter might be one of the best sound engineers around, but Oliver is hounding him like a drill sergeant. If I were Pete, I'd punch him in the face." Jesse raised his hands in the air. "I had to get away from there."

"Pete's pretty easygoing, but I hope Oliver doesn't piss him off."

"Should I go and get him away from Pete?"

"Hell no, let him stay over there." Grady shook his head. "Earlier, Oliver was driving me nuts by checking the weather every ten seconds. It's not gonna rain."

"Oh, I know. He saw one lonely, puffy cloud that looked like a hippo, by the way, and almost went into a meltdown," Jesse said. "I showed him the radar but that didn't faze him."

Jimmy walked over and joined them. He crossed his arms over his chest. "Okay, I admit I'm nervous as hell. Look at all these people!"

"Jimmy, you're better than you've ever been," Grady said.

"Tell my nerves that. Can I sneak a shot of Fireball?"

"Well, since you just told me, I guess you ruined the whole sneaking part," Grady replied with a shake of his head.

"Do you have some?" Jesse's eyes lit up like those of a little kid.

Jimmy patted the pocket of his jeans. "Yep," he confirmed, and looked at Grady for permission.

"Hey . . . come on." Grady shook his head. "I can't tell you two to take shots."

Jimmy groaned. "Just to take the edge off. You know how I hate performing."

Grady scrubbed a hand down his face. "It's not even noon yet."

"So we'll be fine by the concert," Jimmy said. "Scout's honor."

"You were never a scout." Grady laughed.

"Details, details." Jimmy raised his fingers in an attempt to make the Boy Scout pledge.

"That's a peace sign, bro," Jesse said, and laughed.

"Guys . . ." Grady sighed.

Jesse pounced on Grady's indecision. "Come on. You know you want one." He gave Grady a soft nudge with his elbow. "Oliver is up to his eyeballs in sound checks and lighting. He'll never know." Jesse arched a pleading eyebrow. "It's just one little bottle, not enough to do any harm. And who gave him the right to make that rule, anyway?"

"Famous last words," Grady grumbled, and then shooed them away. "I know nothing."


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"Yes!" Jesse said, and gave Jimmy a high five. "We'll be in the RV if you want to join."

Grady chuckled. "Don't tempt me."

"Uh, we just did," Jesse said, and angled his head toward the massive white RV looming in the background.

While Grady didn't plan on imbibing, he followed Jimmy and Jesse to the RV just to monitor the situation. Besides, he wanted to get out of the controlled chaos and head into the quiet trailer. He didn't want to admit it, but he was nervous too. Rehearsals were one thing, but this was the real deal.

Grady looked around for Arabella as they walked across the lawn, but he failed to spot her. For some reason, he felt anxious without her by his side. He'd grown used to having her with him. Just seeing her walk into a room made him smile. While they'd been apart for so long and so much had happened in their lives, the gap seemed to be closing, and in some ways he felt as if they'd never been apart.

"No thanks," Grady said when Jesse passed him the pint-size bottle. But when Jimmy took a swig and sighed with relief, Grady reluctantly reached for the Fireball. The cinnamon whiskey slid down his throat, leaving a trail of heat, but he had to admit that it tasted damned good. "You guys are such enablers."