Mending Heartstrings by Aria Glazki

Author:Aria Glazki
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: music romance, longdistance relationship, country singer, longdistance romance
Publisher: Aria Glazki

Sixteen

When they arrived in Sacramento, they drove directly to the Firedance Lounge, to set up and do a sound check before the evening rush. Settled in a booth with her laptop, out of the way of all the equipment and instruments, Sabella alternated between trying to write another one of her previously pitched articles and taking notes on the bustling activity that seemed to fill the club despite a scarcity of patrons. A busboy collected strewn-about dishes, while dancing to music only he could hear; a few college kids studied at a table masked by a layer of books; a waitress and bartender played cards by the bar in between mixing and delivering drinks; and another waitress argued with someone in hushed tones over the phone. At one point, Bobby slipped in beside Sabella. He started asking about her work, but a shout from Steve called him back to the stage.

Like true older brothers, Kane and Steve made noises about Bobby slacking off, but in reality the equipment was set up swiftly, and soon they all headed out to free the club for the patrons. They had ordered off the club’s menu before leaving, and a busty waitress brought their orders out to the tour bus, which was taking up most of the employee lot. It took her a few trips to bring everything out, but her smile lit up to mega-watt status whenever Bobby spoke to her, so she had likely forgotten specifically his drink order on purpose.

Mitch checked in with them as they were finishing up, but he soon left again, to “get a feel for the crowd.” Steve and Bobby pulled out their deck of cards, and Kane sprawled on the bed in the back of the bus. He had left both separating doors open, so they could hear him strumming a melody Sabella didn’t recognize.

Sabella moved to the driver’s seat, swiveling it around so she could observe the scene. The entire setup felt casually habitual, as if the men had done the exact same thing dozens of times before, and they probably had.

Eventually, despite the dubious protection of her laptop, Steve noticed her watching him and Bobby. “You wanna play?” he invited.

Bobby twisted in the booth so he, too, could see her. “Yeah, c’mon, Sabella. If I gotta lose, might as well be while lookin’ at you,” he added with his customary grin.

Sabella shut her laptop and stood, setting the computer on the counter before joining them. “That waitress might mind if she catches me near you,” she teased Bobby, who actually blushed.

Steve chuckled, and the continuing banter drew Kane out to join them. They played a rowdy, prolonged game of Egyptian Ratscrew, which Sabella hadn’t played since summer camp many years ago. Bobby was trying to slap back in when Mitch rejoined them.

“Showtime,” Kane said. Efficiently, the cards were swept off the table, Kane and Bobby gathered their guitars, and Steve picked up the sticks he had left on the seat beside him. Instinctively adhering to ingrained manners, all of the men waited for Sabella to leave the bus first.

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