Rough Around the Soul by Maria Monroe

Author:Maria Monroe [Monroe, Maria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-04-17T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven – Jake

“Jake! When you coming back to Chicago?” My buddy Saul from back home answers my call right away. We grew up together on the north side of Chicago, and we’ve been friends ever since. He runs a few bars in the city, and I’m calling for a favor.

“Soon, man. I’m just doing some shit for my uncle. You know.” I open a beer and walk to the window, looking out at the dirty street.

“You doing OK? How’s your mom?”

“Yeah. Fine. We’re fine.” Truth is, I haven’t really spoken to my mom in a while, but I don’t want to get into it, so I change the subject fast. “Dude, I got a favor to ask.”

“Yeah? Anything, man. What do you need?”

“Any chance you’ve heard something about Station Gray playing anywhere soon?”

“You fucking got ESP or shit?” Saul laughs loudly.

“Huh?”

“Fucking ESP? You read minds or whatever?”

“No, man, why? They playing at one of your clubs?” Yes. I grin and swig some beer.

“Dude, yeah. They’re going to be at Velvet, uh, Friday night. Eleven. They’re gonna fucking pack the place, but I’ll save a table for you. Bringing someone?”

I clear my throat. “Yeah.”

“A date?”

“Yup.”

“Aw, Jakey!” He sounds way too excited. “Dude, you haven’t brought a fucking date date around in, like, years. Getting tired of mindless flings or what?”

“Something like that,” I mutter.

“She from that fucking little town you’re working in?”

“Yeah.”

“Nice. Bring her to Chicago, show her the city. Glad you thought of taking her to my place, Jake.”

“She’s a huge Station Gray fan,” I tell him.

“Good taste, man. Except for being with you.” He guffaws. “So I’ll see you Friday?”

“Yeah. Thanks.” I hang up, thinking of what Melanie’s face will look like when she realizes we’re going to see Station Gray live.

~~~~

I debate the intelligence of taking Melanie to Chicago, to a bar where she’ll be underage. But honestly, it doesn’t take me long to make up my mind. Getting her away from Bells Park, even for one night, and taking her to see her favorite band ever will be amazing. Maybe it will make up for some of the things she hasn’t been able to do. For the things she’s missed out on.

And I’d be lying if I said I couldn’t wait to get her away from here, somewhere we can be together and not worry about who sees us.

I pick her up outside the antique shop. I would have picked her up at home, would have risked her mother seeing us, but Melanie insisted I meet her here. She smiles the second she sees me pull up, an expression so bright it’s visible even through the cloudy glass of the front door.

She looks fucking amazing. Tight jeans. Those boots again. Hair shiny and straight. Red, red lips. And that sweater, that white sweater she was wearing the first time I met her.

I take off the second she gets in the car, then feel shitty for driving away so fast, mostly out of fear of being seen, but she doesn’t seem to notice.

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