Page 63 of Something that Could Last

Luke finally returns with our drinks as the song comes to an end. “Okay, folks, we’re gonna take a little break. We’ll be back in ten,” Ethan announces and jumps off the stage, heading straight towards us.

“Hey, sis.” He gives Abby a brotherly side hug. “Tiffany,” he greets stiffly, barely glancing in her direction. She just smiles weakly and goes back to sipping her drink. “Who’re your friends?”

“Ethan, this is Jacob,” Abby introduces us, and I reach out to shake his hand.

“Nice to meet you. Abby’s told me a lot about you.” He smiles wryly and glances at Abby as a blush slowly creeps up her cheeks. She obviously hasn’t told him about me. That shouldn’t sting nearly as much as it does.

“And this is Luke.” Ethan reaches out and shakes Luke’s hand, nodding curtly. He says nothing, keeping his jaw clenched tightly shut. Tiff mouths something to him, but I don’t quite catch her words. “They’re visiting from Arlington,” Abby continues, unaware of the tense exchange.

“Arlington? You’re a long way from home.” He eyes us, his words tinged with suspicion.

“Yeah, just needed to get away, ya know?” Luke responds, although Ethan barely acknowledges him when he speaks.

“Well, you guys enjoy the show. I’m gonna grab a drink before I have to go back on. Maybe I can get Shelly to slip a little Jack in my Coke.” He winks, smiling wryly at his sister. She smacks his arm and gives him a scolding look before he heads towards the bar, disappearing into the crowd.

After a short break, the band returns to the stage and plays a couple more fast-paced songs. “We’re gonna slow things down a little bit for this next one,” Ethan announces into the mic as he drags two stools out onto the stage. “But I’m gonna need help from someone in the audience who knows this song.” Excited murmurs fill the space, everyone dying to know who he’s going to pick as he looks out over the crowd like he’s searching for someone. He’s got a shit-eating grin stretched across his face, mischief gleaming in his eyes. “You guys are in luck because we have the two-time Fayette County Talent Show winner here with us tonight,” he broadcasts excitedly, and the crowd begins to cheer and look around.

Abby turns to look at Tiff as all the color drains out of her face. Tiff’s eyes bulge with shock. She looks back and forth between Abby and the stage, panic marring her features.

“Everybody, please join me in welcoming Miss Tiffany Caseman to the stage.” Ethan leads the crowd in a round of applause. People begin to hoot and holler, beckoning Tiff to the stage.

“Come on, Tiff,” Abby urges. “Everybody wants to hear you sing.”

Tiff remains glued to her seat, her shocked expression unchanging. Finally, she breaks out of her haze and glances around. Seeing that everyone within eyesight is watching her and cheering her on, she smiles timidly and stands up. This sudden shyness is in stark contrast to the confident vixen I know her to be. The cheers grow louder as she walks to the stage and climbs the stairs leading up to the band. She and Ethan sit atop the two stools as a stagehand places a mic stand in front of each of them. She glances over at Ethan with a pleading look, but he just smirks at her and grabs his guitar.

Someone begins to play the piano as Ethan strums a few slow notes on his guitar. The medley itself sounds like pain and want and need, haunting and hopeful at the same time.

Abby turns to me, her eyes lighting up. “I love this song.”

“What is it?” The opening cord is unfamiliar, a song I’ve never heard before.

“‘Poison and Wine’ by The Civil Wars.”

Just then, Ethan’s voice carries over the sound system. He only sings one line before Tiff comes in, her soft, sweet voice floating over the words like a butterfly’s wings. They go back and forth, line for line, singing their parts to perfection. Together, they sing the chorus, harmonizing like lovers, two people who know every cadence and tone of each other’s voice.

They glance at each other every now and then during the next verse, but when Ethan sings the last line, he looks directly into her eyes. A promise. A regret. Something they can’t take back.

Simple. Arduous. Poignant.

At these words, she can’t look away and neither can he. They repeat the chorus over and over, claiming not to love each other, but promising to always do so. When the song ends, a hush falls over the crowd and their gazes remain locked on each other. A few seconds pass without a sound before the room erupts, cheers and clapping drowning out all other sounds. Ethan and Tiff don’t even flinch at the cacophony of their enraptured audience. It takes a moment for their hypnotic hold on each other to break.

“Wow, those two really know how to perform,” Abby leans over and says to me above the roar of the crowd.

That didn’t look like a performance to me. I can’t say for sure, but my gut tells me there’s more to their connection than just music. But I let it go.

“You were amazing.” Abby pulls her friend in for a hug when Tiff returns to our table.

“Thanks,” Tiff replies dispassionately.

Luke and I head to the bar to grab another round of drinks. “Man, Tiff’s really got a set of pipes on her, huh?” Luke throws back a shot and orders another. “I mean, I already knew that,” he says suggestively, playfully elbowing me in the side. “But seriously, it’s a lot different hearing her sing on stage with music and everything.”

I nod my agreement and head back to our table. After a few more rounds of drinks and a few more songs, the band decides to slow things down again.

“Alright fellas, I’m gonna help y’all out right now.” Ethan’s lopsided grin elicits cheers and whistles from the females in the crowd. “Grab your honies and head to the dance floor for some Florida Georgia Line.” The audience erupts in excitement.Must be a popular band.“This one here is called ‘Dirt.’”

I may not know this song, but I’m not about to miss out on an opportunity to slow dance with Abby. I grab her hand and lead her onto the dance floor, pulling her in close and listening to the words of the song. We’re both silent as I soak in their meaning, realizing how close they are to how I feel about her. I can see myself settling down with her one day. I know it hasn’t been long, but she’s it for me. I place one hand on her back and grip her free hand with mine as she rests her cheek on my chest. I bask in the warmth of her body and her sweet scent.

When the song is over, we return to our table just as Tiff and Luke slide back into their chairs. I’m a little shocked that Luke slow danced with someone, but then again, he’s surprised me a couple times this week.

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