Page 19 of Tight End

It’s ridiculous to think he can see me all the way up here, although maybe Lane told him I’d be with Bryce, Jase, and Lucas in the suite. My palms start to sweat, and I rub them down the front of my jeans.

Then the spell is broken without warning and he strides across the stage, focused on the thousands of other pairs ofeyes anxiously drinking him in as the band finishes their final song.

Chase turns, a wide smile on his face. “That was so incredible. They’re amazing.” He looks at Jase and Bryce. “I can’t thank you guys enough for the chance to see them tonight.”

I clap a hand on my brother’s shoulder. “Good celebration surprise?”

“The best.”

“How about we keep the surprise going?” Jase winks at me. “You up for it?”

My heart lodges in my throat, anticipation putting me in a tight chokehold. “What’d you have in mind?”

“There’s a place not too far from here. Doc’s Corner Tavern. The guys like to unwind there whenever they play Oakland. It’s kind of a dive where they can get lost and just chill without anyone bothering them. You guys down?” Bryce looks between us.

Chase’s eyes practically pop out of his skull. “Hell yeah, we are.”

I lift an eyebrow. “Don’t you have to be at the hospital early tomorrow?”

My brother rolls his eyes. “I’ll catch up on sleep in the on-call room, like I usually do.”

“I’m sure your patients will be so excited to hear that. Here’s hoping they get youafterthat nap.” Lucas smirks and holds up a beer bottle.

“I’m a fifth year resident. I’ve learned how to operate on no sleep.” He smirks. “Let’s fucking go!”

We pile into the waiting Escalade and it takes us through one of the rougher parts of the city, one I’m not really familiar with and I’ve lived in the area for years. The truck stops alongside a black cement building. Jase pushes open the door and jumps out, followed by Bryce and Lucas.

“Holy shit, I can’t believe we’re going to meet the band,” Chase mutters. “How fucking cool is this?”

That’s when Bryce’s earlier words blare out in my mind.

“Listen, don’t fanboy too hard. I heard Brixton’s had kind of a tough time lately. Turns out the night I met him, his brother died.”

“So it’s two years for him too,” Chase muses. “That really sucks.”

“Tell me about it. I can’t imagine how things would be without you.” I shrug. “So, ya know, just keep it cool. I don’t even know if he’ll show up with the rest of the guys.”

“Got it.” Chase slides across the bench seat and hops out of the truck.

I follow Chase into the bar, struggling to move my feet since they keep getting stuck on the sticky floor. Dark walls and low purplish-blue light give the place an ominous feel. The bar is packed with tough-looking guys in leather cuts and stringy beards shooting drinks. Nobody turns to look at us when we walk in, nobody gives us a glance as we file into a roped-off corner lined with dark velvet couches riddled with burn marks.

Since smoking in bars has been banned for a long damn time, I’ve gotta wonder what decade the furniture’s from…and how much activity these couches have gotten over those years. Jase hails someone over and a minute later, a few buckets of beers show up at the table.

I grab one and pop off the top before taking a long gulp. The cool liquid lands in my empty stomach, and I really wish I’d have eaten something back at the arena suite. The last thing I had today was a steak right after the game with Chase and my parents, but that was hours ago.

Chase nudges me. “Don’t look now but the band just showed up.”

My head jerks in the direction of the three guys walking toward the bouncer and the rope.

Three.

My gut plummets into my shoes.

“I guess you were right,” Chase says under his breath. “He didn’t show up after all.”

“Can’t blame the guy.” I force out the words, inexplicably disappointed that I won’t see him. For all this time, I really believed we’d find each other again when the timing was right.

But I guess when the door closes, you’ve gotta say goodbye.

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