Page 5 of High Note

Kirsten shrugged, opened her hands, and nodded. “And that, my loves, was the perfect ending. You girls have a good night. I’ll be back Thursday.”

Shit. Now she felt like a douche.

“You want a box for that?” the server who had been refilling her Diet Coke asked.

“I would. I would also love to buy the entertainer a drink, if she’ll stick around to have it. I feel awful.”

“Nonsense. That was amazing! You have a gorgeous voice. I’ll see if Kirsten’s sticking around. Evie and Chey left already, and I don’t see either Cassie or Devon…”

Obviously, this was a regular thing. It was fucking adorable.

“Thanks. I appreciate it.” It was the least she could do. Well, that and put a tip in the tip jar, which she should get up and do, but then that would just call more attention to herself.

The waitress went to talk to the guitar player, who glanced over at her, said a few more words, and then waited for a to-go box and a glass of Coke.

Then she brought the box right to Skyla, calm as anything.

“Hey, there. Thanks for the drink.” Kirsten the singer lifted her glass, then handed Skyla the to-go box.

“You’re welcome. Lord, I’m sorry about that, but man, you can pick.” That was the truth, so why not say it? She loved a musician, even if they weren’t singing in her genre. It was a thing. She gave credit where credit was due. God knew, this business was tough enough on women without them duking it out on each other.

“No worries, and thanks.” Kirsten’s voice wasn’t any less husky off stage, but it wasn’t vocal shred. It wasn’t taught.

“No problem. I like some good bar music.” She gave Kirsten a sunny smile because she was feeling good. Mellow. Jack and Coke and pizza did that to a girl.

“Well, they have a DJ on Friday and Saturday, and there’s open mic on Sunday.”

“Where else do you play?” It popped out, and she didn’t really want to take too much time to analyze that right now.

“I don’t.” She got a wry chuckle. “I teach acoustic, bass, mandolin. I wait tables here a couple of nights a week. Not many places here desperately need a girl with a guitar.”

“Oh.” Her cheeks heated. “I just figured with the ski lodge there would be bars and coffee shops.”

“Nope. The ski lodge is little, but Summit Springs is tiny. I hope you have fun. There’s a bunch of outdoor sports stuff to do.”

“My band all want to go skiing.” Skylar was more the hot buttered rum in the hot tub type.

“M&M Outfitters. They’re the best in town. They have packages and shit.”

“Thanks. I’ll check in with them in the morning.” She sipped her drink. “Though I got to say, I could just sit here and wait for lunch tomorrow.”

“You’ll find it’s a little dark around three a.m.” Kirsten teased, offering a wink. “Do you need me to have Cherry call you an Uber?”

“Oh, I didn’t drive.” She grinned. “I can get back, though, thanks.”

“Good deal. It’s not scary out there. Just watch the ice.” Kirsten nodded and drained her Coke. “Have a good one and enjoy your vacation.”

“Thanks.” She wanted, badly, to ask Kirsten to stay, to sit with her and shoot the shit, but that was presumptuous and probably weird and too fast and clingy. She just loved other musicians, that was all.

It was weird, wasn’t it? How much it seemed as if being famous was all about thousands of friends.

It was a little lonely.

“Night.” Kirsten went to grab her guitar, and that meant it was time to pack it in and go back to the rental house. She needed a shower. And maybe her vibrator.

She could imagine a long hard-body drink of water touching her and making her sing.

In fact, between that and the Jack, she was getting warm enough to walk back.

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