Page 139 of Debts and Desires
“Who was the woman?” she asked, citing my song.
“Mama.”
55. RECON-CONSONANCE
November 30
Day Ninety-Five
Today was Carter’s thirty-first birthday. But he didn’t want to make it a big deal and asked me not to either. I only half promised, waking him up with a deep throat blowjob and then making him breakfast. I also made some cupcakes, telling him he could put the icing on me and lick it off. He was all for birthday celebrations then.
It was almost December now, still chilly, but not nearly as much as I was used to up in New York. We were meeting Tyler at a bar in Macon to do some recon, as he put it. He wanted to get a feel for what other bars were doing. It was an hour and a half ride from Hudsonville. I didn’t know why we had to go so far, but Carter said it was because Macon was a bigger city, and Tyler had been wanting to draw more people into Pete’s, wanting to open a few more locations.
Once we parked, we both looked it over. From the outside I noticed The Calliope Taproom was a lot bigger than Pete’s. It had a paved parking area, which was nice in comparison to the gravel at our home base. The white washed bricks and black lettering made it look hip and modern.
“Is Ty here?” I asked. Carter’s eyes swept the somewhat empty parking lot, then he inclined his head to a black truck closer to the bar.
“Yeah. Let’s go.” Carter got out and came around. He opened the truck door, stopping me from exiting. “Forgot to tell ya. This ain’t a recon. You, Ty, and me’re performin’ here tonight.”
“What?!” My heart was in my throat. “Carter, please tell me you’re kidding.” He shook his head. “I don’t even have my guitar.” He went to the bed of his truck, pulling both his and my guitar case out. “We don’t have a setlist.”
“It’s taken care of.”
“We haven’t practiced!”
“You don’t need to.”
“But do you?”
“Nope. We did just fine last time.”
“Carter.”
“Emogen.” I glared at him. This was the first time in three days in the midst of shark week that I wanted to do anything. I would’ve said no, but Ty said he absolutely needed us, the lying traitor.
Carter sighed. “It’s gonna be fine. Ty set everythin’ up. We’re here early. We have time to go over shit if you want. Everythin’s gonna be fine, okay? Trust me.” I glanced at the time on my phone. We would have two hours.
“That’s asking a lot, considering everything else,” I grumbled. He gave a defeated sigh, and I knew my words hadn’t been fair. It was only partially his fault that Mac ate my birth control. And all the doctors I’d called around hadn’t called me back. I’d been bitchy about it the last few days, letting him knowexactlyhow I felt by bringing it all back up again.
“I know it is. You told me you wished you could play for a bigger crowd. But you’d’ve said no if I asked about tonight and you know you would’ve,” he said, giving pouty lips. “Please, baby? We’re already here.” Then the bag of dicks added, “Plus, itismy birthday.”
“Fine. But let’s go before I change my mind.” Carter’s smilegrew. And he led me in. The bar was still quiet, but I knew soon it wouldn’t be.
Even though I knew we weren’t really there for recon, I still looked around. The Calliope Taproom was a little more modernized, but it didn’t have the same welcoming charm that Pete’s did.
There were tall, black tables with stools scattered, black booths along the walls, a high ceiling, and an open kitchen area. A few large, flat screen TVs hung from the wall around. The floors were black and white tile, and the walls were exposed brick, a lot of it painted black or white.
Tyler was sitting at a booth in the back corner, smiling and then standing when he saw us. He gave a hug to me and nodded to Carter.
“What’re we singin’ tonight, Em?” Tyler asked.
“Hi, to you, too, traitor,” I greeted, and Ty grinned. “Carter’s singing. I’m just helping,” I announced, earning me a warning glare from my boyfriend. Tyler’s brows rose before looking at me.
“Wait, you are?” Ty asked. I nodded.
“Emmyis,” Carter growled. I crossed my arms.
“Why do I have to? Why can’t you?”
