Page 2 of Play For Me
“I’ve been through that stage many times with my nieces and nephews. They definitely keep you on your toes at that age.” We step outside, and the warm, salty air hits our skin. My body automatically takes a deep inhale of the ocean breeze.
God, it feels good to be back here.
The timing feels right. I can’t explain it, but I know I need to be here.
“Make sure to give them a hug for me and tell your beautiful wife, Emma, that I said hi,” I say, as he starts walking down the wooden stairs, avoiding the worn wood that looks questionable on whether it will hold his weight.
“Will do.” His eyes light up at the mention of his wife. It’s the same kind of light my three brothers have whenever one of their wives is mentioned. I’m beginning to think I'm destined for the single life, and it just isn't in the cards for me to settle down and get married. Even after all the girls I have met, not one has made me feel even half of what they have in their marriages.
Noah and I say goodbye before he heads to his truck and drives away. I watch him until there is nothing left but a swirl of dust on the gravel road as he winds down the hill toward town.
Turning, I walk back inside and look around once more at the place that will become my next chapter in life. I can picture it clear as day with gleaming wood and a packed crowd enjoying the live music on a Friday night. I can still enjoy my love of music and play on stage whenever I get the urge. I’ve missed themore intimate settings without all the lights and loud distractions. It will be nice to reconnect with the locals again on a more personal level. I’ll even get the band back together from time to time when they are in town and draw the crowd in from surrounding areas.
Walking toward the stage, my worn-out laced boots thud across the scuffed dance floor as I head toward the kitchen. Old appliances line the walls, coated with years of grease from the typical bar menus of burgers and fries.
I have no desire to get into the restaurant side of the business, so I plan on tearing this all out and putting in pool tables and a couple of dart boards. To help out local businesses around the area, I’ll rotate a couple of food trucks parked off the side deck for those who want to eat.
Switching off the lights, I go back out front and make sure everything is all locked up before heading down the stairs to the parking lot. My boots crunch on the crushed-up shells under my feet as my bike comes into view.
Just one more thing I missed while being on the road all the time…my black beauty. I got her when we landed our first real paying gig playing for a local restaurant every Friday night. My mom was totally against it at first, but learned early on with four sons that sometimes you just have to surrender and trust that everything is going to be okay…that and a lot of prayers and wine over the years.
With my oldest brother, Travis, owning a bike and my younger brother, Ryder, with his love for fast cars, I’m sure we kept our parents up late more often than not with worry. We always joke that God had to give her one son, who wasn’t a thrill seeker, because having four would just be flat-out mean.
Enter Jake, my other older brother, and grounded as they come. He wouldn’t even touch a roller coaster when we wereyoung, let alone trust a pile of metal and flammable liquid between his legs as he speeds down the road.
He was Mom’s reprieve and took on the protective role for all of us growing up. With all my brothers married now with families, his job has gotten easier, but as busy as he is with a four-year-old and one on the way, he still finds the time to ride my ass about settling down and hanging up my helmet for a morereliablemode of transportation.
I throw my black-clad leg over my bike and sink onto the leather seat. Just the feel of the bike under me sends a spark of excitement shooting through me. I secure my dark black helmet and bring her to life—my ink-covered hands grip tightly as I rev up my favorite sound.
Sorry, Jake.
Buying a dive bar is about as settled as I’m going to get, and no way in hell am I parting from the one girl in my life who always makes me feel alive.
I toe the kickstand with my boot and gun the shiny black bike as I fishtail it out of the parking lot before shooting down the road, leaving a dust cloud in my wake.
Taking the coastal road home, I hug the turns as adrenaline races through my veins. My body is flooded with a high as the salty air whips against my t-shirt. The vast ocean to my left is a blue blur as I test the limits and enjoy the powerful beast beneath me.
I spot a red jeep off to the side of the road in the distance and slow down as I approach it. There’s not a lot of traffic on this stretch of road unless you are headed home and live in one of the houses sitting high up overlooking the water.
I notice the front tire is flat and slow to a stop to see if they need help. Turning off my engine, the hairs on my arm stand up, and I get a weird feeling in my stomach. I feel a strong pulltoward the direction of the vehicle, like a magnetic energy that wants to connect strongly to something.
Movement from the back of the jeep catches my eye, and long, tanned legs meet my vision as she bends over and searches for something in the vehicle.
She’s wearing cut-off black jean shorts that hug an ass most men would drop to their knees for. I remove my helmet, running a hand through my dark black hair before securing it on my bike and heading her way. The need to see who she is sends an intoxicating rush of excitement throughout my body.
She’s so engrossed in what she’s doing that she doesn’t hear me approach her as I admire the view a little bit longer before finally speaking.
“Do you need any help with that flat tire?”
She jumps at the sound of my voice and twirls around to meet me. I blink in shock at her beauty as light hazel eyes capture mine and widen in surprise. Her long blonde hair hangs in loose waves down the front of her white tank top. I feel my fingers twitch at my side as they beg to see if it’s as soft as it looks.
Her eyes roam over me as she takes me in. A grin stretches across my face as they linger on me longer than what should be necessary. When she finally meets my gaze, her eyes narrow at me, which should cause me to stop the smile on my lips, but I can’t help it. I love a good challenge, and something tells me she’s got a little fire in her as I take in the heated stare she’s giving me.
“Thank you for stopping, but I’m good.” She turns and goes back to moving boxes around and peering under things.
“It’s in the floor panel.”
“What is?” She turns at the sound of my voice, clearly agitated that I’m still standing here.
