Page 46 of Street of Dreams
Mac thanked the crowd of people that surrounded him, humbled at the applause and overwhelmed by the cash in his guitar case. More and more people have been showing up on Street of Dreams lately. The new faces not only padded his wallet but brought business to the other street vendors as well. A girl standing in front of him wore a bright pink scarf from Hector’s table, while her boyfriend ate a hot dog from Ralph’s.
“We caught your show downtown last week,” the girl said. “A regular told us you play Street of Dreams every day between ten and two, so we thought we’d come by.”
“A regular?” Mac asked, quirking his brow.
“Yeah.” The girl pointed down the street. “That’s her. We see her at all of your shows.”
It was Skylar, but Mac already knew that, and he smiled at his best friend. She noticed and came over to where Mac was talking with the couple.
“You guys came.” Skylar offered them a warm smile.
“After the way you talked up this acoustic set, we had to,” the guy replied, then addressed Mac directly. “That was so different than in a club with the blaring amplifiers. You sounded so authentic. I gotta tell you, I was a little worried about coming to this section of Chicago, but it was well worth it.” He looked up and down the block. “I’ve heard about this place. Street of Dreams. It’s really something to see.” He threw a few dollars into the open guitar case at Mac’s feet. “See you at the next show.”
“Thanks, man. Appreciate it.” Mac watched them walk away before turning to Skylar and thanking her as well. “You too. I feel like I have a career in music now instead of just playing for tips, because of your hard work.”
“You’re the one doing all the hard work,” Skylar replied. “This is a learning experience for me. And Mateo. He’s helping me strategize and we’re bonding.”
“Thank him for me too. We need to have dinner again soon.” Mac wanted to get to know Skylar’s boyfriend better. Between the gigs, singing on Street of Dreams, his job at the pub, and time spent with Jake, Mac had very little free time. He did manage to have dinner with Skylar and her boyfriend a few times and a movie one night, though. It was clear that Skylar was crazy about Mateo, and that he adored her. And Mac was happy for his best friend. “I’m glad you met him. You guys are perfect for one another.”
She let out a dreamy sigh. “We are. And what about you? Are you happy?”
“Of course! You see the reception I’m getting from people. They love my music!”
She placed her hand on her hip and tilted her head. “You know what I’m talking about.WhoI’m talking about. Is he good to you?”
There was disapproval in her voice, or maybe it was disbelief. “You don’t know Jake,” Mac said, a little too defensively. “He’s really sweet.”
“Sweet? You’re telling me that Jake King is sweet?”
“He is. And, yes, he’s good to me. You’ve seen my car. That’s all on him. He’s doing it for free. And paying for the parts.”
Skylar opened her mouth to say something, but Mac didn’t give her a chance.
“It’s not just about money. He made me breakfast. Eggs benedict.”
Her perfectly shaped brows shot up on her forehead. “Jake made you eggs benedict? From scratch?”
“Yeah. He cooks. He makes breakfast for his little brother every morning. I was just as surprised as you.”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I feel like I’ve fallen into an alternate universe.”
“Don’t say anything,” Mac warned, spotting Jake and his brothers. “They’re here.”
While the twins hung back and spoke to the flower guy, Jake headed straight for Mac. He ambled down the street with a cigarette clamped between his lips and his gaze locked on Mac. His fingertips were stuffed into the front pockets of his jeans. His posture caused the worn leather motorcycle jacket to open just enough to showcase the way the taut white T-shirt pulled across his chest. He began to smile, and the cigarette bobbed between his lips. “Aren’t you supposed to be singing something, Mackenzie? Or do people just throw money at you for looking pretty?”
Jake thinks I look pretty,was Mac’s only thought, and he displayed a broad smile. “What do you want to hear?”
“I want to hear the sound of cash hitting the palm of my hand.”
Mac almost forgot it was collection day. He opened his sporran, which overflowed with cash, and fished out his weekly payment.
Jake took a long drag from his cigarette while he stared at the sporran, which happened to be right at Mac’s crotch. “Looks like you got a full package.” Then he smiled and blew the smoke up to the sky.
Mac chuckled. He felt Skylar’s eyes dart between himself and Jake and back again, and they both looked at her.
She flustered and picked up a stack of CD’s. “Um. I’m going to hand these out.” And then she briskly walked away.
“Does she not like me or something?” Jake asked, watching her shoot down the block, his ego bruised.
