Page 105 of Courageous Hearts

Bridget hangs the silver dress back on the rack and proceeds to pull on the gorgeous blue gown while I finish doing my makeup in front of the large vanity mirrors in the dressing room. Ishani is sitting beside me.

It’s been over a week since the incident inside Gertie’s. Bridget has been adamant that she’s fine. In fact, out of everyone, I think Missa was hit the hardest. She apologized profusely to the staff in a meeting earlier this week and has since hired security in the form of a bouncer. It’s likely overkill, seeing as our clientele is generally not the disruptive type, but Missa is not to be deterred.

I appreciate that she cares so much about our safety.

“You look fierce tonight, Bo,” Bridget says, zipping up her gown.

I sweep an eye over my fire-engine-red suit, cut in a slimming, fitted style, and the black bowler hat atop my head before catching Bridget’s eye in the mirror. “Thanks, Bridge.”

She gives me a proud, beaming smile.

Makeup in place, I stand up. “I’m gonna catch Jamie before the show.”

Bridget makes an obnoxious kissing noise as I head toward the door, and I shake my head, chuckling as Ishani’s laughter reaches my ears.

The hall is densely packed when I step outside the dressing room—it is a Friday right before showtime, after all. But before I can make my way past the crowd into the main part of the bar, my phone rings. I pull it from my pocket, answering the call immediately when I see Cooper’s name. I step inside the storage room for some privacy.

“Hey, Coop.”

“Hey there, Bo. Sorry for calling so close to showtime, but I wanted to let you know I wouldn’t be able to talk later tonight,” he says.

“Everythin’ all right?” I ask in concern.

He huffs. “Not really. We’re all fine people-wise,” he rushes to say. “But there’s been a bit of a vet emergency. Apparently this guy who lived way back at the edge of town was hoarding animals. Like, a lot of animals. I’m here now, and there has to be over 500.”

“Holy shit,” I mutter, hearing a baa on the other end of the line.

“No kidding. It’s a mess. Doc Hanson is working with animal control units and veterinarians towns away to get this all sorted. He even called in help from an old employee of his.”

“Harrison?” I ask.

“How’d you know?” Cooper replies in surprise.

“I, uh, remember him.”

Used to have a crush on him is more like it. Harrison lived in Plum Valley for two years back when I was Bobby. He was way older than me and dating Will’s pop, Wyatt, at the time—plus my hormonal teenage feelings toward him were wrapped up in a lot of shame over hiding my sexuality—but I still remember the man.

“Yeah, well, the whole cavalry is being called in,” Cooper says a little glumly. “The animals are in really bad shape.”

“I’m sorry, Coop,” I say, knowing that must be hard on my tenderhearted sibling. “Lemme know if you need anythin’, all right?”

“I will. And I’ll call to catch up soon. Once this is sorted.”

“Sounds good,” I reply. “Love ya, Coop. Talk soon.”

“Love you, too, Bo. Bye.”

When Cooper hangs up, I take a deep breath. I’ll call Sara tomorrow and see if she can check in on Coop and his guys over the next few days. I’m sure she would be more than happy to drop off some dinner or help however she can.

Plan in place, I pocket my phone. When I glance up, my eyes catch on a case of Jameson whiskey on the shelf in front of me. I snort at the reminder of the person I was on my way to see before Cooper’s call waylaid me. I can still remember sitting in almost this exact same spot, crying over my conversation with Diesel, when Jameson walked in and comforted me. We’d barely even known each other at the time, but he didn’t hesitate to do his best to make me feel better.

He always seems to know exactly how to accomplish that.

A little smile on my face, I step out into the hall, intent on finding my boyfriend. I came to work extra early today to get some rehearsing in, so it’s been hours since I last saw him. But when I round the corner into the bar, I spot him in an instant, sitting at a table nearby. I don’t stop to think why that is. I simply strut right up to my man, loop my arms around his neck, and swing onto his lap with a grin.

The moment I do, we both freeze.

Eyes wide, not-Jameson blinks at me, and I jump up as if my ass is on fire.

---