Night Shifts Black (28 page)

I nod. I don’t know
what that means.

“I like your…” She
hesitates, unable to even vaguely disguise her disgust and confusion at my
existence.

“Boyfriend?” I finish
for her. “Yeah, I know. He’s amazing. I don’t blame you.”

She almost chokes. I
can feel the others’ shock, but know I guessed right when her eyes narrow and
she mutters some unintelligible retort. Finally, she spins and marches back to
her table.

“Oh man, that was
awesome!” Sweeny laughs.

“You’re my hero,
Callie!” Eli echoes, slamming his fist on the table.

I grin, and steal a
glance at Casey who is still shaking his head in amused disbelief.

“Dude, she is it,”
Sweeny continues, pointing at me, and I squeeze Casey’s hand.

“Thanks, Callie,” he
whispers, his face broadcasting everything I need to know.

I nod, then grow
serious.

“What exactly is a
Bella Amberosi?” I ask, and they laugh.

∞∞∞

Casey and Luke order what seems like the
entire menu of appetizers, and I’m blown away by each one. I can still feel
Jana’s hostile gaze from across the room, but I don’t let it poison the
incredible food.

The guys weren’t
kidding about 49
^th
& Finch’s bar food. The wings, the pretzels,
sliders, everything I try is a familiar flavor, but completely different at the
same time. I realize I was right on with my joke that they’ve simply upgraded
the same food they ate when they were a poor garage band crashing in cheap
motels.

Casey orders a couple bottles
of that champagne I liked at Luke’s party, and I love that he remembers my
reaction to it. He pours a glass for all of us, and we toast Friday’s return to
the studio.

As the night wears on,
I settle into my seat and study each of them in silence. Sweeny and Eli seem
like good guys, down-to-earth and passionate, but clearly not in the same
league as Casey and Luke. There’s no question in my mind where the heart and
soul of Night Shifts Black is. It makes sense, given the band’s history I’m
starting to piece together.

Based on the clues
I’ve assembled, it seems that Casey and Luke started playing together when Casey
was fifteen and Luke was seventeen. Whether they were serious or not, or had
other band-mates at that time, I don’t know, but Sweeny and Eli would have come
into the picture two years later. They’ve put out four albums together since
then, and I remember the first one being dated seven years ago, with the second
one the following year. Several of the songs were the same on both, but the
newer one sounded much fuller and more professional to me. I’m guessing that’s
when they signed with their mega Label. Since then, they’d done two more
albums, the last one going platinum and winning them a Grammy. I remember
something about an Academy Award for a song in a movie as well, but I can’t
remember which song or what movie. I never pay much attention to all those
award shows.

My stomach flutters
when it suddenly occurs to me I might have to start. I glance over at Casey and
realize I may even have to attend one. I’m still pretty sure I’m sleeping, and
yet, at the same time, it’s almost like the rest of my life was the dream.
Casey credits me with bringing Luke back to life and Luke credits me with
inspiring Casey again. But what about what they both did for me?

I feel alive for once.
Awake. I have hope, purpose. Value. Not because I’m the girlfriend of a rock
star, but because I’m somebody who can love enough to make an impact. Because I
can create. Because I’m a whole person even if some of the parts are broken.
I’m Callie Roland, friend, counselor, inspiration. Writer. I’m Callie Roland
and I’m someone.

∞∞∞

After several more bottles of alcohol, and way
more food than we should have eaten, we eventually lose Eli and Sweeny to a
table of single women.

Casey excuses himself
to the restroom, and Luke leans back in his seat.

“So…” he says,
glancing over at me with a smile.

“So…” I answer,
returning it.

“We’ve come a long way
since breakfast club, huh?”

I laugh and lean back
as well. “I’d say. Although Jemma’s made a killer cup of tea.”

Luke grins. “I’ll find
you a suitable replacement. I promise.”

“You better since you
got me banned.”

He laughs and shakes
his head. “Yeah, sorry about that. Not one of my finer moments.”

I squeeze his knee and
let go. “I’ve got you, Luke. Always, ok?”

His eyes change as he
studies me, and I let him look. I have nothing to hide. I mean every word.

Finally, he gives me a
weak smile. “I know. I don’t take that lightly.” He quiets and stares off at
nothing for a minute. “You know, a year ago I was pretty sure I’d be dead by
now. Two months ago I knew it. I was hoping.” He glances at me again. “I’m not
supposed to be here, Callie.”

My chest starts to burn
at his words, the look in his eyes.

“Well, I need you
here. So does Casey,” I reply, leaning against him. “You’re not allowed to
leave us.”

I can feel his gentle
laugh as he hugs me.

“Casey is a special
person. One of a kind. What that kid has been through…” Luke shakes his head.
“Anyway, I don’t deserve him.”

“You mean, with his
dad?”

Luke nods, and I pull
away so I can face him. “His father, his sister. He was one of my first friends
after I moved here. My parents pretty much decided they were done being parents
when I was fourteen and sent me from Johannesburg to my aunt in Houston. I was
completely alone, scared, and literally had nothing but my guitar and a few
changes of clothes. I met Casey a year later and he became my best friend. He
was my brother long before my brother-in-law.”

He laughs at the
memory. “You would have loved it. Wish I had pictures with me. He was this
scrawny little kid with a violin, dressed like a punk rocker. From the second I
saw him I knew I had to figure out what was wrong with this dude.”

I laugh, not surprised
for some reason.

He grows serious. “We
both lived through hell. We needed each other and supported each other over the
years more times than I can count.”

A light bulb goes on,
and my eyes widen. “Is that where you found your music? Is that what ‘Argyle’
is about?”

Luke seems pleased
that I put it all together and offers a sad smile. “Yes, exactly. The music
started ten years ago when he was fifteen. His father was going after his
younger sister one day and he jumped in. Took a hell of a beating for her, but
didn’t back down once. It was the bravest thing I’d ever seen. Even I was too
scared to do anything but get his sister out of the way. He stayed with me for
a week afterwards to recover, and because he was scared to go home. That’s when
we started writing. I had my guitar, he had his passion for music, and that was
that.” He quiets, and I can see the pain in his eyes. “Elena, his big sister,
found him an old beat-up drum set that my aunt let us set up in the basement.
Casey came over almost every day to take out his frustrations and heartache on
that kit.”

He clears his throat,
and I don’t miss any of the significance of the gift he just gave me. I also
have an overwhelming urge to hug Casey. Which reminds me…

“Where is Casey anyway?”
I ask, suddenly concerned.

Luke furrows his brow,
and I follow his gaze across the restaurant. Jana isn’t at her table either. My
heart starts to constrict.

“You should go check
on him,” Luke says.

I swallow and nod.
“You don’t think…”

Luke almost seems
annoyed I’d even ask. “Of course not, but he’s probably trapped and could use
the help.”

I want to believe him.
I know I should. Casey’s done nothing but prove over and over again that I
should, and yet…all I can picture is Jana Furmali in her slinky little Bella
Amberosi.

I give Luke an
apologetic look. I hate to leave him right after finally opening up about his
past, but if I know him at all, he probably wants to be alone for a few minutes
to process what just happened anyway. And I need Casey.

I slide from the booth
and make my way toward the restrooms. Sure enough, I’m not surprised when I
peek into the alcove and see him tucked against the back wall, literally cornered
by Jana.

I know I shouldn’t,
but I have to know. I have to, and pull back into hiding so I can listen.

“I just don’t
understand! What did I do wrong?”

“You didn’t do
anything wrong!” I can hear the exasperation in Casey’s voice and immediately
relax. I feel guilty for even doubting him for a second.

“But we had such a
good time!”

“Yeah, and that’s all
it was. Look, I don’t want to be a dick, but I have to get back. To my friends.
To my
girlfriend.
”

“Just give me one more
chance! I’ll get you that meeting with Reese Aster!”

He lets out a bitter
laugh. “Are you actually bribing me to go out with you? Come on, Jana. Don’t.
You don’t need that. For the hundredth time, I’m seeing someone. You need to
let go.”

“No, I don’t believe
that! There’s no way you’re seriously dating that little country slut.”

“Don’t ever talk about
her like that! You don’t know anything about her. Get out of my way.”

“Casey!”

“Let go of me! It’s
not happening, Jana. Ever!”

I round the corner,
and Casey freezes in alarm. I feel terrible at the petrified look on his face,
the fear that I’m going to think he’s anything but the prince that he is.

“Callie…I…”

“I think he’s made
himself pretty clear,” I direct to Jana. “Even a ‘country slut’ like me can
understand his message,” I quip, and I see Casey visibly take a breath.

His relief only lasts
a second. Jana’s glare turns violent as she spins and smacks him hard across
the face.

I gasp, and would
probably have hit her back if she doesn’t run from the scene while we stand
paralyzed in shock. I quickly recover and rush toward Casey, touching the fresh
red mark on his cheek. His jaw is clenched, fire in his eyes, but I can tell
he’s trying to gain control of himself.

“Hey, are you ok?” I
ask softly, trying to soothe the burn with my compassion.

He curses and closes
his eyes. “Fine.”

“Casey…It’s definitely
not you…it’s her,” I joke, and he cracks the slightest of smiles.

“Yeah, I know. I saw
that coming after our third date. That’s why there were only three.”

I laugh. I can’t help
it. “Well, I’m sorry if part of that was my fault. Ironically, I came to find
you to give you this.”

His gaze shoots to
mine in surprise, and I wrap my arms around him. He relaxes and pulls me close.

“Thanks, Callie. I
needed that.”

“Me, too,” I whisper. His
heart is still beating fast, but I don’t know if it’s from me or Jana. Probably
both. “Let’s go home,” I say, even though it means I have to let go of him.

“Yeah. I’m definitely
ready to get out of here.”

I squeeze again before
letting go. “At least the food was good,” I offer, and am thrilled to get my
grin back.

“Yeah. But definitely
takeout next time.”

“Totally agree. Let’s
go make sure Luke picks up the check.”

∞∞∞

Luke not only picks up the check, but has
already taken care of it by the time we return. His intuition regarding the
people he cares about never ceases to amaze me, and he hands Casey his jacket
as we approach the booth.

“You ok?” Luke asks.

Casey mutters
something, but doesn’t look over at the table across the room. I do, and notice
it’s emptier than before.

“She stormed off,”
Luke explains, reading our interest. “What happened?”

“She hit him,” I hiss,
and Luke’s face darkens.

“No way. Seriously?”
he asks, scanning Casey’s face. He curses when he catches the red tinge of his
cheek. “Man, I’m sorry. At least that means she gets it now.”

Casey sighs and shakes
his head. “Let’s just get out of here. Where’s Eli and Sweeny?”

Luke smiles. “They
left, too,” he says.

Casey almost seems
relieved. “Ok. Let’s go home.”

∞∞∞

The three of us crash on the couch when we return
to the suite. Luke grabs a drink, but Casey and I pass. It’s then that I consider
the reduced flow of alcohol into his system lately. Sure, there’s still a
steady trickle, but it seems as though he’s cut back considerably.

I lean against Casey, and
Luke faces us from the other side of the couch. We’re all quiet for a while,
enjoying the silence after the chaos of the bar, or club, or whatever 49
^th
& Finch considers itself.