Only… the piece was almost finished—at least the first draft. It would need tweaking and input from others, but for the moment, Ari’s work was nearly done.
And he suddenly felt like he was back where he started—needing to write music and unsure where to begin. But he knew where he could get inspiration.
Hours later, as he sat at the bar watching Jax ham it up while he played “I’m Just a Girl,” with Naomi glowing by his side and Kayla behind him on drums with a grin on her face, a lightness filled Ari once again, and he knew more writing would follow this visit too.
He had arrived late enough that he caught the tail end of the first set, the musicians breaking after only one more song. But that hardly mattered, since he’d managed to procure a small table near the stage, and he caught Jax’s eye on his way to the break room.
Instead of continuing toward the back, a grinning Jax took the stool opposite Ari. “You’re back.” The grin segued into a smirk. “Couldn’t stay away?”
“Perhaps I’m merely a glutton for punishment,” Ari answered wryly, but he could feel an answering smile trying to creep out.
Jax threw his head back and laughed, mouth open wide enough Ari could’ve counted his fillings if he’d had any. He didn’t.
Ari wondered at the extreme enjoyment Jax seemed to get from Ari busting his chops, but perhaps it was all part of the game for him.
“Fair enough.” He shook his head. “Well, I can’t stick around for too long, because I really do need to go figure out some songs for the next set. But I have enough time to atone for some sins of the past. Just—give me a sec?”
Ari spread his hands. “I am at your disposal.”
Jax laughed again, softer this time. “No, you’re not. Not yet. But that’s okay. You might have noticed I like a challenge.”
He slipped away from the table and eeled behind the bar, moving around the other bartenders with familiar touches to waists and shoulders, making space for himself. Ari had never been that at ease in his own skin unless he was playing an instrument, but Jax inhabited his body and the world so seemingly effortlessly, in tune with everything and everyone.
Ari could already hear the melody of it—the smooth tied eighth notes in an arpeggio skipping up and down the scale for violin, the piano always ahead or behind, never quite touching it, as though the violin were playing hard to get.
Perhaps not so appropriate for Jax. But then, maybe it was.
Jax returned a moment later, never seeming to spill a drop or miss a step despite the crowded bar. He deposited a tall champagne flute of sparkling pink liquid in front of Ari. “Voila!”
Ari pulled the drink toward himself, bemused. “Are you going to tell me what this one is called, or do I have to wait for the translation from Murph?”
“Murph wouldn’t know anyway. That’s prosecco, Bitter Truth Pink Gin, and pink limoncello.”
That didn’t sound like any cocktail Ari had ever heard of, but he wasn’t exactly a connoisseur. He picked it up and took a sip. It had a light fruity flavor, and the sweetness of the limoncello perfectly balanced the bitterness of the gin.
Ari liked it even better than the first drink Jax had made him. “It’s delicious. You just came up with it?”
Jax lifted a shoulder like it was nothing. Maybe itwasnothing; Ari didn’t know the first thing about mixing cocktails. He’d only ever played music when he worked here. “I’ve been thinking about it for a couple days.”
That was nice to hear. Maybetoonice.
Ari was treading on dangerous ground. He didn’t want to lead Jax on. One-night stands simply weren’t his style, but he was too intrigued to blow him off. And if he asked to spend time with Jax because Jax inspired him to write sweet, sweet music—well,someonewas going to get the wrong idea. “Why?” he asked, to distract himself from the direction of his thoughts.
Jax shrugged and ran a hand back through his hair and over his neck. He seemed flushed, maybe even genuinely abashed, but he had so much natural charm it was hard to be sure he wasn’t playing it up for Ari’s benefit. “Well, based on the fact that you left without saying goodbye last time, I figured you weren’t ready for Sex with the Bartender. This seemed more your speed.”
Ari went warm all the way through, cool refreshing drink notwithstanding. This manwasdangerous. “And whatdoyou call it? Since no one here will be able to enlighten me.”
The question earned him a grin and a waggle of Jax’s outrageous eyebrows. “I call it a Sparkling Conversation.”
Ari startled into a laugh. Maybe hedidn’thave to explain anything to Jax.
But he still couldn’t keep him to himself all night. “I really do need to go cram a few more chord progressions into my brain.” Jax tapped on the table as he stood. “But I’ll see you?”
He didn’t wait for Ari to give an answer.
Ari knew he should go home. He already had the idea for another song, or at least a good chunk of one. Yet it felt rude to leave so soon after Jax had brought him this drink and when Jax was clearly hoping he’d stick around… even if it was only for his conversation.
Besides, he’d hardly gotten to hear Jax play.
