Me
Arewe done here?
I can’t believe I agreed to do this karaoke night knowing how much I hate the evening crowd around here. But this makes Nan happy.
Come to think of it, I don’t think she’s ever been happier.
Okay, that’s a stretch.
I think she’s happier at pickleball on Tuesday nights.
Nan has the place decorated from top to bottom. I’m pretty sure she put confetti poppers and mini strobe lights in the fucking bathrooms too. The karaoke machine sits in the corner with a full projector screen to display the lyrics and a small table for people to sign up. I have no idea where she got all of this stuff, but I’ve got to give it to her, she did a great job putting this together.
The bell for the front door chimes and I already know that’s going to piss me off all night.
In walks a man I’ve never seen before. He’s wearing dress slacks and an ivory-colored button-down shirt. He looks all business, which tells me he’s definitely not from here or a regular. Looking down at his watch, he moves to take an empty seat at a high-top table along the back wall.
The bell chimes again, and Tucker walks in followed by Levi.
I snap my fingers before pointing in his direction. “Tucker.”
He stops mid-step, throwing his hands up in defense. “I didn’t do it. Whatever it is, I didn’t do it.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t say you did anything. But can you, please, for the love of God, unwire that fucking bell over the front door before I lose my shit.”
He turns to look at where the bell sits before looking back at me. “You mean this is what’s going to piss you off? How is that different from any other thing in life that makes you lose your shit?”
“Don’t start.”
He chuckles before heading into the back to grab the small ladder to reach the wire. Tucker has it disconnected in a matterof seconds before putting the ladder back and taking his place behind the bar with me.
“I still can’t believe you agreed to do this,” Tucker says.
“Same,” Levi says from the other side of the bar, sipping water.
“Tell me about it, but Nan sure knows how to plan things, though,” I tell them.
Tucker moves to set up the bar and pulls the glasses I just washed out of the dishwasher rack to display them on the counter behind us. “What are you serving tonight?” he asks me.
“The usual.” I shrug. “But I pulled out some Foxx Bourbon I had stashed in the back and some top-shelf whiskey.”
Tucker gasps. “Are you feeling okay?”
I scowl in his direction just as the loud piercing sound of a speaker forces me to wince.
“Sorry, y'all,” Nan shouts.
I look in her direction and find her setting up the machine. I drop the dish rag in my hands and make my way to her.
“Need any help?” I ask her.
She shakes her head. “I don’t know shit about these wires and where they go, but I saw some videos online, so I’m good.”
I narrow my eyes. “Is the bar going to blow up?”
“Maybe.” She shrugs.
“Great,” I mutter under my breath before turning to leave her to do her thing.
