On Solid Ground: Sequel to in Too Deep (7 page)

“
Fogwood
? Like fog and wood?” I rapped on the table with my knuckles.

“Duh, Jake. No. F-O-G-W-D-D. I thought you were the smart one. It stands for
Friends Of Girls Who Date Dickheads
. Geez, get a clue, dork.” She cackled one of her Becki laughs and knocked some of her papers into her lap and onto the floor.

She bent down to pick them up when the head bartender, Buzz, stormed through the back door. He appeared to be in some sort of angry zone, and when he got close to our table, he yelled, “SHIT! FUCK! DAMN!”

Thud.

“Ow, you asshole!” Becki was spooked my Buzz’s obscenities and banged her head on the underside of the table.

“Sorry, hon.” Buzz rubbed her head when she sat back up. He looked around like he needed to tell someone what had him so uptight, but no one else was there. He grabbed his phone from his nifty belt holder and stormed behind the counter.

“Duke, dude, we lost another bartender. Stupid kid decided to raid the bar and make everyone a surprise drink before I got downstairs for their interviews, and four of the seven of them puked and had to go home. I told him not to come back, but now we need another bartender to fill the training class.”

Becki looked at me with wide eyes. “Jake! There’s your job! Hey, hey, Buzz, he wants the job!” Becki jabbed her finger in my direction. “Can he have the job? Buzz!”

“Shit, Becki, relax!”

Buzz held his phone away from his face and walked over to our table. “You serious?”

“I’ve been walking around town for days looking for a job, and I got nothin’. I’m totally serious.”

“Duke, I got it covered. See ya.” He hung up and turned to me as he shoved his phone back in his holster. “Training starts next Wednesday. Wait! Are you twenty-one?”

“Yep, for a whole month now.”

“What’s your name?”

“Jake.”

“Well, Jake, consider that your interview. See you next Wednesday, six o’clock sharp.”

“Thanks, Buzz. I’ll be here.” I was so stoked to be able to cross job-hunting off my list. I pulled my phone out to put the training in my calendar and noticed the time.

“Shit, Becki. I’m supposed to meet Gracie at the Café in two minutes. I gotta go.”

“Okay, Jake. Nice talking to you. We need to do it more often.” And that quickly, her attention was diverted.

“Hey, Buzz. What was the drink the kid made?”

“A Hot Mexican Hooker.”

“What’s in it?”

I was curious, so I stopped before heading out the door to hear his response.

“Tequila, Tabasco Sauce and the juice from one can of tuna.”

I didn’t even stay around to hear Becki’s reaction. Just the thought of that drink made my stomach crave fresh air and deep breathing. I made a mental note; no matter how drunk I was, I would never to let anyone buy me a Hot Mexican Hooker.

Nine

Gracie

I left Sylvia’s office, grabbed my phone from my bag, and tucked the ear buds into place. Something inside me felt stronger than it had before I walked into Student Health. I had never before opened up to someone I didn’t know. Hell, up until that point, I had only opened up completely to one person, Jake. As the music pumped through my skull, I felt drawn to The Garage again. Jake had decided to do some job-hunting, so I had some time to kill before I needed to head to the Café. I smiled at the thought of Jake and I needing jobs just to pay for everything we would eat and drink over the summer.

My slow gate fell into step with the beat of Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl.” I put my phone in my breast pocket and twirled the bottom edge of my flannel shirt, holding it in place as the sweet summer breeze tried to pull it from my shoulders. I adjusted the diagonally placed strap of my messenger bag so both my hands were free.

The song reminded me of my guitar teacher. He had been unorthodox and hadn’t taught me a thing about music theory or guitar basics. We had jumped right in with Van Morrison. With his weathered, wrinkled hands, he taught me the chords I needed to know, and the strumming pattern, then sent me on my way. The following week, he taught me a Tom Petty song. The next week, we mastered “Give a Little Bit” by The Goo Goo Dolls. That’s the song I was playing in the store when I had that beautiful Martin in my hands. I took my phone out and scrolled through my music until I found that song. I hit play and put it back in my breast pocket. Before I knew it, I was walking into The Garage, but it felt more like floating.

I could hear an acoustic version of “Golden State” over my own music. It played from the iPod dock behind the counter, which was actually just a bunch of shipping palettes bolted together. I stood still for a second, trying to place the female voice. I closed my eyes to focus. Eddie Vedder’s voice blended perfectly with her twang...who was that? I was lost in the music, in the lyrics that made me smile. Natalie Maines. Her voice was mesmerizing. I remained still for another moment and soaked it all in.

I walked over to the guitar wall, pulled a Martin off the wall, and took a seat on the stool. Although I didn’t see anyone, I assumed Yaz and Van were in the back. I swung the strap of my bag over my head and let it fall to the floor so I could make room for the guitar strap. I hit the “back” button on my phone, dropped it in my lap, and closed my eyes. My breathing slowed, and that familiar, silent call to the right strings and frets had me strumming along with John Rzeznik’s voice. I was lost. My body melded with the smooth wood of the instrument in my lap, and my heart sang out as I rocked back and forth with the sway of the soft beat. I nodded my head as the words flowed into my mind. I let go of everything so I could feel every nuance of emotion. Butterflies filled my stomach, and goose bumps raised from my wrists up to my shoulders and around to the back of my neck. A tear dropped from my cheek and hit my strumming hand. My voice quivered...

My voice? I was singing? How embarrassing!

I stood quickly to put the guitar back, and my phone slipped from my lap and yanked the ear buds out, only for the music to be replaced with one word, “Wow.” But that word didn’t come from
my
mouth.

I slowly turned and was met with eyes the color of evergreens bordered by thick black lashes. A long curl dropped from behind his ear and bounced to his cheek. Calon, the unbelievably talented and stunningly beautiful lead singer of Alternate Tragedy, my favorite local band that had recently turned somewhat famous. He oozed sex all over the place. I had to forcibly hold my jaw in place to keep it from dropping open.

“Hey.” The single word came out of me, barely audible and with a short burst of hot, nervous breath.

“Gracie.” His skin was flawless, and his voice was incredibly sexy. A wave of memories I had tucked away rushed back with a force I couldn’t halt. He
did
remember me.

****

Spring semester of our sophomore year, just after Becki, Stacy, and I transferred, Noah and I had a fight about him pledging, and we had broken up. It only lasted one weekend, but it was just enough time for me to meet Calon.

The girls and I had been invited out to Phi Tau. Stacy and I went to high school with Robert, one of the brothers. I was thrilled to be able to distract myself at a party that had nothing to do with Noah or Sigma Chi. Becki and Stacy were just excited to meet new fraternity boys. That night, we met a ton of brothers at their pre-party social with one of the sororities. The girls of Sigma Kappa weren’t the stereotypical sorority girls. They welcomed us like old friends, and we had a blast.

We hung out in Robert’s room once the social was over and while the long line formed at the door.

“So, why aren’t you at Sigma Chi tonight?” Robert handed me my fifth cold beer of the evening.

“Noah and I broke up. I really don’t wanna think about him right now.” I all but emptied my cup in a couple long gulps.

“Gracie, I’m not so sure a Sigma Chi guy is a good match for you.” A look of caution crossed his face as he spoke.

“Why? Because I’m a dork and they aim higher for girls there?” I finished my beer and shot my cup out for him to refill.

“You know that’s not what I meant. They aren’t known as the most—how do I put this—respectful group of men.”

“We just hit a bump, Rob. It’ll be fine. Noah’s just having a little trouble adjusting, I guess.”

“Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He winked.

Just then, a harsh reverb scream came from downstairs, and my head spun to Robert, “There’s a band tonight?”

He nodded, saw my expression, then shook his head. It had never been a secret to anyone who knew me how addicted I was to live music. Without a second thought, I ran downstairs, shoved my way through the crowd, and squeezed as close as I could get to the stage. I stood three screaming girls away from the most beautiful rock star I had ever laid eyes on. I was buzzed out of my mind, and my body hummed as I watched him practically make out with his microphone. I had no idea where Becki and Stacy were, but I knew Rob’s house was a safe place to let go and just be. I had no qualms about being alone in a huge crowd at Phi Tau. At Sigma Chi, I couldn’t let my guard down like that.

I leaned over to the girl next to me and yelled my slurred words. “What’s his name?”

“That beautiful creature is Calon Ridge. Could you just die?” Her eyes rolled back in her head, and I assumed by the waves her body was making, she was imagining she was Calon’s mic stand.

Throughout the night, I stood in the same spot. His vintage Nirvana t-shirt stuck to his sweaty body in random spots as he performed, and his shoulder-length dark curls bounced and swept across his face. Scuffed black work boots stuck out from under the frayed, holey jeans that hung low on his hips. I held Calon’s gaze long enough that the two girls in front of me turned and shot jealous daggers my way. Well, I caught their daggers and shot sexy looks right past them to Calon. And when he pulled his long hair back and held it with one hand on top of his head, he winked at me and smiled in a way that caused a collective gasp from the female portion of the crowd. Oh. My. Rock star.

Becki, Stacy, and Robert finally spotted me from the balcony, and, during a break when the crowd went to refill their cups, they came down to experience the fan club I had just joined. By the time the girls got to me, they were gushing over how hot Calon was and how his voice did things to parts of their bodies I preferred not to know about. Robert shook his head.

By the end of their final set, I was the main recipient of Calon’s attention. I couldn’t fault the pissy girls who stomped away when they saw the connection he and I shared. It really was like he was giving me my very own personal concert, and I was happy to be his focus.

“Thanks for coming out. We are Alternate Tragedy, and we’ve been booking gigs all around town. Come out and party with us again. We just have one more for you because...I want
you
to want
me
...” Calon laid his hand on his sweat-soaked chest, and his deep green eyes met mine. And with that one Cheap Trick song, he melted me. He stepped off the far side of the stage with the mic in his hand and continued to sing. Girls reached out to touch him, and he lightly grabbed their hands. They screamed and squealed to all their friends as he moved through the crowd toward me.

I stayed in my spot and kept my eyes locked on him. When he got to the last “I want you to want me,” the guitars went silent, and just the slow pounding of the drums accompanied his voice. The song ended, and Calon Ridge met me toe-to-toe. He looked at me, raised his eyebrow, and took my right hand in his. He placed my hand on his heated chest, and the room faded away.

“You have amazing eyes.” His voice was raspy from two hours of singing. The room was almost silent. It had emptied quickly after the songs ended, when thirsty fans, some feeling jilted and jealous, ran to the nearest kegs.

My face burned, and I couldn’t pull even a single word from my mind.

“What’s your name?”

“Gracie.” A staggered breath left my mouth as I tried to control myself and not be the annoying fan girl.

“Beautiful name for a beautiful girl.” He lifted my hand in his and placed a gentle kiss on my knuckles.

“Dude. No making out with my friends.” Robert slugged Calon in the shoulder, which made him drop my hand.

“You two know each other?” My nervous voice was so loud, they both flinched a little. I needed to clear the air of the thick sexual tension Calon and I had created.

“Yeah. We have these guys here a couple times a month. They’re good guys. Gracie, Stacy puked, so Becki took her home. I told them I’d bring you when I got stuff cleaned up here.”

“I got her, Rob. Can I take you home, Gracie?”

I looked up at Robert before answering. I knew he would never let me leave the house with someone he didn’t trust. He nodded and winked.

“Sure.”

“Okay, give me a second to let the guys know they’re packing up without me, but then we gotta run because they’ll be pissed.”

I giggled as he left and shot a look up at Rob. “What the hell? What is this? He is so friggin’ hot and he’s walking
me
home?”

“Guess the feeling’s mutual. He’s a great guy, Gracie. I wouldn’t let you leave with him if I didn’t know him as well as I do. He’s not the typical rock star manwhore.”

Calon and I ducked out before the band could object. He hung his arm across my shoulders and we talked as we slowly walked home. Phi Tau was considerably farther from my apartment than Sigma Chi, so it was a long walk. At one point, he had me laughing so hard, I got dizzy and had to stop walking. Calon turned me toward him and held me upright. I looked up and he his fingertips grazed my cheek and slid underneath my jaw. He held my gaze and closed the space between us. Right there, under the street light, he took my face in his hands and spoke five words that could not have been more perfect.

“I
need
to kiss you.”

I tangled my fingers in the long dark curls at the back of his neck and stood on my toes as his lips met mine. There was an indescribable connection. It was our only kiss, but it was worth a million as far as the soul-melting meter goes. He tapped my number into his phone, and we took a goofy picture together. He said he’d call.