"Looks like the place is hopping," Johnny teased. I rolled my eyes at the old-fashioned saying.
"Remember," I warned him. "I will not be singing tonight."
"What," he growled, "why not?"
"I am just not in the mood to make a fool of myself tonight." He shot me a very pointed stare. I could feel the heat behind it. "We will see about that," He growled.
We looked through the crowd for our group when we caught sight of Olivia standing on her booth seat, waving wildly.
"I think my sister is over there," Johnny whispered. I giggled and started pushing our way through the crowd. Johnny made his way to his sister's side as she excitedly introduced him to Link. The computer genius looked nervous, but with Johnny's natural Hallindale charisma, Link quickly felt at ease.
"Gracie, love," I heard called out from behind me. I recognized the smiling face of Scott McBride. He stood at the bar, motioning for me to go over. I stashed my book bag at Link's feet along with my purse, and then met Scott halfway for a hug, and then he pulled me to the bar.
"Who's the fresh face, McBride?" I heard the bartender ask.
"Leo, this is Gracie, and she's going to sing you right off your seat!"
"Wait, what?" I nervously giggled and looked to Scott for an explanation.
"Am I wrong? 'Cuz we both know that I'm not." Scott smirked.
"Well, that is taken care of, Scott," Henry announced as he rounded the corner to address the Irishman. "Miss Lemonade..." came his startled whisper.
"Mr. Cheesecake," I smiled. Our eyes locked, and the world almost slipped away, but Scott prevented that.
"Good," he clapped, "Now this is going to be fun."
"What did you take care of," I asked Henry.
"Just making sure the D.J. had a couple of requests. Do you want me to give him yours?" He shot me a challenging look.
"No, I won't be singing tonight," I proudly replied.
"We'll see about that," Scott mumbled. Henry winked and walked passed me. I looked up to see Cole and Dinah come through the back door, walking arm in arm. Grant was right behind them with his own adorable date.
"Oh good, you made it," Dinah smiled brightly. "I was wondering if Olivia was going to be able to convince you and Johnny to come out."
"Johnny?" All four men voiced.
Turning back to Dinah, I smiled, "Do you think Johnny is going to miss a chance to show off his John Travolta impression." We both laughed. Johnny is a man's man in every sense of the expression, from the mechanic's shop to the leather jacket of a James Dean wannabe, but he loved his musicals.
"Um," Cole interjected, "who is Johnny?"
"I'm Johnny," he announced as he came up to the group. "Sorry to interrupt, but I saw my favorite girls over here laughing and had to get in on the action." Johnny put his arms around us and flashed the Woodworth boys his most charming smile. I caught the subtle movements of muscle tension in Cole and Henry. Grant and Scott looked the most visibly confused, so we took pity on them.
"Johnny is Olivia's twin brother," I explained. They all relaxed and nodded their understanding. I decided to check something and continued, "He was also my blind date today, so we've been together all morning."
Henry's sharp brown eyes locked on mine and then moved to him with a harsh glare. I felt Johnny's small shutter, but he picked up on what I was testing and played along. He leaned in a bit seductively and whispered, "So I am guessing that is Mr. Cheesecake?"
"Yep," I giggled.
"This is going to be fun."
"Johnny," I laughed out loud and playfully pushed him. "Be good."
"Oh, I'm good," he coyly suggested. He topped the moment with a pointed look at Henry and then moved to address the bartender with drink orders.
Henry moved to step closer to me, but Dinah intercepted by grabbing my arm and closing the gap Johnny left. "Cole," she said, "can you hand me the bag you took from me?"
Cole flipped a backpack off his shoulder, "Your satchel, milady."
"Thank you, good sir," She smiled brightly. I made sure she caught the question in my eyes, but she just ignored it for the moment and dragged me to the ladies' room.
"What on earth was that?!" I practically screamed.
"Shhh," she demanded, but the large smile that spread across her face told me all I needed. She was smitten.
"I want details," I begged.
"Actually," Olivia added as she came through the door, "I would like some details too. I just saw Cole come up to the table with the goofiest grin I have ever seen."
"Seriously," I continued, "I don't think I've seen you this happy since we celebrated your first runner."
"Okay, I will explain, but first–" she handed me the backpack. "I brought you a change of clothes. I figured that you would be uncomfortable in those after how hot it was today and how much walking you've been doing."
I kissed her cheek, "Thank you!" I slipped into the handicap stall, and Dinah began explaining her day.
She began slowly, "I didn't expect to be this happy, but… he chose me..."
"Start from the beginning," Olivia instructed.
"I went into the office this morning to get a headstart on putting together some costumes from next week's photoshoot. After about an hour, I got a text from Cole asking if I was available to meet him and Grant at the Woodworth office to go over some ideas for our character costumes, in that side quest they are creating." I couldn't see it but could hear her voice's smile growing. "When I got there, he and Grant were asking questions about our styles and other related issues for female characters, so I hunkered down and prepared for a long day of work."
She paused. "But," I prodded.
"We spent like a half hour asking and answering questions, and then Cole suddenly suggested lunch."
"Let me guess," Olivia teased, "Grant found a convenient way out of it?"
"No," she stated, "Cole was already planning to take Grant and Molly out to lunch, but didn't want to be a third wheel."
"Molly must be the cutie that came with Grant," Olivia detected.
Dinah continued, "Yeah, she is a cutie. But Cole told me he wasn't sure if I would just go out with him if he asked, so he found a way to trick me into it."
"So cute," I squealed. I came out of the stall in the new outfit. This was a lot more casual but still very nice. I wore a tan blouse that had black lace lining the neck and the hem, and bootcut jeans that flowed into a pair of tan converse.
"You are cute," Dinah countered. We all laughed at that. "Do you still have your make-up so we can do a quick touch-up?"
"I have it," Olivia announced. She slipped my purse off her shoulder and handed it to me. I redid my make-up, and they played with my hair. We settled on a quick half-up/half-down look and then worked to touch up each of their looks.
"Did you two switch outfits before coming out?"
"Of course we did!" they said in unison.
"Excuse me," the door opened, and Molly poked her head in.
"Molly," Dinah squealed, "get in here." She grabbed Molly's hand and pulled her to the sink. "Let's get you touched up too."
"Oh! Okay?" Molly shyly grinned. "I was simply sent in here to check if you were alive. The boys are getting a little nervous."
"They can sweat," Olivia said flippantly. "The end result will be worth it. I am Olivia, by the way."
"And I am Gracie," I offered her a handshake.
"Molly." She took the offered hand. We immediately folded her into our shenanigans, peppered her with questions about her and Grant, and even got her to dish on some of the guys.
Once we were done, she asked a question of her own, "Did you change, Gracie?"
"Yes," I chuckled, "Yes, I did."
"Why?"
Dinah answered this one, "There is a handsome lawyer out there and we needed to her glitzed and glossed for when she shows off on stage."
"I am not singing," I stated.
Olivia snorted, "Yeah, we'll see about that."
By the time the four of us made it back to the table, the festivities were starting. The boys were laughing about something. It felt good to see that Link and Johnny fit in so well with our new friends. Henry and Johnny were sitting together, which meant Johnny must have given in and told Henry that we were teasing him. As we came closer to the table, all of the boys stood to greet us, moving so that each girl could sit next to her respective guy. Surprisingly, or maybe not-so-surprisingly, Johnny sat between his sister and Henry, forcing me to sit on the outside with Henry to my right. Our conversations were easy and enjoyable, and we all had an opinion on each singer that stepped forward to put themselves out there. We were nice, mostly, a few singers were beyond saving, and thankfully very drunk so that they wouldn't remember… we hoped.
Suddenly a bright light blinded me, and a voice called out, "Ladies and gentlemen, a face that will have you mesmerized and a voice that will make your jaws drop. Welcome to the stage… Miss Grace McAllister."
"You've got to be kidding me," I whispered as I rolled my eyes.
The group started chanting my name, and the rest of the patrons fell in. Henry grabbed my hand and escorted me to the mic, "Alright, D.J., let's see what you've got."
The music started, and I immediately lowered my glare toward my table. The D.J. was obviously coached. The song was "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps," made popular by Doris Day, and just so happened to be my favorite song. I could almost feel Mr. Cheesecake grinning, and as my eyes landed on Johnny, I knew this was his doing. Challenge accepted… I put my whole heart into that song. I strutted back to my table after a stellar performance, if I do say so myself.
Dinah was on her feet waiting for me as I got back to the group. She pulled me in for a hug giggling, "Told you, you'd sing!"
"First and last time," I growled.
"We'll see," she smirked.
My laughing stopped as a voice floated in my direction, one that I never wanted to hear again. I froze mid-smile, and I could feel my whole body react. McBride asked if I was okay, but I was too far gone. I looked into Dinah's eyes and knew that my instincts were correct. I saw anger in the eyes of Olivia, Dinah, and Johnny. I turned to see for myself, and I locked eyes with the vermin that should've died in the gutter. Looking at him made me want to throw up, but that would be such a waste of good food.
He had been waiting for me to see him. He flashed me his hello-sweetheart-smile.
"Grace, is everything all right?" I heard Henry try this time. His hand met mine, but I stood there frozen.
"James," Johnny growled. His name made most of us shudder.
"Is that the jerk that–" Olivia cut off Link's question, which was all the answer he needed.
Much to my horror, James made his way over to us as if invited.
"Well, well, well, hello all," he hissed. "You guys look like you are having a blast. Gracie, you are looking as sexy as ever. How are you, babe?" His eyes roamed my body, causing a shiver of disgust. Henry had stood up by this time and had his hand at my back to signal safety. I scooted closer, and he took the cue to hold my waist.
"James, slumming, as usual, I see," I growled. I could've choked on the fumes of alcohol that emitted from him.
"Ouch, Beauty. Is that any way to treat the man who shared a year of his life with you?"
"Me and how many other girls?" He laughed at that.
"Baby, you were the side dish that kept me respectable." He didn't even try to deny that he's a cheating scumbag. I stared up at the pathetic life form wishing I were strong enough to knock him out. Scott was on his feet by now, too, taking the other side of me.
I heard Cole whisper to Dinah, "who's this guy?"
"Cut the crap, James," Dinah demanded. "You have a lot of nerve to come over here."
"Dinah Deerrich and Olivia Hallindale," James smirked, "Nice to see you both again."
"We are not going to pretend to feel the same, James," Olivia sneered.
Link put his arms around Olivia and held her close to himself, and Cole copied the action for Dinah. I love my friends, but James never brought the best out in them.
"Just leave, James," I quietly pleaded. He straightened his shoulders, and his grin turned sinister as if he knew he broke me.
"Pardon me, Twinkle-toes," the Irishman broke into my thoughts, but he wasn't talking to me. James looked at him with his eyebrows hitched. "The lass looks like she isn't enjoying this little reunion, so I suggest you move on."
James's smile grew wide, "Who are you?" His eyes were suddenly attracted to the motion of Henry moving protectively in front of me.
James smirked and pointed at Henry, "Look, buddy, if you are trying to get under this skirt, you'd have a better chance with a nun." His villainous laughter rang through the place. He hit Henry on the shoulder. "Take my advice and ditch her while you can."
Although the analogy wasn't far off, it hurt that he encouraged my Mr. Cheesecake to ditch me. Henry stepped toward James, but Scott's arm stopped him forcing Henry to stay with me. I saw righteous indignation spark in McBride's eyes. For the first time, I was truly terrified.
"I'll give you one chance to keep movin'," Scott growled.
James hitched an eyebrow, "Or what? I am just having a friendly chat with an old friend."
"The lass doesn't want to talk to you," Scott said with more force this time. "So move it."
"Make me, Lucky Charms," James challenged.
"Well, this ought to be a fun spectacle, boys, don't ya think?" Scott egged James on, and the chuckles of the boys could be heard throughout the building.
"Who in the hell do you think you are, you over-grown Leprechaun!" James was getting visibly more upset as words were exchanged.
Henry pulled me back as James pushed Scott. Scott, a little intoxicated himself, wobbled just a little. James took that as a sign of weakness and swung at Scott. The Irishman easily ducked, and then landed a left hook of his own. James was lying on the floor nursing a bloody nose before he had a chance to blink.
"Don't ever let me catch you talking about this lass like that ever again! Get your scrawny ass out of this establishment, and I never want to see you here again!" By this time, James's friends had arrived and dragged him out of the building.
"Awe, man," Johnny pouted, "I wanted to do that." We all laughed… I tried to laugh, but I was still a little bit shaky.
Henry turned to me and pulled me into a hug, "Are you okay?"
"No," I whispered. He didn't say anything, just pulled me tighter.
Cole told the manager to send him the bill for any damages Scott may have caused since he did kind of send James through a table on the way to the floor.
"So you two had a history." Grant didn't ask but pointed out. Molly elbowed him, as a sign that he should've just dropped it.
"Yes, people would say he broke my heart," I quickly explained. Dinah, Olivia, and Molly reached for my hand to comfort me. "I guess it's true... love really is blind. Anyway, who is singing next?" I smiled, hoping the change of topic would convince everyone to drop it.
"No, little lass, love isn't blind," Scott confirmed. "If you truly love a lad, you'll know all his flaws and love him for them in the end. That ass obviously lost something special, but he never deserved it in the first place."
I smiled at my new brother. "Thanks for knocking him out."
Intruding the moment, Cole began to laugh out loud, "You could've gone easier on the drunk, Scott! You are going to cost me a fortune."
"What are you saying? That WAS me going easy."
The conversation turned to normal around me, but I couldn't get past the mortification of what had just happened. I had hoped never to see James again, especially since Chicago is such a large city. I guess it was God's Will that I face him. I am glad that, at least this time, I was surrounded by people who actually cared about me.
I loved watching the comradery of my old and new friends blending together as if they had known each other for years. But I had enough excitement for one day and needed fresh air. I leaned over to Johnny and whispered my thanks for a lovely night. He knew there was no stopping me, and he wasn't ready to leave, so he wished me a good night.
I reached for my book bag, but he stopped me. "I will make sure one of the girls brings it home. Just go." I kissed his cheek silently as a thank you.
I turned to Henry, smiled, and lied, "I need to go to the restroom." I held up my purse as if implying it was a girl thing and that it may take a minute. He didn't look convinced but moved to let me out. Thankfully, the bathrooms were in the back, next to an exit. I just kept walking and didn't look back.