Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 108362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
The only thing casting a gloomy cloud over the night was Elias’ absence. I really thought he was serious about quitting gambling, but he was at the rehab clinic less than a week before he went missing. None of us could find him for days. I knew he was back gambling when I discovered the bag of casino chips I’d won that night at poker was gone missing from the glove box in my car. After that I’d had no other choice but to tell his parents what was going on. Two weeks later my Uncle Jack found he’d snuck into his and Aunt Lille’s house and was in the middle of stealing a bunch of valuables from their safe. I wasn’t sure how my uncle had dealt with him but he was back at the clinic now and hadn’t tried to flee again. Yet. Maybe the shame of being caught stealing from his own parents would make it stick this time.
I knew it was early days, and he could still backslide again but I planned to be there for him in case that happened. But it wasn’t just about being there for him on potential bad days, it was also about celebrating his small wins and progress. Given my past, I felt like I understood what Elias was going through more than most.
“Any idea what your dad’s planning for tonight?” Kami asked. “He usually has some big surprise up his sleeve.”
“No clue,” I answered, and Shannon shot me a suspicious look. Ever since I’d told her I was taking part in the show, she’d been quizzing me for details, but like I’d said, I didn’t want her involved, and if she knew what we were up to she’d insist on helping.
Kami narrowed her gaze. “You sure about that?”
“You know I can’t tell you anything. Dad had me sign an NDA,” I joked, although it wasn’t too far from the truth. My father was meticulous about keeping the details of his shows a secret until opening night.
“You’d better get going. I’m sure they need you backstage,” Shannon said.
“I’ll be back out once my part’s over,” I told her, bending to press a kiss to her lips before I left her sitting next to Roan and headed to the back of the venue to grab my guitar.
Shannon
“You look very nice tonight, Shannon,” Roan said after Jace left.
I peered down at the lacey fabric, and although there was purple silk under the lace, it was still technically a black dress. To be honest, it might’ve been the most ostentatious thing I’d ever worn, but it was a special occasion, so it was only appropriate that I dress up. “Thanks. It’s one of Matilda’s designs.”
“I’m glad to see you and Jace are doing so well,” he went on, and he seemed to genuinely mean it. I still sometimes thought about Roan’s feelings for me, whether I should ever try to talk to him about it, but I always decided against it in the end. That conversation would only lead to embarrassment and possibly create a strain between us. He knew that I was in love with Jace, so what good could come of hashing out an unrequited crush? Besides, he’d just started seeing the woman who managed the art gallery that sold his paintings, so whatever he might’ve felt for me, it was clearly in the past. He’d moved on, and I didn’t have to lose a good friend.
“Yes, things have been great. I’m very happy.”
Roan nodded, his gaze soft and accepting. Before he could say more, the house lights dimmed, and I noticed an old style, black-and-white numbers board above the stage displaying a sequence: 245632.95.
A ticking sound filled the space, and the numbers swiftly began to click down. A spotlight lit up, revealing Jay to the left of the stage. He stood tall and confident, wearing black jeans and a white T-shirt that revealed his heavily tattooed arms. My father-in-law was well into his fifties but somehow still managed to maintain the swagger of a much younger man. The audience went wild. He hadn’t even done anything yet, just stood there with an enigmatic smile on his face, hands clasped behind his back, and already he had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand.
Then, an acoustic guitar began to play the opening chords of a song. The stage lit up, revealing Jace on the right-hand side. He sat on a small stool, his guitar resting on his knee. I only realised the entire back of the stage was a giant screen for shadows when Jay stepped behind it, and Jace sang the opening lines to “Carrickfergus.”
I wish I was in Carrickfergus
only for nights in Ballygran
I would swim over the deepest ocean
the deepest ocean
for my love to find
Behind the screen, Jay created the image of water rippling in the ocean, a shoal of fishes swimming by. My breath caught at the simple yet stunning visual.