“I'll get it, babe,” she said. “You go on. We'll meet you at the club.”
Leaning down, I kissed her lips, holding her face in my hands. I pulled back and looked into her eyes. So deep. So blue.
“God, I love you,” I said.
She smacked my ass gently with a coy smile on her face. “You better be up for showing me how much you love me later this evening,” she said. “Don't wear yourself out too much up on stage. I have a surprise for you tonight.”
I felt a growing tightness in my jeans as I pictured the night ahead. I imagined Shannon in her sexy little nightie, laying on our bed, waiting for me. She was the only woman I'd ever want in this world. Her sweet face stared back at m
e, and while she looked sweet and innocent, I knew she enjoyed being a naughty kitten behind closed doors. She was damn good at it too. She knew how to rile me up in the best way.
Ava had mashed potatoes all over her face, but I leaned down to kiss her anyway. She smeared potatoes all over my shirt and made a huge mess of things. Shannon handed me a napkin, and I tried to wipe it up, but it was all over. All I could do was laugh.
“I love you, baby girl,” I said.
“Lah you, daddy,” she said, her brown eyes cheerful and happy. I ruffled her blonde little head one last time before I hurried out the door.
Shannon shouted behind me, “Love you. Drive safe.”
“You too, babe,” I said. “I'll see you soon.”
“And don't forget your guitar!” she added.
Shit. I closed the door and ran over to where I kept my guitar in the corner of our small living room.
“Guitar!” Ava cooed. “I play guitar?”
“Later, sweetie,” Shannon said, wiping the potatoes off our little girl's face. “After daddy's show, okay?”
“Okay,” Ava said, pouting slightly.
I waved as I hurried on out. I rushed to my pickup truck and threw my guitar in the back. Thankfully, tonight's show was at a family-friendly restaurant in town, not the usual smoky bars and clubs. It was one of the first shows Ava would get to attend, and I was looking forward to seeing my daughter in the crowd. She'd be up past her bedtime, but both Shannon and I agreed it’d be worth it. She'd finally get to see daddy perform, in front of a crowd. It might be a small crowd for now, but one day, we’d fill stadiums.
I pulled up to the restaurant and parked, my drummer, Landon, was already waiting for me by the back door.
“Took you long enough,” Landon joked.
“Yeah, well, when you have a wife like mine, you'll get distracted sometimes too,” I said with a grin.
“Nough with the monkey business. Big crowd tonight,” Landon said. “Hell, I'd say most of 'em are even here to see us.”
“Or maybe it's the half-price appetizers they're serving at the bar,” I said. Landon was the optimist, while I was the realist.
“Maybe, but I'll take it.”
The band that was on had just finished their set and were leaving the stage. We exchanged greetings as Landon and I hit the stage, and I felt that old familiar energy filling me up.
“Showtime,” I said.
Landon handed me a beer from the cooler he'd brought along, but I shook my head. I might have the jitters before going on, but with my wife and baby girl in the audience, I wanted to be my best. I didn't want my senses or energy dulled in the least.
“No thanks, man,” I said.
“Suit yourself,” he said.
He downed the beer in one, big gulp and then let out a loud belch. The crowd was buzzing as I stepped up onto the stage, I eyed the audience but didn't see Shannon anywhere. Our friends were already in the crowd.
I did ask Shannon not to worry about arriving early. Probably in the parking lot now. We finished setting up, and still, she wasn't there. No biggie, she'd get there when she could.