When he was done there was whooping and cheering, and he bumped the bottom of my harness boot with his sneaker to get my attention. Looking up, I glared at him, and the smile I got in return was wild and beautiful, completely out of control.
He sang “Watching the River Run,” and when people joined in, he encouraged that, until he had more and more people clustered around. When the host of the party, Stig Malloy, came down with his own guitar, and another for Nick so he could return Tanner’s, all three men played together, though only, Nick mandated, hits from the seventies.
People took video then, and it was obvious to anyone that Tanner Ward was nobody, was probably a friend of a friend who had used the invitation to the party as an impromptu audition. It was likely why he was playing, hoping that Stig, who fronted the band Random Horde and produced bands on his label, Salvage Records, would see him. Poor guy, he had been thrilled to see Nick, but he could barely keep up with them. Stig didn’t spare him a glance, completely engrossed in playing with Nick, having, it was clear from the smile on his face, the best time. The two of them together were amazing, taking turns singing before a couple more of Stig’s friends, one with a banjo and another with a ukulele, joined in. When all four men harmonized on “Helplessly Hoping,” I was glad people were recording, because that cover deserved to go viral.
They sang a few more, and then someone shouted out “Landslide,” and everyone, the whole crowd, joined in loudly, and when that was done and there was wave after wave of clapping, both Nick and Stig cradled their guitars. Having entertained the crowd for more than an hour, it was time for a break, and people immediately rushed to Nick and Stig, but it was friendly. As I approached, I heard Stig telling Nick that a live session with friends would be a great idea. He had some dates coming up, once Random Horde started touring again, and he’d love Nick to meet them in any city he’d like.
“You’re not worried I won’t be reliable since I’ve been working on getting clean?”
Stig shook his head and scoffed, letting Nick know that it wasn’t an issue. “You look great, best you have in a long time, and if you’re interested in working outside your normal box, we could do a lot together.”
“Are you kidding?”
Stig chuckled. “Where you been hiding the encyclopedic knowledge of all things near and dear to my heart, man? Next you’re gonna tell me you know Nashville.”
He shrugged. “I was raised in Kentucky, after all.”
Stig shook his head and clapped Nick on the shoulder. “Show us your light, Nicky, we’re all waitin’.”
Nick lifted his arms, and Stig stepped in and hugged him tight, and then they separated and Stig rounded on me, offering his hand.
“Stig Malloy,” he said as we shook.
“Yessir, I know,” I replied, a little starstruck. “I’m a big fan.”
He nodded. “You keep takin’ care of him. He looks great.”
“Oh no,” I countered, wanting to make sure that he knew it was all Nick. “He’s driven his own recovery.”
“But having someone there with you, that promise of the happily ever after and all that.” He shrugged, grinning at me. “That’s how I made it through, knowing my wife was there on the other side if I could just make it to her.”
Wait. Was he thinking what I thought he was?
I turned to Nick, Stig Malloy still holding my hand.
Nick moved up beside me, smiling nervously, and Stig let my hand go and gave Nick a quick bicep squeeze.
“I hope you know, Nicky, you can bring your guy with you. It’s not a problem at all.”
“Sir,” I began, needing to clear everything up, “I’m just his—”
“Thank you,” Nick said quickly, shutting me up.
“I mean, when you sing and you can’t take your eyes off someone,” Stig said, grinning, “that’s the truth right there, ain’t it?” he finished, giving Nick a nod before turning to speak to some other guests, leaving the two of us to stand there in silence.
Thankfully there were more people wanting to take pictures with Nick, and I ducked away so they could reach him.
Keeping him in my line of vision, I drifted in his periphery and ended up trailing behind as he walked back up toward the house. Once there, we were separated by more people, but because this wasn’t a public event, and these were invited guests, just like he was, I kept an eye on him but wasn’t worried, though I was slowly closing the gap.
He turned a corner, and when I reached the same spot moments later, I saw that Tanner had his hand splayed on Nick’s chest and was holding him up against the wall. It wouldn’t have been a big deal, I knew Nick could defend himself, and Felix, his personal trainer, a fourth dan black belt in Hapkido, had begun teaching him some basics. My issue was that there were, I could see from where I was standing, three other guys with him. And they could have just been milling around, waiting to see what Nick would do, but they weren’t helping, either.