“Yeah, she lives in my building,” I answer my brother, but I don't take my eyes off her. I couldn’t, even if I tried.
“We didn't exactly start off on a good foot either.” She rests the bottom of her guitar on the top of her foot, and holds out her hand. “Maybe we can start again. Hi, I'm Heather,” she says.
“Ian.” Looking over at my brother, I introduce him too. “And this is my brother, Grey.”
“Ian, Grey, nice to meet you. So, can I buy you both a drink? I think you earned it.”
“I won't say no to free beer,” Grey says, wrapping his hand over my shoulders and shaking me roughly. “And I know my brother feels the same. He never offers to pay for me.” Grey chuckles, giving me a hard slap in the center of my back.
Heather giggles, looking down at her guitar. “Just let me go throw this in my car.”
I watch her ass as she heads out the door, disappearing outside. Perfectly round, plump, plenty for me to grab.
Grey leans over, bumping against my shoulder as he watches her too. “You didn't tell me you had a hot chick living in the building.”
“What am I supposed to say?” Chuckling, I flick my eyes to his.
“You say, Bro, a hot ass chick just moved in next door.” He punches me in the chest, then backs up against the bar.
“Next time I'll be sure to keep you updated.” Taking the seat next to him, we both watch for Heather.
She's coming through the door a few seconds later with a half-smile on her face. “Okay, now let me grab you guys those beers.” Holding up her hand for the bartender, we order and she pays. “I really want to say thank you again to you both. It was nice you did that,” she says, turning her attention to me. “Especially after how we started things.”
“It's all forgotten. I'm sorry I was such a dick to you. I'm not much of a morning person.”
“He's really not,” Grey chimes in. “Once when we were kids, I went to wake him up for school and he karate chopped me in the throat. I swear, it was a reflex in his sleep!”
“Seriously?” she asks while laughing.
Nodding, I grin. “I don't think it was a karate chop.”
“Dude, you literally did, like you were a ninja splitting a wooden board.”
Heather starts to laugh louder, her eyes tearing. “Wow, brotherly love. I only have a sister, and we’re more of the hair pulling siblings.”
My brother taps me on the shoulder and leans into my ear. “I'm going to go work my magic. I'll catch up with you tomorrow.” He turns to Heather, and says, “It was nice to meet you. Thanks for the beer.”
“Yes, nice to meet you too, and thanks for saving my ass.”
My brother smiles and tilts his beer, then disappears into the crowd.
“Your brother seems nice,” Heather says, spinning on her stool to face me. Picking at the label on her beer, she glances up at me. “You guys seem close.”
“Yeah, I guess we are. We run a construction business together, so I can tell you he isn't always this nice.” Chuckling, I reach out and stroke a finger across her knuckles. “So, what about you? What brought you here?”
Her eyes jump around the room. “This did. I'm a singer. . .” She pauses, dropping her head into her chest. “Well, I was trying to be a singer. Coming here really let me see reality.” Her voice lowers and she forces a smug grin.
“What do you mean?” I ask, pushing my empty beer aside and ordering us each another one.
She rolls her eyes up and arches her brows. “You're kidding me, right?” Laughing bitterly, she says, “You saw my performance, I don't belong here. I don't know what I was thinking. Why did I leave everything to try and become a singer in this city?”
Reaching out, I grab her chin and lift her face. “You're right, I did see your performance, and honestly, you were incredible. I was blown away.” Running my thumb softly under her bottom lip, her eyes dart between mine.
“Really?” she asks.
“Yeah, really. Your voice is beautiful, and you can play the guitar while you sing. That's not easy, and you do it incredibly. You deserve to be on a stage.”
Heather smiles shyly, looking away. “Thank you, but you don't have to lie. I bombed, and it's all right. I guess it should be expected.”
“I don't think you bombed, but maybe next time, don't play this club. If I had known before tonight that you were planning on performing here, I would have told you to try the Rock House or the Tin Roof.”
“I'm going to have remember that for the next time.”
“So, there is going to be a next time? You're not giving up?”