“You’re set,” he says, nodding approvingly.“Tomorrow night, just give them the real stuff.Nocté’s crowd doesn’t want gimmicks—they want heart.”
“I can do that,” I say, shaking his hand.
As I head for the door, I catch Myles’s eye from across the bar.She leans against the counter, a drink in hand, watching me with that same sharp gaze.
“Don’t make me regret it, Price,” she says, lifting her glass in a mock toast.
“I won’t,” I say, casting a wave as I head for the door.
* * *
By the time I pull into Ethan’s driveway, the sun’s low on the horizon, spilling gold and orange across the trees.The crisp air bites at my skin as I step out of the Jeep and grab my guitar case from the back.
“About time,” Ethan says, grinning as he opens the door.“I was starting to think you got lost on the way here.”
“I’d have to try pretty hard to get lost in Duluth,” I reply, stepping inside and shrugging off my jacket.
Ethan laughs, clapping me on the shoulder as he leads me into the kitchen.It’s a familiar space, warm and cluttered with the kind of chaos that comes from having a newborn in the house.
“Grab a beer,” Ethan says, gesturing to the fridge.“Tess is upstairs with Mina, so it’s just us for now.Anna should be here soon.”
My hand freezes halfway to the fridge handle.“Anna’s coming?”
Ethan looks at me like I’ve just asked if water’s wet.“Uh, yeah.She’s my sister.You knew that, right?”
Of course I knew that.I just didn’t think she’d behere.
Freaking Korean families.They always make a big deal about things.I’m surprised he didn’t invite his parent’s too, come to think of it.
“Right,” I say, grabbing a beer and twisting off the cap.“Got it.”
Ethan smirks, clearly enjoying my discomfort.“Relax, man.It’s just dinner.You two can manage a meal without killing each other, can’t you?”
Before I can respond, the sound of the front door opening cuts through the room.
“Ethan!”Anna’s voice is sharp, followed by the unmistakable sound of boots thudding against the hardwood.“Where is that adorable baby.I need some Mina time.”
I don’t even have time to brace myself before she rounds the corner, her hair piled into a messy bun and her leather jacket slung casually over one arm.She stops short when she sees me, her eyes narrowing like I’m something she scraped off her shoe.
“Joel.”
“Anna,” I reply, keeping my tone as casual as I can manage.
She crosses her arms, shifting her weight onto one hip.“What the hell are you doing here?”
“It’s calleddinner,” Ethan says from behind me, his tone infuriatingly calm as he slowly pronounces dinner.
Her glare shifts to him, then back to me.“You invited him to dinner without telling me?”
Ethan shrugs, clearly unbothered.“Seemed like a good idea at the time.”
“Unbelievable,” Anna mutters, shaking her head.“Fine.Whatever.I’m starving and you ate all of my dumplings.”Then she slowly and deliberately turns to me, locking her cold gaze on me.“Just don’t expect me to play nice.”
I raise my beer in a mock toast, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth, despite my heart hammering in my chest.“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Her eyes narrow even further, but she doesn’t take the bait.Instead, she grabs a plate from the counter and mutters something about regretting every life choice that brought her here.
Ethan just grins, cracking open his own beer.“This is going to be fun.”