Without thinking about it, I wrapped the burly man into a hug. “Thank you for saving my dad. I honestly don’t even know what to say right now.”
Aaron was a little stiff as he shrugged once I finally let him go. “All in a day’s work. Kind of have a soft spot for this place and the gruff bartender that makes the best drinks in town.”
After chatting with my father’s rescuer for a few minutes, Rodney motioned for the stage, and Dane and I followed as Colt trotted up from the other side of the bar. Everyone jumped to their feet instantly.
“Give it up for the man of the hour, your favorite bar owner and bartender, Marty Steele! Without him, we wouldn’t be a band. We would have never been able to find a place to let us hooligans with instruments play a gig all those years ago. Marty, we salute you and thank you for everything.” Rodney pointed to my dad as he stood and took an exaggerated bow.
Colt grabbed the mic, yelling, “This one is for you, Marty!”
We dove into a rocked-out version of ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow’ as my dad danced and laughed along. It was one of the most fun times I could remember on stage. I loved my dad, and seeing how many other people cared that much about him really meant something to me.
Diving right in, we kicked off with one of our newer hits. I loved the lyrics Dane had written right after he met Fallon, and the behind-the-scenes for the song was even more beautiful than the lyrics it produced.
Stop my heart
Inspire me
Take my breath away
Make me believe
I know there is beauty
I want to see yours
Be raw, open up
Let me see everything
Walk along the thin line of sanity
Dark and deep
Cool and damp
The caverns of your soul
Ones left unexplored
That’s where I belong
Cloak me in your imagination
Let me take it all in
Stop my heart
Inspire me
Take my breath away
Make me believe you love me
Back when thatsong was first written, I was jealous of Dane. I longed for those feelings when I was completely empty. My eyes stayed glued on Cali as she swayed and made drinks. I’d found her. I had actually found the one I had been yearning for all those years ago, and finally, I was seeing it.
After a few more songs, we closed out our set and offered up the mic to the rest of the crowd. As a raspy voice sang Etta James’ “At Last”, I scooped Cali into my arms and sang the song into her ear behind the bar.
Smiling and giggling, Cali melted into me. We danced our first dance behind that bar with everyone watching us, but I didn’t care. Anyone could watch, and everyone could see I was falling hard; I wanted to scream it from the rooftops. Three minutes of bliss whisked my heart into hyperdrive, and I couldn’t have been happier about it.
“You’re amazing,” Cali whispered in my ear as the song ended.
“You make me amazing, Cali. It’s all you,” I replied sincerely.
My dad slammed his empty drink onto the bar and called over to Cali, “Welcome to the Mountain Breath family, my dear.”
Cali blushed. “I couldn’t be happier to be here.”