“Haven’t seen you around much, man,” Casey said, releasing his hand and pulling a fake look ofconcern.
Jacques knew he was referring to the end of Epoch. Lafayette was a college town with a vibrant live-music scene, but there were still only so many venues. The places he’d headlined solo since the breakup had been on the small end, not the most coveted stages like Blue Moon or Warehouse 535 or The Grouse Room. And Casey was rubbing itin.
“I’m playing at Artmosphere Thursday night,” he returned, ignoring the intendedslight.
Casey wrinkled his nose. “Ouch. Sorry,man.”
At the words, Jacques witnessed Rainey’s spine stiffen. Her eyes locked with his across the table, and before she broke her gaze, she winked athim.
“What do you mean by that?” she asked, aiming her question at Casey. She thrust her hand at him. “Hi, I’m Rainey. My aunt owns Artmosphere. What’d you say your namewas?”
Casey’s eyes flew open, and his mouth actually gaped. The guy was an idiot on top of being a Grade-A asshole, but he was smart enough to know better than to insult the proprietor ofanylive-music venue in town. Successful bar owners and restaurateurs generally owned two or three places that catered to different demographics. Jacques bit his lip to keep from laughing when Caseyblanched.
“Casey,” he muttered, shaking Rainey’s hand with obvioustrepidation.
“Oh, Casey what?” she asked, narrowing a piercing stare athim.
“North?”
Jacques watched Rainey’s mouth twitch at Casey’s feeble tone, and it was a thing ofbeauty.
“Well, Casey North,” she repeated with confidence, “Jacques is laying down an album with his new band tomorrow at Dockside Studios, but if you and your friend don’t like Artmosphere, you can catch him Friday at Agave and Saturday at the Biergarten. We’d love to see you there. Wouldn’t we,honey?”
It was thehoneythat nearly did him in. His smile threatened to do him harm, and he was trying so hard not to laugh, he risked breaking a rib. And not only was it hilarious to watch her put North in his place, but Jacques also knew he hadn’t told her where he’d be playing the rest of the week, and she’d nailed his schedule. Which could only mean she’d looked him up after he left her house that afternoon. That had to be a good sign,right?
It sure as hell felt good. And so did hearing her call himhoney.
Casey seemed to choke for a minute before he stared back at Jacques. “You have a newband?”
Before Jacques could answer, Rainey’s hands shot across the table and clasped his. “He does, and they’re awesome, but as you can imagine with a schedule as busy as his, this is the only chance we’ve had in forever to go out to dinner, so I’m sorry, but I’m pretty jealous about the time we get together. He can tell you about the band another time. I hope youunderstand.”
In the face of that unmistakable dismissal, Casey North could only nod like the tool he was. “Yeah. Sure, I understand. Excuse us.” He gave them both a wave and grabbed his date’s elbow as though it were the last parachute in a flaming plane. “Y’all have a goodnight.”
And then they weregone.
Jacques watched the door close behind them before he turned back to Rainey, unable to mask the worship that lit his being from the inside. She still held his hands in hers, and Jacques clasped back so she couldn’t slipaway.
“I’ve been on a lot of stages, but that was the best performance I think I’ve everseen.”
Chapter 8
Rainey’s faceflamed as she met his eyes. He probably thought she was an absolutenut.
“Well, let me explain first,” she began, but Jacques just burst outlaughing.
“Did you see his face?” he asked through his laughter. “I thought his eyes were going to jump out his skull when you said your aunt ownedArtmosphere.”
Rainey bit her lip, not sure if she should be relieved or ashamed. Jacques’s laughter halted on an inhale. “Wait, is she your aunt?” he asked wide-eyed.
She blew out a breath and leaned forward to whisper. “No, the only aunt I have is married to my mom’s brother Bill, and they live in Denver,” she said, shaking her head. “But I do know the owner. She’s a friend of my dad’s. Besides, Artmosphere is a cool place, and Casey North is anassaholic.”
Jacques’s laughter boomed through the tiny restaurant, and he squeezed her hands. “Do you know him?” he asked, letting go with his right hand to wipe his tearing eyes. As soon as he had, he claimed her left handagain.
Rainey shrugged. “Sort of. He chased after Holi for a while in high school, but he clearly doesn’t remember me. He never did, which was only one of the reasons she’d never go out with him,” she unloaded. “But primarily it was because he was always trashing people he found threatening — which was practicallyeverybody.”
Chuckling, Jacques nodded. “That doesn’t surprise me. Where did you go to highschool?”
“St. Thomas More.You?”