Chapter Seventeen
Sammy’s Bar hadn’t changed a bit. Still had the same gravel parking lot, same old street lights. Same door she’d walked through a hundred times before. The parking lot was full, and not just the lot, but all along the main drag as far as she could see. Cars were shoved in any open space. Outside, there were crowds gathered, probably because Sammy’s had reached capacity inside. But the crowd didn’t seem to mind. They were bundled up, standing around outdoor heaters, watching a big canvas screen on the side of the building. Music hummed from inside and outside, the video feed matching the lyrics. They were streaming a live feed out here to the people who couldn’t fit inside.
Kong and Layla had upped the technology of this place. Nice.
She recognized a few old friends from Damon’s Mountains and waved to them as she made her way to the door. She expected Kong, the old silverback gorilla shifter whose mate owned the bar, to be running security, but another familiar face was there instead.
Don’t lose it, don’t lose it.
Brighton Beck was standing there, tall as an oak and wide as a barn, dark eyes dancing as he watched her approach.
“Hi Dad,” she murmured.
As he hugged her, he said in a forced whisper, “Hi, Juno-Bug.”
“Were you in on this?”
Dad smiled wickedly and shrugged. “I like him.”
She giggled. “Me too.”
“His Crew is crazy.”
Now she was really laughing. “Agreed. Are they here?”
Dad nodded, kissed the top of her head, and then let her in the door.
The place was packed, but everything melted away the second she locked eyes on Rhett. And, oh, his smile. He stopped mid-song. “Holy shit, y’all, there she is.”
The crowd turned to her and erupted in cheering. She knew some of them. Vyr was here, and Damon, Uncle Denny, Kellen, Tagan, Clinton, Kirk, Bash, Mason, Haydan. All their mates, too. It seemed like everyone had come down from Damon’s Mountains for this.
Home. Home. Home was here in Rhett’s smile.
“Damn, you’re a sight for sore eyes, woman,” Rhett said into the microphone. “I fuckin’ missed you.”
“Awwwwwwwww!” came a few dozen girl voices at once.
“Booooo,” Grim called from the bar.
“Yeah, boooo and barf,” Kamp called, cupping his hands around his mouth.
Remi was beside him cracking up.
“I have the worst friends in the world,” Rhett said with a chuckle. “Juno!” He squinted under the stage lights at her. “Whatcha got there?”
She lifted his guitar case. “A trade,” she called.
“Atta girl. I have a surprise for you, and for all of y’all tonight. A couple of special guests who wanted to come show this good ol boy how it’s done.”
Juno frowned as the crowd cheered. And then she saw them. Dad and Uncle Denny were making their way to the stage.
“Oh my gosh,” she whispered under her breath as they pulled their old guitars off the stands against the wall and climbed up onto the stage with stools in hand. Rhett was pouring them three shots of whiskey. Dad and Uncle Denny gave him bro hugs, and as they settled onto their own stools, Rhett leaned into the mic again. “I grew up with my eyes on one inspiration, and this is a dream come true for me tonight, playing with the Beck Brothers. Now, Juno’s dad told me her favorite song, one he wrote for her mother, Everly. This one’s called ‘Goodish Intentions.’”
The crowd went nuts, and suddenly Mom appeared right beside her. She already had tears in her eyes. Juno leaned into her side hug and rested her head on Mom’s shoulder as the boys began to play the song that had most touched her heart as she’d grown up. This song is what had made her believe in love.
She swayed with Mom the whole song, laughing as the occasional tear fell, and reveling in the sound of a hundred voices lifting to sing along.
This was everything.
She could die happy now because this moment had existed for her. Watching her mate, her Rhett, play a song with her dad and Uncle Denny, his eyes drinking her in as he sang right to her soul, like nobody else in this bar existed.
“He’s a good one, isn’t he?” Mom asked.
“Well, instead of calling me and asking me to come back, he came all the way to the place that means the most to me and made it special again. Plus, he dragged their wild asses here,” she said, gesturing to the Rogue Pride Crew. God, she couldn’t even imagine them on a plane together. Grim was definitely about to get into a bar fight with everyone. “That alone is a giant effort. I think that’s what it’s about—the effort.” Saying I love you was one thing, but showing love? Now that was entirely different. Maybe it was even bigger than the words.
“I think you’re gonna be just fine, Juno-Bug.”
Juno smiled sadly. “I wish I had more time with him.”
“Now you do,” Beaston rumbled from behind her. Remi was standing with him, two shots of something strong-lookin’ in her hands.
Green eyes blazing, Beaston held two pictures in his hands. When she hesitated to take them in her confusion, he shoved them forward at her.
“You were always gonna die in your twenty-seventh year. I told you this.”
“Yeah,” she said, frowning at the picture on top. It was of a magazine clipping. She remembered this. A music mag had interviewed her to get insight on up-and-coming bands and what they needed to do to get signed. The picture was of her, sitting at a two-person table in a pantsuit, watching a band. Her eyes were totally dead. She’d hated that band and signed them anyway.
Beaston pointed to that picture. “She died.”
Juno frowned and looked up at him. “I…I guess I don’t understand.”
He pulled that top picture away and exposed the one underneath. It was her yesterday, outside the bar where the Beateaters had played, mid-stride, holding Rhett’s guitar case. She had worn a black ripped-up tank top, shredded black jeans, and heeled booties because she’d felt good about herself and wanted to be comfortable last night. Her leather necklaces were swinging in the breeze, and her hair was lifted on one side…but that smile on her face was what took up the whole, grainy, black and white picture.
“This girl was born,” he growled, pointing to that picture. Beaston studied her face with those unsettling green eyes that saw so much more than anyone could fathom. “Happy birthday, Juno.”
“What?” she whispered, tears burning her eyes. “I’m not…” She swallowed hard and looked at Remi, then back to Beaston. “I’m okay?”
“You were dead inside, and now you’re alive,” he said and then melted into the crowd, leaving Juno with a hundred emotions rushing her at once.
“But…my nose was bleeding,” Juno whispered to Remi, not ready to believe all her worries were through. She had questions! “And I had an accidental Change and got disoriented.”
“Well, yeah, the altitude is way different in Rogue Pride Territory,” Remi said. “I got nose bleeds, too, when I first got out there. And your bear was probably wanting to stay, am I right?”
Her mind racing, Juno nodded.
“Yeah, your animal is going to act up if you try to leave her new territory. She picked a place and a mate, and you made her leave.” Remi shrugged. “If I was her I would do way worse than bloody noses and accidental Changes.”
All Juno could do was stare. She wasn’t capable of handling such an overwhelming feeling of reprieve. She parted her lips to try to say something smart, but once again, she Juno-ed it. “Living is awesome.”
Remi snorted. “You’re dang right it is. Here, shoot this.” She handed her a shot.
Feeling like her heart was going to eject itself out of her chest, she could only nod and toss it back with Remi.
Rhett’s charming voice rang out clear over the speakers. “I’m gonna take a quick break and go kiss my girl. Is that all right with y’all?”
The crowd cheered, and a few brave or drunk ones, whichever, started chanting, “Kiss her! Kiss her!”
Completely overwhelmed in the best way, Juno made her way toward him, weaving through the crowd as he hopped off the stage. The audience cleared the last few yards that separated them and she ran for him, her Rhett.
Sammy’s Bar hadn’t changed a bit. Still had the same gravel parking lot, same old street lights. Same door she’d walked through a hundred times before. The parking lot was full, and not just the lot, but all along the main drag as far as she could see. Cars were shoved in any open space. Outside, there were crowds gathered, probably because Sammy’s had reached capacity inside. But the crowd didn’t seem to mind. They were bundled up, standing around outdoor heaters, watching a big canvas screen on the side of the building. Music hummed from inside and outside, the video feed matching the lyrics. They were streaming a live feed out here to the people who couldn’t fit inside.
Kong and Layla had upped the technology of this place. Nice.
She recognized a few old friends from Damon’s Mountains and waved to them as she made her way to the door. She expected Kong, the old silverback gorilla shifter whose mate owned the bar, to be running security, but another familiar face was there instead.
Don’t lose it, don’t lose it.
Brighton Beck was standing there, tall as an oak and wide as a barn, dark eyes dancing as he watched her approach.
“Hi Dad,” she murmured.
As he hugged her, he said in a forced whisper, “Hi, Juno-Bug.”
“Were you in on this?”
Dad smiled wickedly and shrugged. “I like him.”
She giggled. “Me too.”
“His Crew is crazy.”
Now she was really laughing. “Agreed. Are they here?”
Dad nodded, kissed the top of her head, and then let her in the door.
The place was packed, but everything melted away the second she locked eyes on Rhett. And, oh, his smile. He stopped mid-song. “Holy shit, y’all, there she is.”
The crowd turned to her and erupted in cheering. She knew some of them. Vyr was here, and Damon, Uncle Denny, Kellen, Tagan, Clinton, Kirk, Bash, Mason, Haydan. All their mates, too. It seemed like everyone had come down from Damon’s Mountains for this.
Home. Home. Home was here in Rhett’s smile.
“Damn, you’re a sight for sore eyes, woman,” Rhett said into the microphone. “I fuckin’ missed you.”
“Awwwwwwwww!” came a few dozen girl voices at once.
“Booooo,” Grim called from the bar.
“Yeah, boooo and barf,” Kamp called, cupping his hands around his mouth.
Remi was beside him cracking up.
“I have the worst friends in the world,” Rhett said with a chuckle. “Juno!” He squinted under the stage lights at her. “Whatcha got there?”
She lifted his guitar case. “A trade,” she called.
“Atta girl. I have a surprise for you, and for all of y’all tonight. A couple of special guests who wanted to come show this good ol boy how it’s done.”
Juno frowned as the crowd cheered. And then she saw them. Dad and Uncle Denny were making their way to the stage.
“Oh my gosh,” she whispered under her breath as they pulled their old guitars off the stands against the wall and climbed up onto the stage with stools in hand. Rhett was pouring them three shots of whiskey. Dad and Uncle Denny gave him bro hugs, and as they settled onto their own stools, Rhett leaned into the mic again. “I grew up with my eyes on one inspiration, and this is a dream come true for me tonight, playing with the Beck Brothers. Now, Juno’s dad told me her favorite song, one he wrote for her mother, Everly. This one’s called ‘Goodish Intentions.’”
The crowd went nuts, and suddenly Mom appeared right beside her. She already had tears in her eyes. Juno leaned into her side hug and rested her head on Mom’s shoulder as the boys began to play the song that had most touched her heart as she’d grown up. This song is what had made her believe in love.
She swayed with Mom the whole song, laughing as the occasional tear fell, and reveling in the sound of a hundred voices lifting to sing along.
This was everything.
She could die happy now because this moment had existed for her. Watching her mate, her Rhett, play a song with her dad and Uncle Denny, his eyes drinking her in as he sang right to her soul, like nobody else in this bar existed.
“He’s a good one, isn’t he?” Mom asked.
“Well, instead of calling me and asking me to come back, he came all the way to the place that means the most to me and made it special again. Plus, he dragged their wild asses here,” she said, gesturing to the Rogue Pride Crew. God, she couldn’t even imagine them on a plane together. Grim was definitely about to get into a bar fight with everyone. “That alone is a giant effort. I think that’s what it’s about—the effort.” Saying I love you was one thing, but showing love? Now that was entirely different. Maybe it was even bigger than the words.
“I think you’re gonna be just fine, Juno-Bug.”
Juno smiled sadly. “I wish I had more time with him.”
“Now you do,” Beaston rumbled from behind her. Remi was standing with him, two shots of something strong-lookin’ in her hands.
Green eyes blazing, Beaston held two pictures in his hands. When she hesitated to take them in her confusion, he shoved them forward at her.
“You were always gonna die in your twenty-seventh year. I told you this.”
“Yeah,” she said, frowning at the picture on top. It was of a magazine clipping. She remembered this. A music mag had interviewed her to get insight on up-and-coming bands and what they needed to do to get signed. The picture was of her, sitting at a two-person table in a pantsuit, watching a band. Her eyes were totally dead. She’d hated that band and signed them anyway.
Beaston pointed to that picture. “She died.”
Juno frowned and looked up at him. “I…I guess I don’t understand.”
He pulled that top picture away and exposed the one underneath. It was her yesterday, outside the bar where the Beateaters had played, mid-stride, holding Rhett’s guitar case. She had worn a black ripped-up tank top, shredded black jeans, and heeled booties because she’d felt good about herself and wanted to be comfortable last night. Her leather necklaces were swinging in the breeze, and her hair was lifted on one side…but that smile on her face was what took up the whole, grainy, black and white picture.
“This girl was born,” he growled, pointing to that picture. Beaston studied her face with those unsettling green eyes that saw so much more than anyone could fathom. “Happy birthday, Juno.”
“What?” she whispered, tears burning her eyes. “I’m not…” She swallowed hard and looked at Remi, then back to Beaston. “I’m okay?”
“You were dead inside, and now you’re alive,” he said and then melted into the crowd, leaving Juno with a hundred emotions rushing her at once.
“But…my nose was bleeding,” Juno whispered to Remi, not ready to believe all her worries were through. She had questions! “And I had an accidental Change and got disoriented.”
“Well, yeah, the altitude is way different in Rogue Pride Territory,” Remi said. “I got nose bleeds, too, when I first got out there. And your bear was probably wanting to stay, am I right?”
Her mind racing, Juno nodded.
“Yeah, your animal is going to act up if you try to leave her new territory. She picked a place and a mate, and you made her leave.” Remi shrugged. “If I was her I would do way worse than bloody noses and accidental Changes.”
All Juno could do was stare. She wasn’t capable of handling such an overwhelming feeling of reprieve. She parted her lips to try to say something smart, but once again, she Juno-ed it. “Living is awesome.”
Remi snorted. “You’re dang right it is. Here, shoot this.” She handed her a shot.
Feeling like her heart was going to eject itself out of her chest, she could only nod and toss it back with Remi.
Rhett’s charming voice rang out clear over the speakers. “I’m gonna take a quick break and go kiss my girl. Is that all right with y’all?”
The crowd cheered, and a few brave or drunk ones, whichever, started chanting, “Kiss her! Kiss her!”
Completely overwhelmed in the best way, Juno made her way toward him, weaving through the crowd as he hopped off the stage. The audience cleared the last few yards that separated them and she ran for him, her Rhett.
