Page 7 of Something to Prove

“They’re…enthusiastic.” I winced at the screech of the guitar as I swiveled on my barstool.

“And loud.” Crysta delivered a drink order and returned to fuss with my cocktail-napkin situation…and gab. “The band is friendly with the kid whose dad owns this place, so this is probably the fifth or sixth time I’ve had the pleasure of partaking of these sick tunes.”

I snorted. “Lucky you.”

“At least they’re easy on the eyes.”

I studied the greasy long-haired quartet rocking holey jeans and sweat-stained plaid shirts. “If you say so.”

Crysta snapped my arm with a dish towel. “I do say so. C’mon, that drummer is fine. Admit it.”

“He’s all yours, honey.”

“Oooh, thank you. And who do you think is sexier than the drummer? No, wait. Let me guess. You’re in your boy-next-door era. If so, the guy bopping near the speakers is adorable.”

I glanced toward the stage. “Cute, but not for me.”

“How about a hockey player?”

“That’s a definitive no.”

“I’m doubting your taste in men, Walker.” She tilted her chin at someone behind me. “No one in their right mind would kick Ty Czerniak out of bed.”

“Ty? Is he here?” I twisted on my stool, but couldn’t see anything beyond the press of bodies swarming around the bar.

“Yeah, I think he’s heading for the john.” Crysta held up a finger and smiled icily at a brawny dude on the opposite end waving her over. “I’ve been summoned. Want a refill?”

“Uh, no, thanks.”

I sat frozen with indecision for a minute. Ty’s agent hadn’t returned my call, and Ty had personally made it clear that he’d sooner drink Drano than speak to me. But…I needed Ty’s cooperation and if I had to apologize again for past indiscretions to get a sliver of his time, I was willing to do so. It was my job.

On a scale of one to ten, how tacky was it to corner a prospective interviewee in a men’s room? Probably a solid ten. But desperate times, desperate measures.

I left a few bills under my half-empty glass before snaking my way through the crowd toward the restrooms. I pushed the door open, scanning the dimly lit space. Two guys stood at urinals and another was checking his reflection in the mirror. The stalls were empty. No sign of Ty.

Huh.

I chewed my bottom lip in the corridor, wondering if his eardrums begged for mercy and he’d wisely checked out for the night. In which case, Ty might still be in the parking lot. And yay for that ’cause cornering him in a parking lot rather than a urinal was a lesser offense by a long shot.

On that note, I exited the building.

But he was gone.

Maybe he’d been in a hurry, or maybe Crysta had mistaken someone else for Ty.

Oh, well. I wasn’t in a rush to get back to the concert. No thanks. Give me chirping crickets and the hum of traffic in the distance any day.

I skirted the lamplights and slipped into the alley, hoping to stay unnoticed when a posse of new patrons piled out of their cars. I recognized a couple of them from school. We were either in the same classes or I’d interviewed them at some point…maybe.

Not that it mattered. I needed a moment to clear my thoughts before returning for the interview portion of the program and?—

“Fuck, yeah. That’s good. Open up wider. Fuuuuck…”

I whipped my head sideways, staring at the shadowy figures ten feet away from me.

A big man with muscular arms leaned against the brick wall and another figure kneeled at his feet doing…sex things. It was too dark to see either of them clearly, but there was something familiar about?—

Whoa!What was I doing?