Chapter 6

6

Silas

I walk into Ruby’s at four o’clock the next day, hoping Joey is here. When I see him off to the side, working on paperwork, I head in his direction.

“What’s up, Joey?” I say to get his attention.

He looks up, then holds his hand out to me to slap in greeting. “Hey, what’s going on?”

I take a seat, and he immediately turns to grab me a beer, but I stop him. “Nothing today.”

A questioning expression covers his face as he wonders why I’m here.

“I wanted to ask when Kara performs again.”

“Well, well, well. Has a certain singer caught your attention, and now, you’re wanting to stalk her since she turned your ass down?”

“She didn’t turn my ass down. We went on a date last night, fuck you very much for doubting me,” I tease. “She told me you booked her for more gigs. I want to try and fill up this place to surprise her.”

“Well, I am not going to turn down you trying to get more customers here, so let me go grab my book.”

He leaves for a second, then comes back and flips to this week’s schedule, running his finger over the dates until he sees her name. “She’s coming in next Thursday. Goes on at eight.”

I pull out my card that has my schedule on it. Working twenty-four on and forty-eight off can be impossible to track, so they give us a color-coded card that tells us what days we work for our shift.

“Good. I’m off that day.” I slap the bar as I stand up, knowing I have some work to do. “Better make sure you have extra staff that night.”

He laughs. “You’d better make sure you fill this place, or you’re covering their hours.”

“You know I’ll come through.” I head toward the exit, calling over my shoulder, “Thank you,” as I pull out my phone.

I know nothing about having to get people to attend something, but I know who will.

My sister, Anaiah, answers on the second ring. “What’s up, big bro?”

“Hey, you up for helping me with something?”

She laughs out loud. “You’ll have to tell me first what you mean. I’m not falling down that trap again.”

I’ll admit, being her big brother, I’ve tricked her into doing some silly shit over the years, so I shouldn’t blame her for questioning my motives.

“I promise it’s nothing bad. I know you know how to do social media stuff. I’m hoping you can help me make a flier and help spread it all over to try to get people to come to Ruby’s next Thursday.”

“Yeah, I can do that. Why? What’s going on that they are asking for your help?”

“They have a girl performing that night, and I want to fill the place.”

“Oh … a girl. Do tell.”

“Yes, a girl. Don’t give me shit. Her name is Kara, and she’s pretty good.”

“Did you get her number?” she singsongs.

“Yes, I got her number.” I match her tone. “And we went on a date.”

“And now, you’re helping promote her show? That’s fast.”

“Yes, I’m helping promote her show, and, no, she doesn’t know I’m doing it. I want it to be a surprise.”

“Aw! You really like her!”

I sigh. “Yes. Now, can we move on? Will you help me or not?”

“Yes, I’ll help you. What’s her name, so I can look her up?”

“Kara Parsons.”

“Kara … Parsons,” she says really slow, like she’s typing it in somewhere. “Oh, she’s pretty! I can see her being your type.”

“Do you think you have enough to make something cool?”

“Yeah, I got you. What time is she going on?”

“Eight o’clock. Can you post it to some of your college groups to try to create buzz?”

“Of course. I’ll see what’s going on that night, and hopefully, we can get my sorority girls to come too.”

My sister is a senior in college at Tennessee State, and I never thought her being in the Delta Gamma sorority would help me in any way, but here we are. I know if she puts it out to them, then I’ll have no problem filling this place.

“Thanks for your help. Send me whatever you put together, so I can print it out to put up as well.”

“Hey, Silas …”

“Yeah.”

“This is pretty cool of you to do.”

“Thanks for helping. Love ya.”

“Love you too, big bro.”

We hang up, and I head to my truck, feeling good about actually making this happen.

Kara

I pick up the girls from school, and Lana is quick to ask me, “How did your date go?” as she hops in the car.

I give her a cheesy grin. “Really good. I can’t believe you remembered.”

She reaches for her seat belt, yanking it around her as she says, “Of course I remembered. Mom wouldn’t let me call you this morning to ask though, so I had to wait all day.”

“Well, I’m sorry you had to wait all day, but, yes, I had a good time last night.”

“Are you going to see him again?”

“I think so.” I turn the other way to check on Katy, who is in the back seat next to her. “You ready to go?”

“I’m ready.” She gives me double thumbs-up so I can see her buckled booster seat.

We head back to their place, where we’ll do our routine of snacks, homework, and dinner prep before Heather and Steve get home.

I’m washing my hands when Lana comes running into the kitchen.

“Your phone is ringing,” she says, handing it to me.

I dry my hands and grab it from her, seeing Nikki is calling. “Hello?” I singsong as my greeting.

“Um, amazing flier! How come you didn’t send it to me so I could post it too?”

“Because I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I laugh.

“The flier for your show at Ruby’s on Thursday.”

I shake my head in disbelief even though I know she can’t see me as I reply again, “Maybe they put something together, but I haven’t seen it.”

“Here, I’ll send it to you.”

I wait while she taps away on her phone, and I put it on speakerphone so I can see whatever she sends me.

My phone dings with a text, so I click on her name to open up the message, seeing a flier that blows my mind.

“Oh my God!” I jump for joy. “This is amazing!”

I was expecting something simple with text and the time, but, no, this thing is professional-looking, to say the least. It has multiple pictures of me, taken from my social media, as well as Ruby’s logo, all cohesively put together, making it look like a real concert flier for someone who’s already made it big.

“Right? Girl, you’ve made it! This is just the beginning. You know I’ll be there. I’ve already got someone to work my shift that night.”

“Aw, thank you!” I say, still amazed at the support I’m getting from all sides right now.

“Okay, my break is over. I was sitting, trying to relax by scrolling on social media, and I got all worked up when I saw your flier,” she jokes.

“Well, I’m glad you saw it. I don’t know if I would have!”

“Congrats. I’ll call you later.”

“ ’K, bye.”

She hangs up, and I pull up my texts to send Joey a message to thank him.

That flier is amazing. Thank you so much for putting it together.

Don’t thank me. That’s all Silas.

I sit in stunned silence as I look at the screen, seeing Silas’s name. He did this?

OK. Thanks.

After I hit Send, I feel so stupid that I had no idea how to respond, but felt like I needed to say something.

Before I can overthink it, I pull up Silas’s text thread and send the photo of the flier to him.

I can’t thank you enough for this! It’s amazing!

I told you I would help! How’d you know it was me?

Joey

Should have known. And full disclosure: I didn’t make it. My sister did.

You called your sister?

Heck yeah. You think I could do that on my own?

Reading his message makes me giggle.

Please tell her thank you. And thank you for setting it up.

You’re welcome.

I set my phone down, knowing I could get lost in conversation with him if I don’t watch it, and I have dinner to get going before Heather and Steve get home.