A Song for Us

Chapter Sixteen

SARAH

HOW DOES IT feel being Mrs. Tucker White?” I asked as I held my hair back so it wouldn’t drag on my plate.

“It feels . . . like the way it should be.” Cass smiled and I loved how genuinely happy she was.

“I still think you should have kept your last name,” Chris chimed in as he took a bite from a roll.

“As brilliant of an idea that it was to name our son Jack Daniels, I couldn’t go through with it.”

Chris put his hand over his heart as if he were hurt, and Cass mouthed sorry to him as she smiled. “I missed this,” she said with a sigh as the waitress came over to take our orders. I hadn’t even looked over the menu. I picked it up and my eyes scanned the lists of entrées, sneaking a glance at E, who was leaning closer to Donna, discussing what they wanted to eat. Derek’s hand fell on my thigh and I looked over at him, smiling weakly as he patted my leg.

He was trying and I hated myself for wishing that he hadn’t waited so long to make an effort. I slipped my hand under the table and wrapped my fingers around his and gave them a squeeze.

“I’ll have the bacon burger with mayo,” I said as I held out my menu for the server to take. She went around the rest of the table taking everyone’s order.

After we were left alone again the drinks began to flow, and everyone was in good spirits. For once, there was no fighting, and it made me miss our tour even more.

“Next tour kicks off in a month,” Derek said to Tucker.

“We need to have Donna go over our schedule with you. Maybe we can meet up along the way, play a gig together for old times’ sake.”

“I would love to get to hang out with Cass again. I miss her.” I could feel E’s eyes on me and I avoided his gaze.

“So you can use me as your Barbie doll again?” Cass laughed and threw a roll toward me.

“Come on. You looked hot and it is always fun to be pampered.”

“You did look hot.” Tucker gave Cass a lopsided grin and kissed her temple.

“See. It was fun. Plus we could work on some new songs. Have you written anything lately?”

“I wrote a song for Tucker, but I am not sharing that with these perverts.”

“Can’t blame you there. Derek thinks everything has some sort of sexual reference.” I rolled my eyes and he elbowed me playfully in the ribs. “It’s true.”

“It’s not my fault you have a dirty mind.” He narrowed his eyes and I did the same.

“It would really be nice to have another girl around. Donna is always nose deep in business when we’re on the bus.”

“Ninety percent of my business consists of keeping E out of fights. It’s a full-time job,” Donna chimed in, and I glanced over toward her, allowing myself to look at E. His eyes were already on mine.

“That’s the easy part. You just sidetrack him with a funny story. Once you get him laughing, he forgets all about kicking ass,” I replied, and E gave me a lopsided grin.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Certainly easier than trying to shove myself between two drunken men while in heels.” Donna took a sip from her glass.

The food arrived in the middle of our conversation and everyone quieted down as we ate, except for Terry and Chris, who were arguing over who called dibs on the waitress. They never seemed to tire, and it was exhausting just watching them.

“You could always take turns. It worked out so well for you in the past,” E joked, and Terry tossed a roll at him. E picked up a handful of fries and Donna grabbed him, stopping him from starting a food fight in the middle of the restaurant.

“I call first,” Chris yelled, and everyone erupted in laughter.