Page 10 of A Little Luck
“At least we have somewhere to go if the world ever does come to an end.” Adam teases, and I cringe.
Everyone knows my mom’s a prepper—asurvivalist, as she corrects us. I’m just glad that’s the extent of her crazy. As Britt likes to say, it could be worse.
Although, I’m not sure if having a tarot reader for a mom and a former magician for a grandmother like Britt does is worse than a doomsday prepper.
Mom’s not just waiting for the world to end, she’s got her suspicious eyes on everyone.
“Are you two going to stand there talking or are you joining us?” Alex calls to us from the booth, and we walk around to sit across from them. “Now tell my beautiful bride how incredible her voice is.”
Adam cuts his eyes at me, and I snort a laugh.
“Oh, stop it.” Cass playfully pushes Alex’s arm. “You’re embarrassing me, and just listen to Doug—he’s killing it!”
“That might be the easiest song ever written,” Alex gripes. “And the most repetitive.”
We all glance to where the sixty-something-year-old deputy is pumping his elbows and doing a little shuffle-step to the fading strains of the song.
Adam laughs, clapping and giving him a loud, taxi-hailing whistle.
“I never could whistle like that.” I frown, and he tries to show me how you curl your bottom lip and arch your tongue.
Alex waves him away, explaining it’s much easier if you use your thumb and middle finger. Cass and I only exchange a look and start to laugh.
“I’m never going to learn to do it,” I confess.
Up next is Terra Belle’s sister Liberty, who gets a big response singing “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood.
“I have to hand it to you, Alex,” I lean forward, shouting over the music. “I didn’t expect karaoke night to be such a hit.”
“I have a knack for knowing things.” He lifts his chin, and Adam throws the lime from his beer at his brother.
“Cut the shit. We all know you bought out the restaurant in case nobody showed up tonight.”
Cass’s jaw drops. “You did not! This was all for me?”
“Tell me, Miss Dixon,” I adopt an old-timey news reporter’s voice. “What’s it like to be marrying the richest man in town?”
“Don’t print that.” Alex points at me.
My eyes squint, and I pretend to consider his request. “Are you attempting to suppress the free flow of information? Typical billionaire behavior.”
“Piper…” His voice is warning, and I start to laugh.
“I think I can leave that part out of my review. How’s this for a headline, ‘Qué Sorpresa!Karaoke Night is a Hit!’”
“Your drinks are on me.” Alex holds up his hand, and we air-high-five across the table.
The rest of the night continues with more silly songs. Adam sings “Monster Mash,” since it’s getting closer to Halloween, and the entire restaurant is on their feet singing along.
When he returns to the booth, he loops his arm across the back of my seat. It’s not exactly a hug, but the back of my head is against his shoulder.
“That was very unexpected.” I wink at him.
“Everybody loves holiday music.”
Later, when Liberty sings “And So It Goes,” by Billy Joel, he presses his cheek to my head, and a flush of warmth moves through my chest. It sends my thoughts down a rabbit hole.
For five years, I’ve worked hard, building a life with my son and doing my best to keep theEureka Gazetterunning and even growing in an age where local papers are dying.