Chapter 1- Jammin’
The loud voices of the crowd carry through the open doorway as I shuffle inside, trying to balance my oversized purse and an enormous, bulky tray of toffee. I barely manage to squeeze in before someone lets the door go and I twirl to the left, towards the food area. Huffing, I drop my purse on the ground as I arrange the dessert, trying to be quick so I won’t miss the next musical arrangement.
“You’re cutting it close tonight, Bliss!” I whirl around and nearly elbow Cadence, my best friend.
“Ugh, the butter took forever to brown and then I had to dig through the entire kitchen for wax paper.”
“Well it looks amazing, so I’m sure it’s worth the time crunch.” Cadence helps herself to a giant corner piece, munching happily while waving to a few of her neighbors.
“Honestly, I don’t know why I bother. Jennifer Winston’s stuff is off the charts, mine won’t even register on anyone’s radar. It was either that or make a rum punch and I think alcohol would make me a nutter tonight.”
Cadence laughed. “I don’t understand why you get so worked up every time Green Valley has its jam session. C’mon nutter, let’s move!”
Cadence was right, I really did work myself up before the jam session every time. It didn’t matter that it happened the last Friday of the month, like clockwork. It didn’t matter that it was always in the same spot- the Green Valley Community Center. It didn’t matter that I always met Cadence near the food drop at 6:30 pm sharp- I always felt my stomach tilt and my skin overheat every single time. Because I knew, without a doubt, that Grady Mattison was playing guitar in room 3. I knew that his little Green Valley fan club would be right up front, elbowing anyone who got too close to the band’s set up. I knew that Aubrey Michaels would be in the tightest pants she owned, bragging how she personally helped the band with all their necessities, such as drink refills, organizing requests, and shameless flattery. Still, I showed up every month, like clockwork, hoping this would be the week that something amazing would happen.
Cadence leads the way and we push through the crowd, trying to hang back from the front area. The musicians are still tuning their instruments, chatting amongst each other, smiling at the pretty girls. Most of the other rooms were occupied by a strange mix of musicians, differing ages and styles, and an eclectic variety of instruments. They were all thrown together and would jam out based on their changing moods, which was what everyone seemed to enjoy best. Room 3, however, was absolutely packed. Green Valley’s most popular musicians play here. They are in their early 30’s and always seem to gravitate towards each other, despite playing in all the other rooms. Grady is on the left, quiet and focused.
“Good evening, Green Valley!” The cheers and whistles echo throughout the room. “Who’s ready for a little jam session?” Avis Matthews, one of the best singers in town, booms over the crowd. “We thought we’d kick off the night with a little bit of oldies,” and with that, Avis starts up with Brown-Eyed Girl. The crowd begins cheering and I twirl Cadence and laugh. We dance together, smiling and singing the lyrics, moving around with the crowd. They play song after song, cranking the volume as more and more people pile into the room.
Suddenly, I feel something happening. I can hear my heartbeat loudly pounding in my ears. I feel a chill skitter down my spine, yet I'm drenched in sweat. As the band starts their instrumental peak, I feel my entire world tilt on its axis. The louder the band becomes, the more I feel the room spinning. “Cadence…,” I whisper, reaching out for something to hold onto. Cadence is screaming in conversation with another woman nearby, not hearing me. “Ohhhhh shiiiiiit.” The world spins out and I feel the floor drop out from under me.
“Bliss! Oh my God! Someone help!” Cadence is panicking as I fade out, hearing nothing else but the roar of waves in my head. I have no idea how much time had passed when I hear the sound come rushing back into my ears. “C’mon baby, you gotta sit up.” I blink. Baby?…I thought. Who? What? I slowly open my eyes and immediately scrunch them back closed. “Holy shit.” I feel a slow chuckle against my back as I come to and try to center my energy on the fact that I am in someone’s lap. I swallow loudly, immediately self-conscious as I look up into the most mesmerizing green eyes I have ever seen. “You doing okay, sweetheart? What do you need?” Grady Mattison has one arm around my waist, the other feeling the temperature of my forehead. Which, OF COURSE, is clammy as hell. “Oh God…,” I mutter.
“Ew…is she gonna be sick? You better release her before she drenches your beard Grady. GROSS,” Aubrey Michaels’ high-pitched voice breaks through my dreamy haze. “Um…yeah I better get up. Excuse me.” It seems like it takes ages to pull myself up, but Grady’s strong hands are at my back, careful to brace me in case I teeter backward.
“Thanks…but really, I’m fine. Thank you,” I hurriedly shuffle up and through the crowd, careening into the bathroom to hide in shame. “Christ on a cracker…seriously?!” I groan aloud. I spend a few minutes washing my hands, blotting my face, and trying to calm my racing heart. I hear the door open and glance up at Jennifer Winston’s kind expression. “Hi…are you doing alright? I brought you some lemonade to get some sugar into your system,” she smiles at me sweetly. “Ughhhh yes, other than wanting to teleport via toilet like Harry Potter right now, yes, I’m fine.” Jen just giggles and pulls me in for a hug. “It isn’t that bad. You did not vomit, so no need for magical transporting toilets.”
“Bliss!!!!! Oh my God, you need to woman up and come out there. How we doin’ babe?” Cadence rushes up and grips my elbows.
“I’m doin’ great, but definitely not coming out there with my head held high. I need a sneaky exit plan, STAT.”
“No, seriously Bliss, get it together and go out there-“
“Dude, no!” I interrupt. “I am not going back there. I bet Aubrey’s going to be a ginormous twat and make fun of me. And who knows what’s going through Grady’s mind right now. I was IN.HIS.LAP. HIS LAP, Cadence! Do you know how many times I’ve imagined that?! Naked?! But no, I pass out listening to the freakin’ oldies and he has to prop me up like Weekend at Bernie's!”
Cadence, to her credit, holds in her laugh and tries to grab my hands, but I bat them away and refuse to let her finish. I walk backwards towards the door. “I am going to head out, can you grab my toffee tray and I’ll pick it up tomorrow? You didn’t see me.” I bump the door open and swiftly turn out of the doorway only to see Grady grinning at me, leaning against the wall. “Weekend at Bernie's…great movie.”
I close my eyes, willing this night to end. “Yeah…most people haven’t really seen it, but it’s a classic. I’ll go die now.”
Grady laughs and lifts my purse. “You dropped this when you fell, but I made sure to grab everything. I’ve already talked to Cadence, she’ll bring you back to your car tomorrow, so we’re all set to head out.”
“Head out?” I inch further away from him, looking for Cadence.
“Yeah, I don’t think you should drive, something obviously happened back there. So I’ll take you home,” he smiles at me, gesturing to the exit.
“But the jam session isn’t over. It’s only 7:45. I’m fine, I can find a way home.”
“Bliss? I’d really feel better if I knew you got home safely. Cadence already programmed your address, I promise I’ll get you home quickly so you can rest.” He looks into my eyes, no hint of inconvenience in them.
I sigh. I hear the bathroom door swing open and Jen and Cadence both look over at me, Cadence giving me a thumbs up. “You good, Bliss?” At least Jen is looking at me for any signs of distress.
I nod and stop beside Grady, who is waiting and still holding my purse. “Let’s get you home, baby.”
