Free Still Into You: A Novel (Better Than Series Book 3) by Emme Burton Page B

scream in unison at the top of our lungs, “BOXWOOD!!”
    Oh My God, I’ve never heard Boxwood in a bar before.  I mean, I have, LIVE , but not being played by a DJ.  We abandon the table and rush to the dance floor to rip it up to “Southside Miss America.”  I’m impressed to see that Clay, Jack and Quarter know all the words. 
    The song is about the part of our town where all the streets have the names of states.  It’s also a lower socio-economic area with rapidly changing areas of diversity.  Boxwood wrote the song with the idea that they could change the street names in the song by wherever they are playing at the time.  It’s sort of genius.  On this version, the recorded one, they end with the girl being a “Show Me” girl from Missouri Street.  Jules is dancing and smiling and singing – LOUDLY. 
    She yells out, “That’s my husband!”
    The whole bar is singing the song.  How did we not know everyone knew this song?
    ***
    We learn pretty quickly from other bar patrons that “Southside Miss America” is in the Top 100 for Pop/Rock.  Charlie never called to tell us and oddly, we haven’t been listening to the radio much.  I’m so excited for Charlie and the other Boxwood guys, Simon, Ian and Colin.  There are no harder working musicians and they’ve certainly paid their dues over the past four years.  Jules asks the DJ to play it again after a few more songs.  She videos the bar crowd all singing along and dancing and texts it to Charlie, squealing the entire time.
    There is a 99.99 percent chance we are closing The Lucky Snapper down tonight/this morning.  I’ve danced almost continuously since the first time they played Boxwood’s hit.  Boxwood’s hit!  When I do take a break, I quickly down more beers with the guys.  I’m buzzed, but not too badly.  Just crazy relaxed and happy.  The only thing that could make it better would be Davis – here.
    After the fireworks, they announce last call at the bar.  Jules has rushed off to use the bathroom before we leave, claiming she’ll never make it home if she doesn’t.  I wonder after she slips away if I shouldn’t join her.  I’ve had a lot of beer. 
    After I throw in some cash, and argue with Clay about doing so, he pays the tab.  Glancing up from putting my wallet back in my crossbody bag, I look across the bar and spy Jules talking to a guy in a Cards ball cap.  He’s turned three quarters of the way away from me and I can just barely see his profile.  I think he looks familiar.  He has hair the color of Davis’ and the same length too.  I know it’s not Davis because this guy is shorter.  Jules is nodding and smiling.  She points over her shoulder at me and the guy quickly turns his head to look in my direction for a second.  I feel myself inhale sharply.  It can’t be!  It can’t be him!
    The guy turns away and I see Jules mouth the words, ‘Bye,’ as he leaves.  The lights in the club come up fully and everyone still in the place moans and shields their eyes.  The bartender claps his hands three times loudly and proclaims, “People – Closing Time.  You don’t have to go home … but you can’t stay here.”  This only causes the remaining crowd to begin singing the Semisonic song that states the same sentiment.  It doesn’t get them moving any faster.  I don’t join them in moving, or singing.  I’m frozen.  I just keep looking at the place where the guy in the baseball cap was talking to Jules.  Even as she comes toward me, my focus is still behind her.
    “Hey, Biz … I just met another one of your fans…” Jules announces.
    I shake my head no.  And then say it. “No.”
    “What do you mean ‘no’?  The guy said he recognized you from your show.  He’s originally from St. Louis, moved down here a few years ago…and you know what’s weird, it just hit me…that guy had a shirt on that was just like the one Davis used to have.  Did you ever see that old shirt that Davis