Right On The Money Honey - Michael Hardy

FIFTEEN

"Shit." Michael mutters, looking at the notification that popped up on his phone. "Seriously?"

"What's up?" Morgan asks as he sits next to him on the couch in his living room.

"It's our fuckin' anniversary." He rubs his face with his hands. "I totally forgot, shit."

"One year, right?"

"Technically two but after that whole tourin' thing, we kinda restarted." He mumbles, shaking his head. "She gave me a second chance and here I am, fuckin' it up again."

"Take her to Broadway." He shrugs. "I can call around and see if I can pull a few strings to get you on stage."

"Nah, I think I wanna be in the crowd. I don't want her to be by herself, y'know?"

"Well, good luck, man." Morgan says, kicking his feet up on the coffee table. "There's a new bar that just popped up. I think it's Redneck somethin'. Cliff said it's a good bar." He looks around the room. "Redneck Alley or somethin'."

"Downtown?"

"Few blocks over from Kid Rock's bar, north side."

"Okay. Cool." He nods. "Yeah." He checks the time. "I gotta get goin', then." Michael stands and picks up his guitar case.

+++

Michael parks next to Liz's Toyota and takes a deep breath. He grabs the bouquet of flowers from his passenger seat then heads up to the front door. He presses his thumb against the doorbell then leans against the doorframe.

Liz sighs as she pulls the door open. Her face splits into a smirk when she sees her boyfriend standing there with a small smile. "Can I help you?" She asks, crossing her arms over her chest.

"You free tonight?"

"I think my boyfriend's busy tonight so I'm free as a bird." She looks him over. "But if you wanna hook up, we gotta be quick. I don't know when he'll be back." Michael chuckles. Liz grabs his hand and pulls him inside, kicking the door shut behind them.

They giggle as they head upstairs to the bedroom.

+++

"Michael, where are we goin'?" Liz asks as she looks over at him, sliding her hand into his grasp.

"It's date night." Is all he says, turning off the main road in the heart of downtown Nashville.

"Redneck Alley?" She reads the neon sign then looks at the outside of the building. It looks like a small place but once that door is open, the interior is three times the size. "Never heard of this place."

"Morgan said it's new. Just opened a few months ago." He says, taking her hand.

"Hey y'all!" A cute blonde says from behind the bar. "Welcome on in to Redneck Alley." She says, setting a few paper coasters on the bar top. "What can I get for y'all?"

Liz sits next to Michael at the bar and smiles at the bartender. "A screwdriver, please."

"Just a shot of whiskey for me right now."

"Here y'all go." She sets their orders down then turns to pick up a dish towel and a clean glass.

Their bartender, Haley, clicks with them almost immediately. They spend hours talking and laughing and drinking. Michael looks between the two girls and smiles.

"What?" Liz asks, looking over at her boyfriend. He takes her hand and pulls her out to the floor, spinning her in a circle as they start dancing. "What was that little smile for?"