Hidden Melodies

Chapter Nineteen

Copyright by Joelle Blue ©

Charlie

            Our drive only takes us about twenty minutes before we're pulling into the busy downtown streets. People are walking all over the sidewalks, music is pumping loud enough we can hear it in the cab, and patio after patio at the front of restaurants are full of people drinking and laughing.

            I'm able to find a parking spot big enough for my pickup in a small parking lot off a side street not too far from where we're headed.

            "Don't move," I command after parking and run around to the other side and open the door for her. I reach up for her, grabbing her soft hand and pulling her out.

            "Thank you," she murmurs with a soft smile. I lead her around the corner to the entrance of a very modern looking bar called Luke's. White and black accents, soft jazz music playing, everyone is quiet and in their own conversations. "Uh, is this the right place?" She questions.

            I grin. "Just wait, siren." I pull her farther into the restaurant to the hallway that leads to the bathroom and stop in front of a picture of an upside-down clown in front of a sign reading The Underground. Creepy as hell.

            I push on the picture, making a hidden door open and reveal an old saloon style hallway. "Is this a speakeasy? How cool! Wait, we're not old enough, how can we get in?"

            "They opened it up for people eighteen and older, only for tonight though. You'll see why," I smirk.

            We walk down the dimly lit hallway to an old whiskey barrel with a woman standing behind it. She has a black and red vintage dress on with a black belt, her hair is pulled up into a beehive, and lace up boots. "Well, hey there cuties, here for the show?" She leans down and we get a huge eye full of her chest. I look over to see Ellie grinning like a loon. "I'm gonna need to see some ID."

            We both hand her our cards. "Ooh, little ones. We love the little ones," she winks. "Well alright. It's gettin' started soon, so find yourself a seat and enjoy." She marks our hands with an 'x' and leads us in to a dark but cozy space. There are booths lining the walls and tables placed close together. There's a table open closer to the stage which sits to our left with a full saloon style bar across the room from us. Rifles, animal mounts, wagon wheels, and old photos line the walls that seem to go up two stories. There's a huge crystal chandelier in the center at least fifteen feet above us.

            We make our way to the open table, weaving through all the other customers. I pull out her chair for her and sit right next to her, letting our thighs touch. Ellie leans into me, "this place is so cool, Charlie! How did you find this?"

            "I asked Calah earlier today," I chuckle. "She wanted to come tonight but had to work."

            "It's crowded but I honestly feel so relaxed if that makes sense. Like, it's the vibe?" She chuckles.

            "I know what you mean." Just then a server with a deep purple off shoulder gown that has fluffs at the bottom, a matching feather in her hair, and the same lace up boots as the hostess arrives to take our orders.

            "Hello hunnies, my name's Bonnie and I'll be servin' ya. How y'all doin today?" She purrs, looking both of us over.

            "We're good," Ellie giggles. "How about you?"

            "Oh, I'm good now since I get to serve you two. Work is so much easier with eye candy. Now, here we serve two options for dinner, the house stew or shepherd's pie, so make it quick."