Christmas with the Gerard's

12

13 days until Christmas *(Continuation of chapter 11)*

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We get ready at Mallory’s house, the boys are at their dad’s house for the weekend, even though they are both old enough to choose what to do and who to see, they decided to keep to the original custody agreement, weekends, half terms and holidays with dad, alternating the half terms and holidays. Turns out this year it’s Mallory’s Christmas. We get ready slowly, drinking wine and chatting s**t, gossiping about everyone and everything and I feel like this is what I missed out in my teens and twenties. This is what I would have been doing with my family and friends, instead of working all waking hours to pay my bills and put myself through uni.  I had Toby to thank for that. For all the things I missed out on.  

We headed out around nine pm, Colton’s band Rope Heart were starting at ten so we had plenty of time to find a table and enjoy our night. The bouncers gave us some funny looks as we approached the door and I couldn’t help but squirm under his watchful eyes.  

“Mal, keep this one out of trouble please.” His tone bored and cold. I glared at him; I didn’t cause the trouble last time I thought to myself, but kept my mouth shut. We found an empty table right at the back and sat. Mallory went to get us some more wine and I laughed at the trail of eyes following her figure down to the bar. Mallory is a beautiful woman, even though she is nearly forty, she takes good care of herself and doesn’t look a day over thirty. She chose to dress simply today, in her dark skinny jeans, knee high boots and a brown low-cut cardigan, but even in the simplest of outfits she couldn’t hide her gorgeous hourglass figure. Her reddish-brown hair was loose and straight, cascading down her neck, ending above her shoulders. I smiled as I watched her talking to the barmaid and laughing. I have a feeling she comes here all the time and is well known to the staff. I scan the bar slowly, taking in all the patrons and what they are doing. I recognize a group of men as Tomas’ friends from the other night I shudder at the thought of him being here. Mallory soon joins me with a bottle of rose wine and two glasses. We drink and chat over the loud music, we both decided to scoot our chairs around so that we could both sit facing the make shift stage next to the bar, the instruments where already set out for the band and a nice banner with their name hung above them, lights shinned on the stage and I wondered if the band members would struggle to see us under the lights. The music stopped and everyone faced the stage, four guys came out from behind the bar and my breath hitched in my throat when I saw him. Colton. I knew this was his band, but nothing, nothing could have prepared me for this. Colton stands in the middle of the stage, guitar in hand, his black hair is tousled making it clear he has been running his hands through it, his wearing a white t shirt and washed-out jeans that hang low on his hips, showing off that V into his groin, and I lick my lips at the memory of his naked torso under my hands this morning, his smooth gravelly voice booming over the speakers jolts me awake from my day dream. 

“Hey, I’m Colton and this is Rope Heart”  

The band starts to play and I recognize the song, Counting stars by One Republic. Colton’s voice is flawless, his fingers glide over the strings, never missing a note. They sing ten songs, all songs that have been on the latest charts. Colton announces after the eleventh song that they are going to take a small ten-minute break and will be back to perform so of their acoustic versions. People clap and cheer as they disappear behind the bar. I get up and head to the toilet, where I can’t help but quietly giggle at some of the young girls in there lusting over Colton and his band mates. I have to say, all four guys were exquisite specimens, their looks seemed to complement each other's, I’m sure they pre plan their outfits to match before a gig, they are all wearing washed out jeans and either white or black t shirts. The drummer has long curly hair and looks every bit the California surfer, while the bassist wears his hair in a buzz cut, tattoos litter his arms and hands, the last member played what I think was the rhythm guitar and he looked like an angel! Blonde curly hair, pouty lips and a square jaw, his arms were muscly and also covered in tattoos. We stood too far back to really get a good look at eye colours or any other features, but what I had seen was enough to know that these girls were right and they probably had tons of offers to warm their beds. On my way back to our table I grabbed another bottle of rose for me and Mal and went to sit.  

“Took you ages Delia.” Mal said when I sat down with the bottle.  

“Massive cues for the toilet and bar, sorry!” I shout over the music. It took me longer than ten minutes so when I start sipping at my wine, the band is already half way through a song I don’t recognize. I sway my head to the slow tune and look around the bar, some couples are slow dancing, other are sitting around their tables drinking and chatting, the younger girls stand by the stage singing along and swaying sexily to Colton’s voice. Another song starts and I instantly recognize the notes and the hums. Colton’s voice is smooth, smoother than Shaw’s, his words resonate inside me. When he reaches the bridge of the song my heart stops as his eyes land directly on me as the words slip out of his mouth. 

“Baby please have mercy on me, take it easy on my heart, even though you don’t mean to hurt me, you keep tearing me apart, would you please have mercy, mercy, on my heart, would you please have mercy on my heart.”   

He keeps singing his eyes never leaving me, and I feel my heart hammering in my chest. I feel other eyes on me and notice that some of the patrons are watching me and Colton. Why is he staring at me while singing this? Is he trying to send me a message? I can feel my blood rising to my head, my head is thumping along with my heart, the embarrassment is getting to me, as more and more eyes land on me. I look at Mallory and she too is watching us; she offers me a small smile and the song ends. People clap and cheer and the weird looks leave me, I down my wine and cough. The next song starts up and I sigh, why are all these acoustic songs sad love songs? I watch as Colton sings slowly into the mic. As the words leave his lips my mind wanders, as my eyes scan the crowd once more, I spot a face I never thought I would see here. Toby. I nudge Mallory and nod towards our brother-in-law. She creases her brows and shrugs.  

“You think Ave is here too?” I shout leaning into her. She laughs dryly and gives me an ‘are ya dumb’ look  

“Of course not. She’ll be at home with Ada and Nate.” We carry on watching him, as he has no idea we are here, all pretenses are dropped and he is acting as his normal self. He looks different out of a suit; in just plain jeans and a shirt he looks like any other man here. Normal. Not like the psychopath I know him to be. I watch as people walk past him and some stop to say hi, others scurry past as if afraid of him. Toby is a well-known and respected member of our community, so I don’t understand why people would be afraid unless they too had seen the real Toby.  

Mallory nudges me and I look at her, she points a finger at a woman walking towards Toby and I watch as they flirt for a while, but she soon leaves alone.  

“Not the mistress then.” Mallory shouts and I giggle. We drink some more and chat, Toby long forgotten as we enjoy ourselves. The band soon finishes their set and after packing up and squeezing past the throngs of adoring fans, Colton and his band mates reach our table.  

“D!” He shouts getting my attention “Didn’t know you were here” he says and Mallory Snorts.  

“Could’ve fooled me Colton.” She says smirking and I kick her under the table. We make general chat and I lean the guys’ names, the drummer is Alex, he is in fact American, but not a surfer or from California, he is from New York. The bassist is Matt, he is a friend of Colton’s from work and the rhythm guitarist is Kevin, he met Colton at the gym he owns when his computers fried and Colton fixed them, they became friends and when Colton started the band he jumped at the chance. Everyone is chatting and the barmaid occasionally brings beers for the guys saying they’re from fans with a pained look on her face. 

“So, D?” Colton asks leaning into me “What did you think?” He nods towards the stage and I smile.  

“You need your ego stroked Col?” I ask giggling at him, maybe I've had a little bit too much wine. 

“No, I want your opinion. Your honest one!” He says somberly and I c**k my head to the side, making him suffer a little bit.  

“You guys are amazing Col; your voice is beautiful. I never knew you had those pipes under here.” I say as I run a finger over his throat, feeling his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows hard at my touch. I look into his eyes and smile. He grabs my hand and brings my index finger to his lips and plants a soft kiss on it. We hear some soft whistles and hoots and I pull my hand away from his and stand. “I need the loo” I say as I run away. Jesus Cordelia, what the hell is the matter with you? I ask myself as I enter the women's toilet. I lock the door to the cubicle and sit on the closed lid. Taking deep breathes to calm myself. I jump when I hear the door bang and hushed voices enter. 

“I’m telling you; she won't say anything.” I frown as I try to stay as quiet as I can. I don’t recognize the voice, but something about this woman’s tone makes my skin crawl. “Tomas, she won’t tell anyone. Whatever she saw, it stays with her. I promise you. You can tell your boss that too.” She sighs and I think she’s finished when I hear her start again. “Sal? You need to run. He was here tonight looking for you, I tried to find out more but when he realized who I was he sent me away. Run Sally. Tonight.” She left the toilets soon after and I sat back. She must be one of Tomas’ girls if what I’ve been told is true, but then she mentioned a boss, if Tomas is not the boss, then who is?