Secret Santa for Eddie

[Stefan Spencer]

A Boy and His Girl

Takes place on November 23rd

Tanner had been sitting out in front of the entrance of La Maison Magnifique for about an hour now. Although it was a bit chilly out and he was starting to feel it in his fingers, he was too nervous to be concerned about it. He had read and re-read the note in his hands at least thirty times, carefully refolding it after each time.

He smoothed out his shirt and checked his watch, also for about the thirtieth time. She should have been here. He told her to be here forty five minutes ago. He had expected to be her about fifteen minutes ago. And while he’d have been willing to wait for another hour at least, he was due on stage in five minutes. Cynthia was sure to be running about backstage by this point, wondering where her next act was and what she’d do if he was a no show. His eyes kept going back and forth between the sidewalk to his left and the sidewalk to his right as if he was expecting someone and wanted to know exactly when they came into view.

But when Tanner saw the girl he’d been waiting for walking towards him, he forgot all of the time he’d been waiting. How could anyone stay mad at someone who looked that great in a simple black dress? For a brief moment he wondered if her bare legs were cold in the November air and he thought of all the things he could do to warm them up. Still those thoughts were shoved aside to make room for the mix of anticipation and anxiety he’d felt for the past few days.

“Alright I’m here,” Lucy said. “What was so important I had to come to your show early?” In truth she did look a little annoyed and Tanner wonder if this was really a good idea.

“I just wanted to give you this,” Tanner said, extending his hand to give her the note.

She looked at him curiously, but took the note and read it slowly. Tanner stood watching, repeating the memorized words to himself in his head.

Dearest Lucy,
I’m so glad you came on my shitty date.
Kisses,
Tanner

Lucy laughed as she finished the short note, remembering the similar one she’d given to him or their first day. Still, she wasn’t sure why this was such an important reason for her to come to the club early. She enjoyed Tanner, but often she didn’t understand him. Or just what it was that made her return to him.

And then she looked up from his note to see Tanner kneeling on the sidewalk beside her.

“What are you doing?” Lucy said, actually taking a step back. Tanner reached out for her hand, taking it so quick she didn’t have the time to avoid the connection.

“Lucy…I know you might think we’re too young. And you say you just use me for sex. But I want you to use me forever. And…Lucy, will you--”

“Are you crazy?” Lucy said, she hadn’t meant for that to come out so harsh. It was just so sudden, so unexpected. And she really wasn’t sure if she wanted him to finish that question.

It was at that moment that Cynthia came bursting through the doors of the club. “There you are!” she said, pointing a finger at Tanner. “Alright lover boy, get on stage now before I find a new act.”

Tanner gave Lucy a pleading look, “Please stay for the show.”

“Now Prince Charming,” Cynthia added.

Tanner turned to head inside, giving Lucy one last look as she stood there with here mouth half open, still holding her hand out where Tanner had taken it.

----------------------

Tanner had spent most of the night searching the crowd for Lucy. He was sure he’d seen her walk inside a some point and take a seat in the back. But he’d lost her in the crowd shortly after that. Still he sang like she was listening. Like she was the only one in the room.

It's a beautiful night,
We're looking for something dumb to do.
Hey baby,
I think I wanna marry you.

Is it the look in your eyes,
Or is it this dancing juice?
Who cares baby,
I think I wanna marry you.

Well I know this little chapel on the boulevard we can go oh oh oh,
No one will know oh oh oh,
Oh, come on, girl.
Who cares if we're trashed got a pocket full of cash we can blow oh oh oh,
Shots of patron,
And it's on, girl.

Don't say no, no, no, no-no;
Just say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah;
And we'll go, go, go, go-go.
If you're ready, like I'm ready.

Cause it's a beautiful night,
We're looking for something dumb to do.
Hey baby,
I think I wanna marry you.

Is it the look in your eyes,
Or is it this dancing juice?
Who cares baby,
I think I wanna marry you.

As his set ended, he gave one last look into the applauding crowed for her and sighed as he walked off stage.

Only to find her standing backstage waiting for him.

“Yes,” she said.

And that was just fine with Tanner. “Happy Birthday,” he said as he moved to hold her in his arms, unable to keep from grinning.

“But you’d better get me a decent rock,” she added before she would let Tanner kiss her.