Night shifts black

Luke looks to me.

“It’s ok. He’s right. You can answer his question.”

He sighs. “Fine. Yes, Casey plays drums in Night Shifts Black.”

Casey leans back and crosses his arms, a satisfied smirk on this face. “Ok, there you go. Now, it’s your turn, princess.”

I clear my throat and turn to Luke. “Am I the princess of Tanzania?”

This time I get Luke’s real laugh, and my own grin breaks.

“Yes, she is,” he replies, clearly amused.

I turn to Casey and shrug. “There you have it.”

“Why do I feel like I’ve been co

“You haven’t been co

“Ha, fine. This is all breakfast club politics. I get it.”

“There are no politics involved until you order. We only judge based on food selections here.”

Luke signals Darryn. The servers at Jemma’s have learned not to bother us until we’re ready. We pretend we’re being respectful of their time, but really they don’t want to confront Luke before they get the all clear that he’s not nuts that day.

“Coffee, please,” Luke says, and Darryn nods.

“What about you?” Darryn asks Casey.

“Yeah, coffee’s good.”

“Tea for you?” he asks me.

“Yes, please.”

“You guys eating today?”

I notice Darryn asks Luke, not me.

“Probably. Can we have a couple minutes, though?”

“Of course. I’ll be back with your drinks.”

We thank him.

“He knows you,” Casey observes.

“He’s a breakfast club regular,” I explain.

Casey smiles. “If I’d known about breakfast club, I would have visited sooner.”

“Yeah, right,” Luke grunts. “You don’t have time to visit. I still can’t believe you showed up last night. Don’t you have to be in Richmond tonight? I thought you guys were playing the Calisto Festival.”

Casey almost looks hurt, and I’m surprised. “I would have stopped by as much as I could if you’d let me. You just didn’t want me around. I didn’t even know where you were until TJ called a few days ago. I got here the first second I could.”

I can tell Luke doesn’t want to have this conversation. I think it’s more the subject itself than the fact that I’m present, however. I can’t see him ever being comfortable with it.

“One of us needs to try the French toast,” I say before we return to the uncomfortable silence.

“Why’s that?” Casey asks.

“We’ve never ordered it, and I think it’s time to diversify breakfast club. What do you think?” I ask Luke who shrugs. He hasn’t recovered yet, and I turn back to Casey.

“So tell me more about being famous rock stars. I want to hear about the groveling.”

Casey smiles, but the humor is gone. “Well, it hasn’t been the same without your friend here, that’s for sure. Luke was Night Shifts Black. Without him we’re basically just a sad cover band.”

I realize this conversation isn’t going to help Luke’s current state, but I’m too fascinated to give it up at the moment.

“At least you’re still touring though, right?”

“Yeah, kind of. But we don’t headline much anymore. We can’t sell out a stadium without Luke Craven.”

“Sweeny does fine,” Luke mumbles.

“Yeah, sure,” Casey smirks. “They’re your songs, bro. No one will ever be able to handle them like you do.”

Luke shuts down again, and I notice Casey’s reaction this time. The other man legitimately cares about his friend. He’s worried about him. He knows why Luke left and stuck them with Sweeny. He knows something about the ghost chair. I want to know now, more than ever, and wonder if Casey would tell me. He probably wouldn’t, but I probably wouldn’t have the heart to betray Luke and ask anyway.

Darryn returns with our drinks, and I’m afraid he notices the sudden unrest around his table. He might make us prepay for our food.

“Did you decide on your orders?” Darryn asks, but he’s not optimistic.

We’re quiet for a moment. Casey and I both look at Luke who is staring at the chair. Darryn shifts his weight and seems just a fraction below a

We all stare at him, and Darryn seems flustered. I quickly rescue the moment by doing the same.

Darryn hesitates before scribbling on his notepad and looking to Casey.

“What the hell, why not?” Casey adds, handing over his menu.

Darryn clears his throat. “Ok, three French toasts it is. Anything else?”

We shake our heads.

“No bacon? Fruit? Home fries?”

“Nope.”

“Um, ok. Thanks.”

“Do you think he has to go to counseling now because of us?” I ask after he disappears.

“He’s at least insisted on a raise,” Luke responds, and I grin.

We’re back.

“So has my boy here told you about his other passion?” Casey asks.

“You mean, besides music?”

Casey nods, and Luke rolls his eyes.

“It’s not a passion.”

“You have eight of them.”

“I like them.”

“Exactly. It’s a passion.”

“And it is what?” I grunt, interrupting their argument.

“Bikes,” Casey explains.

“Bikes? Like bike bikes, or motorbikes?”

Casey laughs. “Motorbikes? I love this girl. Where did you find her? She’s like my grandma in the body of a cute college chick.”

I give him a mock glare. “I’m sorry, but maybe if you used more adjectives I wouldn’t have to ask so many stupid questions.”

“Adjectives? Sorry, hon, the writing part was his thing, not mine.”

“That’s obvious,” I tease.

“Luke is awesome with adjectives,” Casey continues.

“He is. One of the best.”

Luke smiles and shakes his head. “Wow, thanks, guys,” he says dryly.

“He also sucks at taking compliments,” Casey adds.

“How’s that possible? Isn’t a love of being worshipped part of the superstar thing?”

“It’s supposed to be.”

“Just let me know if you need me to weigh in on anything about myself,” Luke interjects, and I smile over at him. He returns it, igniting another flutter inside me at the private co

He pushes away from the table, and we quiet as he takes off in the direction of the corridor to the bathrooms.

We watch him go.

“He’s not good, is he?” Casey asks, the mood instantly settling. His tone is so subdued that I’m not sure he’s even talking to me.

I don’t answer at first and my gaze instinctively shifts to the chair. “No, he’s not,” I say finally.

Casey shakes his head and sighs, lost in thought. “You know, I’ve barely seen or spoken to him in months. Last night, today, it’s the first time I’ve really spent time with him in a while. He’s not the person I knew. Not even close.”

“And I can’t even imagine him being the person you knew.”

“We both know two completely different people.”

He’s right, and I’m surprised by his insight. Despite his easy smile and playful demeanor, he’s no idiot either. I’m not surprised they were close in another life.

“It appears so.”

He quiets for a moment and picks at his napkin. “He wasn’t a good person, Callie. It wasn’t all his fault, he had a lot going against him, but he wasn’t.”

I swallow, not sure how to respond. I don’t like hearing that, but I’m not surprised for some reason. I look up and notice Casey watching me. He wants good news.

“I think he might be now.”

Casey nods and seems to relax a little. “I think he might be, too. I really do…If he recovers.”

I’m disturbed by his qualification. It’s probably all over my face.