Effortless by S.C. Stephens Page A

that practically paid for the whole thing. I had
nothing to worry about. Nothing to fear but fear, right?
     
    Kate nodded with Jenny, her light brown, almost topaz eyes
wistful. “Yeah, you’re so much smarter than me. I gave up after one
semester.” I frowned sympathetically, but then she swished her head
to look down the hall. “Hey, is Kellan here? I want to ask him
about the show.”
     
    Shifting to a smile as I pictured Kellan leaning back in his
chair, people watching while he waited for me to bring him his
“usual,” I nodded. “Yeah, he’s here.”
     
    I couldn’t keep the dorky grin from my face and they both
giggled at me before shuffling off together. What? My boyfriend was
a super-hot musician with fabulous hair, a rock-hard body, and my
name tattooed over his chest. Who wouldn’t grin about that?
     
    I shoved my stuff in a locker and hastily threw my hair up in a
ponytail that was nowhere near as perfect as Kate’s. Sunday nights
weren’t too terribly busy, since the band didn’t play, but there
was still a lot of moving around and not having my hair flopping
all over my face was a good thing.
     
    When I stepped back out to the main part of the bar, I saw that
my D-bag boyfriend wasn’t alone anymore. Leaning back in his chair,
a foot casually propped on a knee, he was chatting amicably with
Sam, the bouncer here.
     
    Sam was a big guy, burly and muscular. He finished off the
intimidating scowl he kept on his face by completely shaving his
head. It just made him seem all the more menacing. He’d been
friends with Denny when Denny had gone to high school here for a
year. He’d taken Denny in, after we’d broken up, when Denny just
couldn’t live with Kellan anymore. Understandable, given the
circumstances. From what I heard, Sam and Denny still talked
occasionally.
     
    Kellan had also gone to school with Sam and Denny. It was how
they all knew each other. Even though Kellan was a couple of years
younger than them, he’d formed tight bonds with Sam and my ex. And
Kellan still talked to Denny too. A fact that never ceased to amaze
me.
     
    But now the pair was going over more pleasant topics than last
year’s drama. Kellan had a huge smile on his face as he spoke to
Sam, occasionally flicking his hands in the air, gesturing. Sam
listened with a small grin on his usually imposing features. I
figured Kellan was talking about the show.
     
    Shaking my head, I went about getting Kellan the beer he’d
wanted. I just couldn’t get over the fact that my boyfriend had
played a major venue. Even if his band didn’t go anywhere else,
that would be something that he could tell his grandkids about. I
smiled even wider as I approached Rita. Kellan with kids…even the
thought gave me goose bumps.
     
    A couple of hours into my shift, the rest of the band strolled
in. Kellan was at the front of the bar when they burst through it.
He’d finally been cornered down by Kate, who wanted to know
everything about yesterday. I heard Kellan try and play it off like
it was nothing, but Kate wouldn’t let it go and asked him question
after question, most of them along the lines of—“Weren’t you
nervous? Didn’t you feel like peeing your pants?” Kellan always
laughed at her and told her no, but I don’t think she bought his
answer.
     
    After being hounded by her for a while, Kellan almost looked
relived when he twisted around to acknowledge his band mates
strolling in. Once they were all four together, the bar broke into
applause and ear-splitting whistles.
     
    I joined in with the merriment; I was just as proud of them as
the other patrons. Evan smiled as he looked around, his warm eyes
grateful and appreciative. Matt seemed horribly embarrassed. His
face flushed with color and he quickly looked back at the door,
like he wanted to run through it. Kellan chuckled and shook his
head as he put his hand up in acknowledgment. They all seemed a
little thrown by the attention.
     
    Except Griffin, of