She frowned. She didn’t like feeling like an outsider in her best friend’s life.
“The other night, when it was Joanne’s birthday party.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Well, because you’ve been so down in the dumps lately about men.”
“That doesn’t mean I don’t want you to date just because I don’t want to.” She could be happy for her friend, even if she was unhappy with her own situation. At least, she would try.
“Well, I wasn’t sure. Anyway, I promised him he could meet you. Tonight. At five o’clock. He’s going to be there. And he’s very busy so I don’t know when he’ll be available again. It has to be tonight.”
Her frown deepened. She didn’t like the idea of a guy so busy he wasn’t around a lot. She was hit with visions of those men on Dateline, who juggled multiple women—multiple families even—while lying to them all.
What if Shelly’s new man was a lying, cheating, bigamist?
She needed to meet him and judge for herself. It might just save her friend. “All right. I’m leaving right now. I’ll see you at McP’s.”
Shelly blew out a breath. “Good. I’m so happy you’re coming. See you there.”
Her friend disconnected before Alicia could fully process her friend’s overwhelming relief.
Maybe Shelly had a gut instinct about this new guy herself and wanted Alicia’s opinion. Even more reason why she had to show up to meet him.
Her plans for pajamas and ice cream would just have to wait until later. Her friend needed her.
McP’s was hopping by the time she arrived. Parking was worse than usual. And stepping inside, she saw there wasn’t an empty seat and barely a spot to stand. Hopefully Shelly had gotten them a table.
She pulled out her cell, about to text her friend and ask where she was sitting, when she heard it. A steady rhythmic pounding, like a fist on a table.
It was soon joined by more pounding, this time coming from the vicinity of the bar.
The first words of a familiar song hit her ears. “It's a damn tough life full of toil and strife we whaler men undergo . . .”
She glanced around to see who was singing and almost fell off her heels when she saw Brian step forward from the crowd.
“And we don't give a damn when the day is done. How hard the winds did blow.”
Two more men stepped forward and, with perfect harmony, provided background for Brian’s melody.
“'cause we're homeward bound from the Arctic ground with a good ship, taut and free. And we won't give a damn when we drink our rum . . .”
More voices joined in to sing, “With the girls of Old McP's.”
Alicia laughed at how they’d changed the words of the old whaling song.
Apparently the crowd inside McP’s approved of the alteration. They broke into whoops, cheers and applause at that last line.
Then it seemed like the whole bar joined in on the singing for the chorus.
“Rolling down to Old McP's, me boys. Rolling down to McP's. We're homeward bound from the Arctic ground. Rolling down to Old McP's.”
It was an amazing serenade, apparently just for her since Brian and a group of what must be his teammates faced her to sing it.
And yeah, she was embarrassed at the attention. The introvert tendencies inside her were strong. But still she couldn’t help smiling.
“Once more we sail with a northerly gale, towards our island home.” Ray, the old bartender had taken over singing the melody with more than enough voices to back him up.
Smiling, Brian stepped away from the group and made his way toward Alicia.
“Hey,” he said as he stood right in front of her while Ray continued singing.
“What are you doing?” she asked, still blown away.
“Getting your attention. You weren’t returning my calls or texts. I had to do something. I figured a grand gesture might do it. Did it work?” he asked, looking adorably unsure as he reached out and took her hands in his.
“Yes, it worked. But did you have to do it in quite such a grand way?” she asked, sure her cheeks were bright red.
“To be fair, it was just supposed to be me and a couple of my teammates. But word got out and it kind of grew.” He glanced around at the bar with standing room only.
“It sure did.” Alicia spotted Shelly across the bar.
Her friend, who looked like she was in heaven being surrounded by dozens of singing sailors, smiled and waved at her and then went back to singing along