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asphaltcowgrrlTitle: Margaritas in Karaokeville
Fandom: Preying Eyes Original Fiction
Pairing: Adrien Lupei/Elliot Deacon + Dante Lupei + Emilio Lupei
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2,803
Summary: Dante and Emilio decide to treat Adrien and Elliot to a night out.
Author’s note: Written for a prompt left by sharpiesgal in comment-fic. The prompt was: Enjoying margaritas while listening to Jimmy Buffett. And now that I re-read this, I realize I remembered the prompt wrong. OOPS. Oh well, I think she’ll forgive me.
“Where are we going,” Elliot asked, looking out at the highway through the front window of Adrien’s truck.
“You’ll see when we get there,” Adrien told him without taking his eyes off the road. “It’ll be worth it, I promise.”
“It’d better be or you’ll pay later,” Elliot said ominously.
Adrien snorted. “I’m beginning to wonder if I ought to sabotage my own plans just so I can find out what you mean by that.”
“Okay, bucko,” Elliot said, grateful for a change in the conversation. He knew they were on their way to meet up with Adrien’s uncles, and showing up with a half hard dick was not something he wanted to do. “I just saw a sign welcoming us to Buckley. Why did we leave one small ass town, drive an hour, only to wind up another small ass town?”
Frowning, Adrien shot his boyfriend a look. “Buckley’s at least twice the size of Tucker, El,” Adrien reminded him.
“That’s not really saying much, baby,” Elliot laughed.
“Just trust me for forty seconds, okay?”
“Okay, okay,” Elliot said, settling back into his seat. “I’m sorry. I just hate not knowing what’s going on.”
“Shut off cop mode, detective,” Adrien snarked. “You won’t have any fun otherwise.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Elliot muttered as Adrien pulled into a parking spot. He looked up and groaned. “No. Why are we at the Purple Pony?”
Adrien gaped. “You know this place? How?”
“Damon and I interviewed a suspect here.” He gave Adrien a meaningful glance. “She was working at the time.”
“Oh,” Adrien said, laughing. “Should I apologize?”
“I guess that depends. Are we here for the karaoke or for the um, show later?”
“Karaoke,” Adrien confirmed. “Although, if we can’t manage to keep Dante and Em sober, we might be here all night.”
“You might be,” Elliot threatened playfully. “I can find my way home.”
“Not funny,” Adrien said, shutting off the engine. “I see that my uncles have already made it. Are you ready for this?”
“Yeah, I guess so,” Elliot said, unbuckling his seat belt. “You better be glad that I love you.”
“Always,” Adrien said, leaning over and giving Elliot a quick kiss.
“There they are finally,” Dante said, standing and holding his arms out to his nephew. He gave Adrien a solid hug and reached a hand out to Elliot. “Em was worried the two of you wouldn’t be able to get yourselves out of the house tonight.”
“I said no such thing,” Emilio said, giving Adrien a hug as well. “But I might have alluded to it. I mean, your boyfriend is pretty hot, Adrien.”
“Okay, you can stop trying to embarrass me right now,” Adrien said with a laugh. “There’s not much chance you’ll embarrass Elliot, so don’t even try.”
“When did he stop being fun,” Dante asked no one in particular.
“I’m here aren’t I,” Adrien asked. “So, I’m not totally boring.”
“Which leads me to ask,” Elliot said, choosing a seat between Adrien and Emilio, the safer of the two brothers, “why karaoke?”
“Why not,” Dante asked, flagging down the waitress. “And if you’re going to ask, ‘why here’ next, that one’s just as easy: Tucker doesn’t have a karaoke bar.”
“Plus, Buckley’s just small enough that, if someone recognizes Adrien, it won’t turn into a big thing,” Emilio added.
“Okay, that makes sense,” Elliot said begrudgingly. “But I’m not singing.”
“You have to,” Emilio said, nudging him in the side. “Plus, after a couple, you won’t even care that you sound like shit.”
“Plus, tonight’s theme is Jimmy Buffett,” Dante added unhelpfully.
“Kill me know,” Elliot laughed.
“On the bright side,” Emilio said with a sigh. “This means I’ll be much less likely to hear a Catrina Ives song tonight.”
Adrien leaned into Elliot so he could reach his uncle. He gave Emilio’s arm a pat and said, “I’d be happy to do her entire discography for you if you’d like.”
“If you weren’t my sister’s kid, I’d throttle you right now you little asshole,” Emilio mock threatened.
Laughing, Adrien moved back and blew his uncle a kiss. “I couldn’t pass it up, you know.”
“I do,” Em said, smiling. “But you’re still an asshole for that.”
“Gotta love that he’s bitter about the breakup despite the fact he’d never admitted to dating her in the first place,” Dante added as the waitress arrived at their table. “Pitcher of margaritas please. Anything else?”
“Not at the moment,” Emilio added. “Oh, maybe a list of what’s on the machine so I can make my song choice before I get up there and look like an idiot?”
“Too late for that,” Dante muttered.
The waitress – her name tag said her name was Cara – repressed a smile. “Of course. I’ll bring it with the drinks.” She moved to leave, caught Adrien’s eye and hesitated. Winking at him, she continued towards the bar.
“I think she recognized you,” Elliot said, watching Cara walk off.
“We’ve met before,” Adrien said, looking at the table. “In Tucker, actually.”
“Interesting,” Dante said. “Not very often an attractive young woman recognizes you and keeps her mouth shut.”
“She works at the market, doesn’t she,” Elliot asked, suddenly making the connection.
“Yeah, she does,” Adrien confirmed. “Which is why she kept her mouth shut. She knows.”
“Okay, let’s stop teasing the child,” Emilio said, lifting the list of karaoke songs so he could read it. “Why’d you guys drag me here on fucking Jimmy Buffett night?”
“So, we can sing,” Adrien said.
“And drink lots of margaritas and not look like weirdos,” Dante added.
Emilio looked at Elliot.
“Adrien made me come,” he said with a shrug.
Dante grinned. “How many times do you think we’ll here “Margaritaville” before the night’s over?”
Emilio eyed his brother. “One too many if you’re going to sing it.”
Dante flipped him off. “Just for that…,” he said, getting up and heading towards the stage.
“Oh god,” Adrien groaned.
“Should I be afraid,” Elliot asked, looking from his boyfriend to the stage.
“Yes,” Emilio laughed. “You ought to be very afraid.”
“It’s one of Uncle Dante’s favorites,” Adrien explained as the familiar music started playing. “Especially when he’s had a few so well, be prepared. He’s likely to get up there and sing it again.”
Elliot snickered. “God, I love your family. My uncle would never.”
“Elliot,” Emilio said, grinning, “meet Dante. There’s not much that asshole won’t do.”
“Sadly, he’s not exaggerating either, El,” Adrien said. He grabbed the list from where it was laying on the table and read through his choices. “Hmm…”
“What’s your favorite,” Emilio asked Elliot.
“Oh no, you’re not getting me out there, I do not care how drunk you get me. I am not singing.”
“He’s a stick in the mud that way,” Adrien said, still trying to make his choice. “He won’t even sing in the car with me.”
“That’s because I’m with you,” Elliot said, waving a hand at his karaoke companions. “You. You remember what you do for a living, right?”
Adrien laughed and put the list down again. “I won’t judge, promise. I mean, you should hear me trying to sing Mariah Carey sometime.”
“Anyway,” Emilio said, pouring himself a drink. “Mine’s “Cheeseburger in Paradise. I love how ridiculous it is.”
“And if you get up and sound awful while singing it, no one will care,” Adrien added.
“That, too,” Emilio asked. He sipped from his margarita. “Wow, that’s potent.”
“Now you have my attention,” Adrien laughed, taking the pitcher and filling his and Elliot’s glasses. “I’m going to need something to get me out there.”
“I’ll never understand how you still struggle with stage fright,” Emilio said fondly. “At this point, you’d think he was immune.”
“I have a lot at stake every time I go out there,” Adrien said. “Here, not so much, but my brain’s still screaming, ‘YOU’LL MAKE A FOOL OF YOURSELF!’. And really, it’s probably right. Especially if I keep drinking.”
“And then there’s Dante who needs no help,” Em laughed. “I love that boy.”
“Me, too,” Adrien said, watching his uncle sing for a moment. “He’s a good part of why I’m able to do what I do. Anytime I start to panic, I think about what he’d do in the same situation and it’s suddenly easier.” He shrugged and took a drink, making a face. “Damn, we’re all going to be sloshed by the time we’re ready to go.”
“Your mom will murder us,” Emilio said.
“We’ll call Damon to come get us,” Elliot said, referring to his partner.
“Damon won’t be any better,” Emilio said. “He treats Adrien like his son. He’ll want to murder us, too.”
“We’re screwed,” Adrien laughed.
“Nah, I’ve got connections, we’ll get home fine,” Emilio told him.
Elliot leaned an elbow on the table and put his chin in his hand, watching as Dante finished his song with a shimmy and a shake. “At least Dante can sing.”
“It’s one of his very few positive traits,” Emilio said, ducking as Dante took a playful swipe at his head.
“Who’s next?” Dante looked at Elliot who shook his head no violently. Emilio shrugged, but Adrien raised his hand. “I’ll go next unless you think you should get a turn in first, Em?”
“Nah,” Emilio said, finishing off the last of his margarita. “We can always stay if you get chased out,” he laughed.
“Okay then,” Adrien said. He leaned over to kiss Elliot on the cheek and whispered, “Text my mom and let her know we might need help later.”
Snorting, Elliot nodded. “Any idea what you’re going to sing?”
“One of my favorites called “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes”. It’s one of the few I can relate to, honestly.” He gave them a little wave as he headed towards the stage.
“Wouldn’t have pegged him for a Jimmy Buffett fan, honestly,” Elliot said. “Even with as varied as his musical tastes seem to be sometimes.”
“It’s Kenny Chesney’s fault,” Dante offered. “Not that Kenny kidnapped him and forced him to listen to this stuff or anything but…” He shrugged.
“Kenny’s one of Adrien’s influences,” Emilio clarified.
“And Kenny’s a fan?”
“He was once late to his own concert in Vegas because he was in the next casino at a Jimmy Buffett concert,” Dante said. “I like his style.”
“You would,” Emilio said, pouring the last of the margaritas into their glasses. “Shit, we’re out.”
“We can fix that easy,” Dante said, holding his hand in the air and smiling at Carla when she noticed him. “There, done.”
“Oh my god,” Elliot heard a girl at the next table gasp. “That’s Austen Ricci up there singing karaoke. Jimmy Buffett karaoke!”
“What,” the girl to her left asked. “Are you sure?”
“That’s not Austen Ricci,” the third girl said matter-of-factly. “He could only wish he was Austen Ricci.”
The other two looked back at the stage while Adrien did a little shoulder shimmy and sighed in disappointment. “Maybe you’re right,” the first girl said. “Damn.”
Dante barked out a laugh. “God, if they only knew.”
“Don’t tell Adrien,” Em begged. “Let him be himself for a night.”
“Can I tell him after we get home later because I think he’ll find this funny as hell,” Elliot asked.
“Yeah, of course,” Emilio said. “And you’re right – he finds it hysterical when people recognize him but refuse to believe it’s him.”
“Here he comes, you’re turn next, Em,” Dante said.
Winking at his brother, Emilio said, “I’m on it.”
“So,” Aleja said, sliding into the booth beside Adrien. “How much damage have the four of you done tonight?”
Adrien smiled at his mother. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“He’s so full of shit,” Damon said, glancing at the stage where Dante and Emilio were currently singing some duet. “I thought the theme was Jimmy Buffett tonight?”
“That apparently only lasts until eleven o’clock,” Elliot said. “Now it’s a free-for-all.”
“Which is why I’m trying to find one last song,” Adrien said. He looked at his mom, his boyfriend, and Damon. “Oh, I got it! Uncle D’s going to love this. Em, not so much. Be right back.”
Adrien scooted out of the booth as soon as his mother was out of his way and ran off to the stage. The bar had mostly cleared out by that point and there was no longer a line to use the karaoke machine. Which, for better or for worse, was keeping Dante and Emilio occupied.
“How many times did Dante sing “Margaritaville”,” Damon asked.
“Just three, which I’m told is good.”
“Anything less than five is a win,” Aleja laughed. “Oh god,” she spluttered. “Oh, Adrien, no.”
Elliot turned to the stage and listed for a second before bursting into laughter. “Fucking Lizzo, really?”
Damon’s shoulders were shaking with laughter. “Adrien wasn’t wrong though - Dante’s gonna love this while Em’s going to want to exit stage right.”
Adrien launched into the opening verse of “Truth Hurts” while Dante and Emilio joined in on the chorus. All three danced in time as they sang.
“I am learning so much about my boyfriend tonight,” Elliot said, amused. “Lizzo, huh.”
“Only when he’s been drinking,” Aleja said. “His more interesting tastes tend to come out when he’s been drinking.”
“Rather like his uncle,” Damon said. “They’re almost done, do you think it’s time to pay the bill and haul them out of here?”
“Oh, without a doubt. Five pitchers of margaritas between four people? That’s more than any of you need,” Damon said, his eyes landing on Elliot as he ended his statement.
“Yeah, yeah,” Elliot said. “I stopped after two just in case one of you weren’t able to get here. So, I can drive Adrien’s truck home.”
“Thankfully, Dante and Emilio came together,” Damon said.
“They do that often just in case they have to get a ride home. That way, they only have to retrieve one vehicle the next day.” Aleja patted Damon’s arm. “Sometimes, they do share a brain between them.”
“Hey, look at that,” Dante shouted, seeing Damon and his sister sitting at the table. “Did you two come to party with us?”
“I think they’ve come to act as designated drivers,” Adrien said with a chuckle. “It’s well after midnight and we probably ought to get going.”
“Spoilsport,” Dante teased.
“Okay, you two,” Aleja said, with an eyeroll. “Time to hit the bricks.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Emilio said, winking at Dante. “Kids are afraid of teachers. Criminals are afraid of lawyers. But everyone’s afraid of a mom on the warpath.”
“And it’s amazing my son turned out to be such an amazing young man with role models like the two of you.”
“You can give that credit to Damon,” Dante said, embracing his old friend in a sloppy, drunken hug.
“That I will happily take credit for,” Damon said, thumping Dante on the back heartily. “Especially he’s not half as drunk as you two fools are.”
“You’re just jealous,” Emilio said, joining his brother in the hug. “Because your ass is sober.”
“Guilty,” Damon laughed. “Next time, stick to home and we can all get sloshed.”
“Oooh, party at my house next weekend then,” Adrien asked, perking up. “My next tour’s going to start soon, and I won’t be home nearly enough. What do you think? A sendoff party?”
“Next Monday’s Labor Day, too,” Emilio added.
“Well then, I guess I know what we’re doing next weekend,” Dante said, rubbing his hands together.
“Let me know if you need help getting your spare rooms ready for guests.”
“I think I’ve got it handled, thanks,” Adrien said. “El, you sure you’re okay to drive?”
“I’m right as the rain, baby,” Elliot said, taking the keys Adrien offered him.
“I can administer a field sobriety test if you’d like,” Damon teased. “But I think he’s fine. Ready?”
“Ready,” they echoed back.
“Why,” Elliot asked, fingers tracing along the bare skin of Adrien’s chest, “do I have this feeling that next weekend will be a fiasco?”
“Because it will be,” Adrien said, rolling so that his chest was pressed against Elliot’s. “But it’s also going to be a lot of fun. I know you’ve never seen Damon let loose, not really, but you’ll see it next weekend.”
“Hah,” Elliot barked. “I can’t wait.”
--
End notes: The story about Kenny Chesney is true. Heard it on the radio one morning and laughed because of course Kenny did.
The bit with the three girls at the neighboring table was inspired by a story I heard Vince Gill tell many years ago. He said he was walking down the street in Nashville and one lady said, “Hey, that’s Vince Gill!” and her friend said, “He wishes he was Vince Gill.” LOL
Fandom: Preying Eyes Original Fiction
Pairing: Adrien Lupei/Elliot Deacon + Dante Lupei + Emilio Lupei
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2,803
Summary: Dante and Emilio decide to treat Adrien and Elliot to a night out.
Author’s note: Written for a prompt left by sharpiesgal in comment-fic. The prompt was: Enjoying margaritas while listening to Jimmy Buffett. And now that I re-read this, I realize I remembered the prompt wrong. OOPS. Oh well, I think she’ll forgive me.
“Where are we going,” Elliot asked, looking out at the highway through the front window of Adrien’s truck.
“You’ll see when we get there,” Adrien told him without taking his eyes off the road. “It’ll be worth it, I promise.”
“It’d better be or you’ll pay later,” Elliot said ominously.
Adrien snorted. “I’m beginning to wonder if I ought to sabotage my own plans just so I can find out what you mean by that.”
“Okay, bucko,” Elliot said, grateful for a change in the conversation. He knew they were on their way to meet up with Adrien’s uncles, and showing up with a half hard dick was not something he wanted to do. “I just saw a sign welcoming us to Buckley. Why did we leave one small ass town, drive an hour, only to wind up another small ass town?”
Frowning, Adrien shot his boyfriend a look. “Buckley’s at least twice the size of Tucker, El,” Adrien reminded him.
“That’s not really saying much, baby,” Elliot laughed.
“Just trust me for forty seconds, okay?”
“Okay, okay,” Elliot said, settling back into his seat. “I’m sorry. I just hate not knowing what’s going on.”
“Shut off cop mode, detective,” Adrien snarked. “You won’t have any fun otherwise.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Elliot muttered as Adrien pulled into a parking spot. He looked up and groaned. “No. Why are we at the Purple Pony?”
Adrien gaped. “You know this place? How?”
“Damon and I interviewed a suspect here.” He gave Adrien a meaningful glance. “She was working at the time.”
“Oh,” Adrien said, laughing. “Should I apologize?”
“I guess that depends. Are we here for the karaoke or for the um, show later?”
“Karaoke,” Adrien confirmed. “Although, if we can’t manage to keep Dante and Em sober, we might be here all night.”
“You might be,” Elliot threatened playfully. “I can find my way home.”
“Not funny,” Adrien said, shutting off the engine. “I see that my uncles have already made it. Are you ready for this?”
“Yeah, I guess so,” Elliot said, unbuckling his seat belt. “You better be glad that I love you.”
“Always,” Adrien said, leaning over and giving Elliot a quick kiss.
“There they are finally,” Dante said, standing and holding his arms out to his nephew. He gave Adrien a solid hug and reached a hand out to Elliot. “Em was worried the two of you wouldn’t be able to get yourselves out of the house tonight.”
“I said no such thing,” Emilio said, giving Adrien a hug as well. “But I might have alluded to it. I mean, your boyfriend is pretty hot, Adrien.”
“Okay, you can stop trying to embarrass me right now,” Adrien said with a laugh. “There’s not much chance you’ll embarrass Elliot, so don’t even try.”
“When did he stop being fun,” Dante asked no one in particular.
“I’m here aren’t I,” Adrien asked. “So, I’m not totally boring.”
“Which leads me to ask,” Elliot said, choosing a seat between Adrien and Emilio, the safer of the two brothers, “why karaoke?”
“Why not,” Dante asked, flagging down the waitress. “And if you’re going to ask, ‘why here’ next, that one’s just as easy: Tucker doesn’t have a karaoke bar.”
“Plus, Buckley’s just small enough that, if someone recognizes Adrien, it won’t turn into a big thing,” Emilio added.
“Okay, that makes sense,” Elliot said begrudgingly. “But I’m not singing.”
“You have to,” Emilio said, nudging him in the side. “Plus, after a couple, you won’t even care that you sound like shit.”
“Plus, tonight’s theme is Jimmy Buffett,” Dante added unhelpfully.
“Kill me know,” Elliot laughed.
“On the bright side,” Emilio said with a sigh. “This means I’ll be much less likely to hear a Catrina Ives song tonight.”
Adrien leaned into Elliot so he could reach his uncle. He gave Emilio’s arm a pat and said, “I’d be happy to do her entire discography for you if you’d like.”
“If you weren’t my sister’s kid, I’d throttle you right now you little asshole,” Emilio mock threatened.
Laughing, Adrien moved back and blew his uncle a kiss. “I couldn’t pass it up, you know.”
“I do,” Em said, smiling. “But you’re still an asshole for that.”
“Gotta love that he’s bitter about the breakup despite the fact he’d never admitted to dating her in the first place,” Dante added as the waitress arrived at their table. “Pitcher of margaritas please. Anything else?”
“Not at the moment,” Emilio added. “Oh, maybe a list of what’s on the machine so I can make my song choice before I get up there and look like an idiot?”
“Too late for that,” Dante muttered.
The waitress – her name tag said her name was Cara – repressed a smile. “Of course. I’ll bring it with the drinks.” She moved to leave, caught Adrien’s eye and hesitated. Winking at him, she continued towards the bar.
“I think she recognized you,” Elliot said, watching Cara walk off.
“We’ve met before,” Adrien said, looking at the table. “In Tucker, actually.”
“Interesting,” Dante said. “Not very often an attractive young woman recognizes you and keeps her mouth shut.”
“She works at the market, doesn’t she,” Elliot asked, suddenly making the connection.
“Yeah, she does,” Adrien confirmed. “Which is why she kept her mouth shut. She knows.”
“Okay, let’s stop teasing the child,” Emilio said, lifting the list of karaoke songs so he could read it. “Why’d you guys drag me here on fucking Jimmy Buffett night?”
“So, we can sing,” Adrien said.
“And drink lots of margaritas and not look like weirdos,” Dante added.
Emilio looked at Elliot.
“Adrien made me come,” he said with a shrug.
Dante grinned. “How many times do you think we’ll here “Margaritaville” before the night’s over?”
Emilio eyed his brother. “One too many if you’re going to sing it.”
Dante flipped him off. “Just for that…,” he said, getting up and heading towards the stage.
“Oh god,” Adrien groaned.
“Should I be afraid,” Elliot asked, looking from his boyfriend to the stage.
“Yes,” Emilio laughed. “You ought to be very afraid.”
“It’s one of Uncle Dante’s favorites,” Adrien explained as the familiar music started playing. “Especially when he’s had a few so well, be prepared. He’s likely to get up there and sing it again.”
Elliot snickered. “God, I love your family. My uncle would never.”
“Elliot,” Emilio said, grinning, “meet Dante. There’s not much that asshole won’t do.”
“Sadly, he’s not exaggerating either, El,” Adrien said. He grabbed the list from where it was laying on the table and read through his choices. “Hmm…”
“What’s your favorite,” Emilio asked Elliot.
“Oh no, you’re not getting me out there, I do not care how drunk you get me. I am not singing.”
“He’s a stick in the mud that way,” Adrien said, still trying to make his choice. “He won’t even sing in the car with me.”
“That’s because I’m with you,” Elliot said, waving a hand at his karaoke companions. “You. You remember what you do for a living, right?”
Adrien laughed and put the list down again. “I won’t judge, promise. I mean, you should hear me trying to sing Mariah Carey sometime.”
“Anyway,” Emilio said, pouring himself a drink. “Mine’s “Cheeseburger in Paradise. I love how ridiculous it is.”
“And if you get up and sound awful while singing it, no one will care,” Adrien added.
“That, too,” Emilio asked. He sipped from his margarita. “Wow, that’s potent.”
“Now you have my attention,” Adrien laughed, taking the pitcher and filling his and Elliot’s glasses. “I’m going to need something to get me out there.”
“I’ll never understand how you still struggle with stage fright,” Emilio said fondly. “At this point, you’d think he was immune.”
“I have a lot at stake every time I go out there,” Adrien said. “Here, not so much, but my brain’s still screaming, ‘YOU’LL MAKE A FOOL OF YOURSELF!’. And really, it’s probably right. Especially if I keep drinking.”
“And then there’s Dante who needs no help,” Em laughed. “I love that boy.”
“Me, too,” Adrien said, watching his uncle sing for a moment. “He’s a good part of why I’m able to do what I do. Anytime I start to panic, I think about what he’d do in the same situation and it’s suddenly easier.” He shrugged and took a drink, making a face. “Damn, we’re all going to be sloshed by the time we’re ready to go.”
“Your mom will murder us,” Emilio said.
“We’ll call Damon to come get us,” Elliot said, referring to his partner.
“Damon won’t be any better,” Emilio said. “He treats Adrien like his son. He’ll want to murder us, too.”
“We’re screwed,” Adrien laughed.
“Nah, I’ve got connections, we’ll get home fine,” Emilio told him.
Elliot leaned an elbow on the table and put his chin in his hand, watching as Dante finished his song with a shimmy and a shake. “At least Dante can sing.”
“It’s one of his very few positive traits,” Emilio said, ducking as Dante took a playful swipe at his head.
“Who’s next?” Dante looked at Elliot who shook his head no violently. Emilio shrugged, but Adrien raised his hand. “I’ll go next unless you think you should get a turn in first, Em?”
“Nah,” Emilio said, finishing off the last of his margarita. “We can always stay if you get chased out,” he laughed.
“Okay then,” Adrien said. He leaned over to kiss Elliot on the cheek and whispered, “Text my mom and let her know we might need help later.”
Snorting, Elliot nodded. “Any idea what you’re going to sing?”
“One of my favorites called “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes”. It’s one of the few I can relate to, honestly.” He gave them a little wave as he headed towards the stage.
“Wouldn’t have pegged him for a Jimmy Buffett fan, honestly,” Elliot said. “Even with as varied as his musical tastes seem to be sometimes.”
“It’s Kenny Chesney’s fault,” Dante offered. “Not that Kenny kidnapped him and forced him to listen to this stuff or anything but…” He shrugged.
“Kenny’s one of Adrien’s influences,” Emilio clarified.
“And Kenny’s a fan?”
“He was once late to his own concert in Vegas because he was in the next casino at a Jimmy Buffett concert,” Dante said. “I like his style.”
“You would,” Emilio said, pouring the last of the margaritas into their glasses. “Shit, we’re out.”
“We can fix that easy,” Dante said, holding his hand in the air and smiling at Carla when she noticed him. “There, done.”
“Oh my god,” Elliot heard a girl at the next table gasp. “That’s Austen Ricci up there singing karaoke. Jimmy Buffett karaoke!”
“What,” the girl to her left asked. “Are you sure?”
“That’s not Austen Ricci,” the third girl said matter-of-factly. “He could only wish he was Austen Ricci.”
The other two looked back at the stage while Adrien did a little shoulder shimmy and sighed in disappointment. “Maybe you’re right,” the first girl said. “Damn.”
Dante barked out a laugh. “God, if they only knew.”
“Don’t tell Adrien,” Em begged. “Let him be himself for a night.”
“Can I tell him after we get home later because I think he’ll find this funny as hell,” Elliot asked.
“Yeah, of course,” Emilio said. “And you’re right – he finds it hysterical when people recognize him but refuse to believe it’s him.”
“Here he comes, you’re turn next, Em,” Dante said.
Winking at his brother, Emilio said, “I’m on it.”
“So,” Aleja said, sliding into the booth beside Adrien. “How much damage have the four of you done tonight?”
Adrien smiled at his mother. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“He’s so full of shit,” Damon said, glancing at the stage where Dante and Emilio were currently singing some duet. “I thought the theme was Jimmy Buffett tonight?”
“That apparently only lasts until eleven o’clock,” Elliot said. “Now it’s a free-for-all.”
“Which is why I’m trying to find one last song,” Adrien said. He looked at his mom, his boyfriend, and Damon. “Oh, I got it! Uncle D’s going to love this. Em, not so much. Be right back.”
Adrien scooted out of the booth as soon as his mother was out of his way and ran off to the stage. The bar had mostly cleared out by that point and there was no longer a line to use the karaoke machine. Which, for better or for worse, was keeping Dante and Emilio occupied.
“How many times did Dante sing “Margaritaville”,” Damon asked.
“Just three, which I’m told is good.”
“Anything less than five is a win,” Aleja laughed. “Oh god,” she spluttered. “Oh, Adrien, no.”
Elliot turned to the stage and listed for a second before bursting into laughter. “Fucking Lizzo, really?”
Damon’s shoulders were shaking with laughter. “Adrien wasn’t wrong though - Dante’s gonna love this while Em’s going to want to exit stage right.”
Adrien launched into the opening verse of “Truth Hurts” while Dante and Emilio joined in on the chorus. All three danced in time as they sang.
“I am learning so much about my boyfriend tonight,” Elliot said, amused. “Lizzo, huh.”
“Only when he’s been drinking,” Aleja said. “His more interesting tastes tend to come out when he’s been drinking.”
“Rather like his uncle,” Damon said. “They’re almost done, do you think it’s time to pay the bill and haul them out of here?”
“Oh, without a doubt. Five pitchers of margaritas between four people? That’s more than any of you need,” Damon said, his eyes landing on Elliot as he ended his statement.
“Yeah, yeah,” Elliot said. “I stopped after two just in case one of you weren’t able to get here. So, I can drive Adrien’s truck home.”
“Thankfully, Dante and Emilio came together,” Damon said.
“They do that often just in case they have to get a ride home. That way, they only have to retrieve one vehicle the next day.” Aleja patted Damon’s arm. “Sometimes, they do share a brain between them.”
“Hey, look at that,” Dante shouted, seeing Damon and his sister sitting at the table. “Did you two come to party with us?”
“I think they’ve come to act as designated drivers,” Adrien said with a chuckle. “It’s well after midnight and we probably ought to get going.”
“Spoilsport,” Dante teased.
“Okay, you two,” Aleja said, with an eyeroll. “Time to hit the bricks.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Emilio said, winking at Dante. “Kids are afraid of teachers. Criminals are afraid of lawyers. But everyone’s afraid of a mom on the warpath.”
“And it’s amazing my son turned out to be such an amazing young man with role models like the two of you.”
“You can give that credit to Damon,” Dante said, embracing his old friend in a sloppy, drunken hug.
“That I will happily take credit for,” Damon said, thumping Dante on the back heartily. “Especially he’s not half as drunk as you two fools are.”
“You’re just jealous,” Emilio said, joining his brother in the hug. “Because your ass is sober.”
“Guilty,” Damon laughed. “Next time, stick to home and we can all get sloshed.”
“Oooh, party at my house next weekend then,” Adrien asked, perking up. “My next tour’s going to start soon, and I won’t be home nearly enough. What do you think? A sendoff party?”
“Next Monday’s Labor Day, too,” Emilio added.
“Well then, I guess I know what we’re doing next weekend,” Dante said, rubbing his hands together.
“Let me know if you need help getting your spare rooms ready for guests.”
“I think I’ve got it handled, thanks,” Adrien said. “El, you sure you’re okay to drive?”
“I’m right as the rain, baby,” Elliot said, taking the keys Adrien offered him.
“I can administer a field sobriety test if you’d like,” Damon teased. “But I think he’s fine. Ready?”
“Ready,” they echoed back.
“Why,” Elliot asked, fingers tracing along the bare skin of Adrien’s chest, “do I have this feeling that next weekend will be a fiasco?”
“Because it will be,” Adrien said, rolling so that his chest was pressed against Elliot’s. “But it’s also going to be a lot of fun. I know you’ve never seen Damon let loose, not really, but you’ll see it next weekend.”
“Hah,” Elliot barked. “I can’t wait.”
--
End notes: The story about Kenny Chesney is true. Heard it on the radio one morning and laughed because of course Kenny did.
The bit with the three girls at the neighboring table was inspired by a story I heard Vince Gill tell many years ago. He said he was walking down the street in Nashville and one lady said, “Hey, that’s Vince Gill!” and her friend said, “He wishes he was Vince Gill.” LOL
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Date: 2020-07-12 08:29 pm (UTC)It was a good story.
I love the little tidbits you included about Kenny and Vince.
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Date: 2020-07-12 11:07 pm (UTC)Thanks. :)
That story about Kenny really endeared him to me. And Vince Gill's always had such a great sense of humor Just happy I found a way to share those silly tidbits.
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Date: 2020-07-20 07:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-07-20 07:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-08-02 04:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-08-02 06:19 pm (UTC)