Back inside, Jonas and Corey stepped onto the small stage, which sat in the back corner of the room. Jon and Ari made their way back to the table just as Cara was returning with a tray full of drinks. “Ah, there you are. I thought maybe you left me alone.”
“Not a chance. You're not the only one who’s been waiting for this,” Ariana replied as she pulled out her chair and sat down.
“A toast then.” She passed out the drinks along with three shot glasses, some lemons and a salt shaker.
“I think I’ll pass.” Jon pushed his to the side.
“Aw c’mon just one?” Ariana asked sweetly.
“Yeah, don’t wimp out on us.” Cara raised the tiny glass.
“One.” Jon held up a finger. “We need to be up early tomorrow.” He tapped the tip of her nose with his little finger as he picked up the glass.
“For what?” Cara asked.
“Jon’s leaving tomorrow.”
Cara placed the salt on her skin where her thumb and forefinger connected while Ari and Jon followed suit. “Ah. Then let’s toast to, good friends, family, and a long healthy life,” she said as they tapped their glasses.
“Lick it! Slam it! Suck it!” Ariana recited.
“ACK!” Cara shook her head in disgust. “I had forgotten how that really tasted.”
“Getting wimpy on us there, Cara?” Jon teased.
Before she could answer him, the room went silent as Jonas tapped on the mic.
“Bonsoir tout le monde. Je veux vous souhaiter la bienvenue au Petit Soho. Le meilleur bar à Montréal selon moi. My name is Jonas Tomalty, for those of you who don’t know me, and this here is my main man, Corey Diabo, together we are half of Jonas & The Massive Attraction. I was honored to be asked to come and play for you guys tonight. After a little hiatus, we have a new album coming out next year called the ‘Big Slice’ and this is a great opportunity to play some of the new stuff to see if you like it. I hope you do. So, I’ll shut up now and play. Let’s see if you know this one.”
Jon sat back, resting his arm on the back of Ari’s chair, and watched. From what Ari had told him, Jonas grew up around music. When he was fourteen, his father used to sneak him into the local bars around Montreal. He had already been in various bands when he met Corey, and they knew instantly they’d belonged together.
The Canadian version of him and Richie. Their story reminded him of when he would play at the Fastlane or the Stone Pony. He remembered the intimacy of playing the small local bars. He often missed it. Not enough to give up the rush he got when fifty thousand strong sang one of his songs. That was a fucking awesome feeling, too.
Seeing Cara and Ari act like a gaggling bunch of groupies, singing and squealing to one song after another was fun to watch. He’d never gotten to see her like this. She had always been working.
“Is everyone enjoying themselves?” Jonas paused. The sounds of whistles echoed through the room. “Now that you are all warmed up, how about some new stuff? This will be the first single and the title track off the new album. It’s called ‘Big Slice’. We hope you enjoy it.”
Ariana leaned back into her chair as Jon wrapped his arm over her shoulder. “Having fun?” she turned and asked him.
“Yes. How ‘bout you?”
“Absolutely. They're great, aren’t they? You should see them when they are all together.”
“We can do that.” He tugged on her braid.
“What was that for?”
“Your kind of cute, that’s what.”
“I think that tequila has gone to your head. Maybe you should stick to wine from now on.”
“I ain’t no lightweight, baby, but you’re right. Wine I can gulp.”
“What happened to that beer drinking, whisky chasing rocker I used to know?” she joked.
“He grew up a little on the outside, but he’s still in here.”
A round of applause startled them out of their conversation, along with Jonas stepping up to the mic and bowing briefly.
“So tonight, I had a very special request from a friend to a friend. I guarantee you she’s going to be all shades of red.”
Cara spun in her chair. “What did you do?”
“Nothing. I swear.” Ari shrugged her shoulders.
Jon adopted a disinterested look, nonchalantly fiddling with the braid again.
“JON!” They exclaimed in unison as Jonas sang.
You make me feel
Something beautiful
You make me feel
Something real
You make me feel
Something beautiful
And you make me
Make *you*
Make me
Come alive....
“Awe baby, they’re singing our song. You know the one where I make you come alive.” Jon couldn’t keep a straight face anymore. And Jonas was right, Ariana’s face was beet red, but she didn’t care. She kept on grooving to the beat. Cara just rolled her eyes at the two of them and turned her attention back to the stage.
When the song ended, they announced they were taking a ten-minute break. Cara immediately stood. “I’m going to see if they need drinks or something. I’ll be right back.”
“Drinks, right,” was Jon’s quick-witted response.
Cara stopped, slowly pivoted until she was facing them and proceeded to give him the finger. “I believe you called this the Jersey salute.”
“I love you, too.” He raised his glass as if to say cheers.
“I’m going to give Max a break. Do you want to come sit at the bar?” Ari asked.
“Sure.” He pulled out her chair for her. They made their way over so Ariana could relieve Max from behind the bar. Ari kept busy running drinks, clearing plates and talking to some of the neighborhood patrons while Jon signed autographs and posed for pictures.
By the time Max returned, the next set was about to start. Cara had made it back to the table when Jon and Ari finally made their way over. “Did you behave?” Ari asked as she took the seat next to her friend.
“For the most part,” she chuckled.
Ariana smiled and rolled her eyes. She’d missed spending time with her. Between the two of them, their careers didn’t allow for them to be in the same place for too long. Maybe now they would be able to. The soft sounds of the guitar brought her attention back to the stage.
“Welcome back. Hope you are all having fun tonight. We’re going to do a few more songs for you so grab your drinks, sit back and have fun.” Jonas strummed his guitar. “This next song goes out to a dear, dear friend. This one’s for you, Cara. It’s called 'By the Bed'."
Ariana nudged her friend. "Oh no. Someone's got it bad."
"Puhleeze! We're just having fun," she replied.
"Fun would warrant a 'Super Sex Me' dedication, not this song," Ari whispered to her.
"Shush!" Cara huffed.
A smile graced his face as the song ended. "I want to thank everyone for coming tonight and we hope you enjoyed the show. Before we go, we have a little surprise. We have a special guest in the audience tonight and he’s agreed to play a little for us, so help me welcome Jon Bon Jovi to the stage.
Ariana glanced back over her shoulder as he pushed back his chair and gave her a quick wink. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s been up on that stage, but it was usually with Richie or the band when they were in town. To see him up there now surprised her. Cara leaned back in her chair. “Did you know about this?”
“Nope. I’m trying to figure out when he arranged this.”
“Maybe when we were talking earlier,” Cara answered.
“You're probably right.”
Jon sat on the stool in front of the mic, adjusting it just a little. “How’s everyone doing? I want to thank Corey and Jonas for allowing me to sit in with them tonight. So, let’s see if you know this one.” Jon counted them in while the opening chords brought cheers from the crowd.
“Tommy used to work on the docks....”
When they got to the first chorus, Jon stopped and let them sing. A smile crept across his face. “You got it.”
Effortlessly, the three played through the rest of the song like they’d played together before. As the song finished, the room erupted with whistles.
Jon covered the mic with his hand to talk to the guys. "Alright, here’s, one more for you." Tuning a few strings on the borrowed guitar, he glanced over at Ariana and winked.
When the road gets dark
And you can no longer see
Just let my love throw a spark
And Have a little faith in me
And when the tears you cry
Are all you can believe
Just give these loving arms a try
Have a little faith in me
Cara watched her friend as she tried to fight back the tears. She reached under the table and squeezed Ariana’s hand.
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith
Have a little faith in me
When your secret heart
Cannot speak easily
I said... come here darlin'
From a whisper start, yeah
Just have a little faith in me
And when your backs against the wall
Just turn around and you will see
That I will catch
I will catch your fall
Just...
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Well I’ve been loving you for such a long-time girl
Expecting nothing in return
Except for you to have a little faith in me
You see that time is our friend
It is our friend
There is no happy end
Unless you have a little faith in me
I said that I will hold you up
I will hold you up
Give me just enough of your faith in me
All I gotta do
All I gotta do now
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Cara silently excused herself as Jon shook hands and thanked them once again before returning to the table. He pulled the empty chair closer so he could sit next to Ari. One arm stretched around the back of her chair, and the other rested on the table in front of them.
“Do you know how much I love you? Watching you sing that song to me in front of all these people? Thank you can’t even express how I feel right now.” She dipped her head in ‘til her forehead pressed against his. “What do you say we get out of here?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” He pressed a small kiss on her lips. “I love you.”
“I know.”
“Let’s go find everyone so I can say goodbye.”
They found them over at the bar. Jon thanked Jonas and Corey once again, telling them if they ever needed anything to not hesitate to call. He told Max he would see him soon, while Ariana agreed to meet with him sometime tomorrow. Cara pulled Jon aside as they walked to the door. “Are we good?”
“Yes. Take care of her for me?” he asked.
“Always. See you soon.” She gave him a hug before turning to her friend. “See you tomorrow?” she asked her.
“Yes.” She squeezed Cara tight. “Have fun.”
"You know I will. Now, go on. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Cara held open the door for them.
The crisp night breeze felt wonderful against her face as she waited for Jon to hail them a taxi. Less than a week ago, her life had taken an unexpected turn. One she didn’t think she’d survive but she did. The question was could she survive the next stage of her life.
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