“Let’s do this.”

Eli and I walk down the hall and towards Eric, the DJ, up in his booth. Eli claps Eric on the shoulder and he removes his headphones. “You ready?” Eli asks.

Eric tips his head, “Let’s do this.”

“Start it up then.” I reply.

Eric puts his headphones back on and the music fills the silent club. A few of the bartenders and waitress start cheering. The energy is through the roof.

Right at nine we give the bouncers the okay to open the doors. Before Eli came to get me to do one last walk through, I was upstairs and saw that the line was down the street which is great for the first night and it eases my nerves.

Eli agreed he’d walk around the downstairs most of the night while I agreed to do the same upstairs. We felt it was important to show our faces for the first few openings. Eli will be doing this while I’m away for the next few weeks but I’ll pick up when I return.

The second floor is kind of mine, I claimed it with the words that I’m trying to live by now. Inhale your future, exhale your past. Inhaling my future is exactly what I’m doing now. I’m embracing it with opening this new venture. Exhaling my past is still a work in progress. It’s a long bumpy road that I’m trying to navigate through. I’m trying to find that perfectly paved road.

People start trickling upstairs, little groups by little groups throughout the night. It’s a little quieter up here than it is downstairs, even though there are speakers in every corner. Up here you’re at least able to have a conversation without having to yell in each other’s ears. We had a few glass tables and black high back chairs set up recently so that people would have places to sit and talk if they weren’t dancing. There is lighting under the lip on the railing and under the bar, giving it a dark glow.

There is a group of girls sitting in the corner laughing amongst themselves and I see one of the girls pointing to me. I say a few hellos to people as I pass by them on my way over to their table.

As I get closer I look at each girl but none look familiar, which isn’t an uncommon thing. They probably recognize me from being a BlueClaw. I approach their table, “You ladies look like you’re enjoying yourselves.”

The one that was pointing at me bats her eyelashes, “I know who you are.”

Ugh, I hate this part of my career. I’m not ungrateful for what my career has done for me but just once I want to be known as just Cooper Cahill, new club owner.

I act the part and plaster a smile on my face, “I bet you do, sweetheart.” I wink at her. “Everything going well so far?” I ask the rest of the girls at the table, trying to deflect anymore questions from their friend.

“Everything is going great. I really like the setup, it’s not like the other clubs around here.” The pretty blond says.

I smile politely, “Thanks, I’m glad you think so.”

I spot Layla, who Eli hired without my knowledge, walking up the steps with Jackson and Chloe behind her. “Excuse me ladies.” I say as I walk over towards my brother and sister in law.

When I reach them I lean in and kiss Chloe on the cheek, “You’re looking stunning.”

She blushes, “Thanks Coop.” She leans back into Jackson who slid an arm around her waist.

“I like what you did to the place.” Jackson says, looking around. “I’m proud of you Coop.”

He has no idea how much I needed to hear that tonight of all nights. Tonight is an important night for me and it’s nice to know that I have my family’s support. My nerves were starting to get the best of me before they showed up. As I’m standing here talking to Chloe and Jackson someone throws their arm around my shoulder and I relax a little more.

“Hey, bro.” Mason says with a beer in his hand. He didn’t waste any time.

“Hey.” I greet him.

MacKenzie steps around Mason and throws her arms around my neck as he drops his. I pick her up so her feet are dangling in the air.

“How does it feel to have a break, Mama?” I ask when I set her back down.

She looks over to Hunter and I follow her line of sight. If MacKenzie answered me I didn’t hear what she said because I see Jaylinn is standing behind Hunter with Eli’s arm around her shoulder. I’m back on high alert seeing her. Everything that had settled me now has me in one big bundle of f**king nerves again.

“Cooper,” MacKenzie says in a warning tone. “Don’t f**k this up.”

Jaylinn is absolutely stunning in her black, form fitting halter-top dress. She has on black high heels that make her legs go on forever. Her normally straight hair is curled at the end and cascading down her back. Her blue eyes shine through the dark make-up that she’s wearing and her lips, her f**king lips, are colored cherry red. Just the thought of her lips has my dick standing at attention.

Hunter takes a few steps towards me and that’s when I see Eli who is standing there talking to Layla and Jaylinn. “Just let it be.” Hunter warns as he claps me on the back.

I look back over in their direction and Eli says something that has the both of them laughing. I hate it, jealously is a mother f**ker and I’m not a jealous kind of guy. Not normally. When it concerns Jaylinn though, it rears its ugly head. I don’t know what those two are doing but it’s not sitting well with me. Eli would never go after Jaylinn. We set that straight after that little stunt he pulled the night at the bar when I brought Jaylinn along.

I don’t exactly know what to do at this point. Am I supposed to go over to her and say hello? Do I let her make the move? I sigh in frustration. It should be me making her laugh, not my friend, my business partner.

MacKenzie wraps her arms around me. “I love you, Coop. I’m so proud that you and Eli did all of this. To be honest with you, I wasn’t expecting it. ” MacKenzie rambles on.

“I love you for what you’re doing.” I kiss the top of my sister’s head. She’s great at trying to distract me but it’s not working. “To be real honest with you, I’m totally shocked she’s here.”

MacKenzie huffs, “It wasn’t easy that’s for damn sure, but she knows it’s something she had to do. While you guys are fighting or whatever, Jaylinn knows at the end of the day she wants to support you no matter what.”

In the corner of my eye I see Jaylinn take a step towards me. “Cooper,” MacKenzie calls my name. “Please.” She begs.

I smile sweetly at my sister. “Relax, it’s fine.”