I fully expected our team to win trivia night. What I didn’t expect was Maguire being the key reason we swept the other team. I shouldn’t have been surprised, though. Between his naturally encouraging, friendly nature and his good looks, our team stayed bolstered and more than a few members of the other teams were distracted.

“You said he was smart,” Tanya commented as the Nerdlettes landed their fifteenth win in a row. “You never said he was a heartbreaker.”

“In my defense, this is my first time dragging him to a sports bar since he decided to follow me home from the North Pole,” I replied, snagging a fry off her plate.

“This has been an incredibly unique experience in more ways than one,” Maguire admitted.

Even though he was often at ease in crowds, this was his first time dealing with strangers trying to flirt with him over an extended period of time. He handled it well, if perhaps a bit too well given the fact that the attempts continued. Thankfully, the number of people at our table dissuaded women from trying to approach, so as long as he stayed put, he didn’t have to deal with it. That allowed him to face the challenge on his own terms instead of being inundated with unwanted attention. I had no doubt he would be fine, but it was nice being able to give him some backup.

“I want him on our team for the holiday trivia special,” Lenny said.

“Come on, now. You know I can’t make commitments like that this far in advance,” I protested.

“First off, I am not asking for a commitment at this exact moment. I am just stating a fact. And secondly, you don’t have to be there. I just want Christmas boy for the Christmas trivia.”

“You know there are plenty of other holidays that happen in December,” Maguire countered.

“Oh, we know…”

The conversation quickly veered into all of the holidays that take place throughout the year, and another round of drinks was brought to our table. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the stage being set for the performance of a very familiar face.

All eyes were locked on Eric the second he took the stage and greeted his fans. He flashed a smile that left half the girls in the room on the edge of swooning and introduced himself, before diving straight into his first song.

The next hour was filled with power ballads, love songs, and duets that he sang along with the crowd. Maguire sent me a few curious looks and I nodded. Everyone at the table could feel the literal power of the song coursing through the room, spreading from person to person. It carried with it a gentle warmth that settled in the center of my chest, untangling the knotted muscles between my shoulders.

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By the time he finished, everyone was in a much better mood than they had been when they sat down. The future felt a little brighter. The world felt a little warmer. And we all felt a little closer.

“What was that?” Maguire whispered. Chatter began to spread once the music ended and the focus on Eric began to fade.

“Music,” I said simply, “with a little bit of magic mixed in. It’s similar to what you grew up around, but it's a different source, a different flavor. Sometimes it can be connected to a place but in this case it is connected to a person and brought out by an action.”

“He has the ability to inspire certain feelings in people through music.”

“Exactly, and he does so in a way that does not impact people’s free will or ability to think and choose for themselves. He isn’t directing people’s minds so much as…encouraging certain feelings that may already be there.”

“That still sounds dangerous.”

“Oh, it could be. Normally the Society would make moves to remove this effect, but he’s a bit of a special case. The world is better with his feel good music in it, just like it's better having your boss in his current state.”

“I guess that makes sense. I am curious to know how it works, though.”

“We can go and chat with him afterwards. He’s a friend and I planned to introduce you anyway. He gives wonderful advice on all kinds of relationships.”

Maguire nodded and we returned to the conversation around the table, which had shifted to a new TV show that Tanya was obsessed with. We talked about that and I teased her about her celebrity crush until the crowd began to diminish and I suddenly became aware of a familiar presence behind me.

“So, how did you fine folks enjoy the performance?” Eric asked, pulling a chair over to sit with us.

“It was amazing as always,” Tanya gushed. “We listen to musicians all over the world but there isn’t one who can compare to you.”

“And you are kind as always, though I think we both know why my music stands out so much.”

“That doesn’t make it any less impressive,” Lenny chided. Eric laughed and we slipped into an easy conversation full of catching each other up on what had happened since the last time we were all together. Any and all tension melted from the table as the smiles spread, and I found myself wondering not for the first time why we didn’t spend more time with Eric.

Then Tanya asked about Eric’s latest album and he started talking about his career and I remembered the answer. Being a musician kept him busy and took him all over the world, so we only got to see each other when our paths crossed and when we made an effort. It's just the way of the world.

“We need to do this more often,” Sara said, echoing my thoughts.

“We really do,” I replied. Maybe once we got the rest of the Jacks back, I would have a little more wiggle room in my travel schedule.

Eric started to say something, but then he stopped. A simple, sinister shift in the air drew our attention to the back of the bar just in time to see a hooded figure slip out the back.

“Eric, where is the heart?” I asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

“I had it in my guitar case,” he replied. “I thought it would be safe there.”

The stool that had once held the guitar case sat empty, and my heart sank to somewhere around my knees. I stood, looking at Maguire.

“Follow me. We need to move.”