“Away.” Courtney nodded at the stage.
Ethan stood, but he also shook his head. “I wasn’t lying about not singing.”
“You don’t have to sing, just say the words.” She leaned over and whispered in his ear, “It’ll get you away from the artist.”
Ethan grinned. “Okay. Do you have a song in mind?”
“I know just the one.” Courtney placed her hand on the small of his back and guided him across the room and up the few steps of to the stage.
It felt strange to be behind a microphone with a crowded barroom watching him. Courtney told the DJ to play Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do.”
“We’ll alternate lines. Just say the words. You’ll be great,” Courtney whispered.
Courtney was so hysterical singing her lines, Ethan relaxed, and by the end of the song he was enjoying himself. When the bar exploded into applause, Courtney took a small bow. Ethan swept her into an embrace and waltzed her off the stage.
Zoe stood at the bar, watching them with dark, unreadable eyes. Why would he feel her gaze so much more than any of the others?
He took his seat at the table. Fortunately, Misty had left. Moments later, Zoe took Misty’s chair, but before she could say anything, Misty returned.
Misty plunked her drink on the table in front of Zoe. “You took my spot,” she snarled. “Find another place to sit.”
“Hey, sweetie,” Courtney said, touching Misty on the arm. “Want me to drive you home?”
Misty flung away from Courtney. “The party is just starting.” She leered at Ethan. “Am I right?” she asked, leaning in so close he felt her warmth and smelled her breath.
She obviously wasn’t in a condition to drive, and since he knew where she lived, he seemed like the best choice to chauffeur her home, but he didn’t want to be her designated driver. “Let me call a taxi or an Uber.” He pulled out his phone.
“Misty,” Zoe put on a schoolteacher voice, “I’m ready to go. Yeah? You want a ride with me?”
Misty stuck out her lower lip and imitated a two-year-old on the verge of a tantrum. “I’m not going with you.”
“Do you even have a car?” Ethan asked Zoe.
“No, but I can borrow Courtney’s, right?” She glanced at Courtney.
“No,” Courtney said. “I’m not going to let this lush ruin our night out.”
“Courtney!” Zoe chided her sister.
Courtney sat up and straightened her shoulders. “What? You never go out! I can’t even remember the last time you did anything fun and now that I finally got you out of your bakery cave, I’m not going to let this person ruin it for us.”
Zoe sighed and bit her lip.
“Right. You’ll ride in my car,” Ethan said to Misty. “Want to walk out with me?” He shot Zoe a glance. “Want to come, too?”
Zoe looked at Courtney as if asking permission.
“You haven’t even sung one song!” Courtney wailed.
“You know that was never going to happen, right?” Zoe said to her sister in a quiet voice.
“Okay, fine.” Courtney blew out an exaggerated sigh. “You can go if you go with Ethan.”
Ethan draped an arm around Misty’s shoulder while Zoe took up a position on the other side of her. They made an awkward threesome as they crossed the floor, then headed out the door and down the steps.
“I’m just over there,” Ethan said, pointing at his convertible and steering Misty in the right direction. After he unlocked the door, Zoe held the door open so Misty could ease onto the seat.
Misty grabbed Ethan by the shirt and pulled him into the car. He scrambled out of her grasp.
