“Oh no, I’m not singing.” Amity holds up her hands.
“Come on, how are you scared of this when you throw yourself off of buildings for a living?”
“I’m tone deaf, Pip. I’ll make people’s ears bleed.”
“Ears bleeding is a one-star, do not recommend from me.”
Legs stares at me.
“Still too soon?”
“You know what? I’ll go first.”
Legs gets up and waddles over to where Probe has set up. I feel like everyone is watching me every time I move, but I’m studiously avoiding eye contact.
When the opening bar of Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” comes on, I can’t help but laugh, especially when Legs starts belting it out, her eyes never leaving mine as she hams it up for the audience. As it comes to an end, she shimmies over and gives me a quick peck on the lips, making the crowd roar. I shake my head at her antics as Nevaeh gets up and takes her place.
The guys walk back in, obviously hearing the commotion. They join us at the table, Theo taking the empty spot next to Millie.
I look at him, trying to gauge how it went, but Neveah’s voice catches my attention. “G, this one is dedicated to you.”
G looks confused until Neveah starts singing, “Don’t you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?”
We all start laughing again as Amity flips her off. Havoc just folds his arms and scowls. When she’s done, she does a little curtsy, squealing when Amity slaps her ass on her way to grab the mic.
“Hey, G, this one is for you, too.”
When she starts singing the country anthem, “Before He Cheats”, he shakes his head and mouths the words “never.”
“How do I always get dragged into your antics?” he groans at Neveah.
“Just lucky, I guess.”
Amity isn’t an amazing singer, but she’s not nearly as bad as she made out. I can hold a tune, though I’ve not had much to sing about lately. The thought of standing up there in front of everyone makes me feel sick, but I don’t want to be the weak link. I get to my feet and head to the makeshift stage area just as she is finishing up.
Probe looks at me and swallows. “Hey, Delphi.”
“Probe.” I nod nervously. I scroll through the options and grin when I find one that will work. I point at it and wait for him to nod that it’s ready before I start singing.
People are quiet, swaying along to the music until I get to the chorus and point to Legs. “I’ll catch a grenade for you,” I sing loudly, making her cover her face with her hands as people around us start laughing. By the time I’m done, I feel good. Really good. The awkwardness has started to fade. Yeah, maybe pretending everything is good isn’t healthy, but for now it’s working.
I grin when Millie walks over to me. She looks nervous, so I take her hand and give it a squeeze as she picks a song. She points at “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen I whistle—big song, rather her than me. Lola and Hannibal walk in just as Millie takes the mic and the opening bars of the song start.
The second she opens her mouth and sings the first line, a hush falls over the room. I make it back to the table, but don’t retake my chair as Kruger tugs me into his lap. Nobody speaks. Nobody breathes while Millie sings like she’s been doing it her whole life. Jesus, she’s so mesmerizing, it’s hard to tear my eyes away from her, but I do so I can see how other people are reacting.
Hannibal strolls toward her as if the music has him in its snare. Theo looks like he’s just fallen head over heels in love, and the rest of the room, well, they look like they’ve just witnessed a star being born.
Her voice is hauntingly beautiful. My whole body feels like live wires, and my skin is covered in goosebumps. By the time she sings her last note, I’m so out of breath I feel like I’ve just sung it with her.
The music cuts out, and the whole room is drenched in silence as Millie looks on, her face flushing with embarrassment, until Hannibal snatches her up and spins her around. The room erupts into chaos.
A smile tugs at my lips at how everyone gathers around her, wanting to tell her how amazing she is. I swear I see her grow ten feet in two minutes.
I look at Theo, who is watching me back, and a silent conversation passes between us.
Yes, Theo. This is what family is supposed to be like.
Chapter Twenty
