“He is.” Zev’s face softens. “And I kind of agree. Not the three girls in one week. But, Cal, you need something else in your life. Something other than soccer. It’ll enhance your game.”
Up until a month ago, Simone was myother. Myonlyother. My very close, very tight-knit family wasn’t something she approved of. I went from texting with my family daily to adding my two cents to our group chat once a week. She didn’t like me seeing my teammates off the field. So, I stopped going out with the guys. She didn’t love my profession. And my game fell into the trash compactor.
My onlyotherwas her.
My family and friends fell back into place when she left—so did my sanity.
Everything except for my game, which ironically means I’m still not going out with the guys or going home for visits. But at least the guys know I’m sorry. At least my family knows I’m me again. They love me. They’ve forgiven me.
But the game won’t. It will not forgive and let me be me again.
So, I train.
Zev slaps a hand on my back. “But more than enhancing your game with a change of pace, you need something that’ll better your life.”
Something other than the game.
Something that’ll better my life?
Well, that’s the difference. Simone may have been my other, but I can’t say she ever bettered my life.
Three
“Wow.”Doug blinks those incredibly long lashes.
Huh. The man did not lie about his looks. Maybe Rosalie is wrong and my HeartLink app will turn out to be helpful after all.
“Karaoke. That’s one way to go,” he says, his brows furrowing.
7:59 p.m. adrenaline rush—I’m not even stressing about my semi-okay shower voice.
“It might be fun. Have you ever done it?” I say, turning from Doug to peer at the man murdering the Billy Joel song right before our eyes. At least he looks as though he’s having fun. And at least Billy isn’t here to witness the dumpster fire his song has become.
“Uh, no. I don’t really sing.”
I shrug one shoulder and grin at cutie Doug because HeartLink and I may have worked some magic this time. I like this one. And my remake plans are on point tonight.
“Me either,” I say. “Should we try something new together?”
I know it’s cheesy. But it’s also romantic. How many romance movies have a karaoke scene? Plenty. And they all get their happily ever after in the end.
“I guess,” he says, that furrowed brow smoothing out. “Why not?”
Wow. Doug is making this one easy on me. I swear, he even has a “Troy” fromHigh School Musicalglow about him. It’s those extra-long eyelashes.
Okay—Rosalie would scold me for that “Troy” thought. But his eyelashes are something special.
“Let me talk to the DJ.” I stand from our small round table in this karaoke bar, giddiness rising in my chest. I walk to the front, where our brave, off-key friend is finishing “Piano Man”. Before I can ask any questions, the guy running the sound system hands me an iPad. I follow the directions, signing mine and Doug’s names, and then search for our song—thesong.
Fran Fairchild does not do something halfway. Nope, I am a girl who goes all in. So, it’s a good thing “The Start of Something New,”the exactHigh School Musicalkaraoke songI’m looking for, is listed as an option.Okay, I may have called ahead of time to make sure that this particular karaoke system had that song. And yes—I get it, it’s a movie for tweens. But hey, still a romance. One I very much like.
I get raised brows from the DJ as I hand him back the iPad. “Really?” he says.
“Yes,” I answer with a smile—because he’s not going to discourage my romcom remake. “Really.”
What my cynical DJ friend doesn’t know is that I seriously considered taking Doug to the Potter’s Wheel—cue that old 90s filmGhostand the sexy fingers through the clay scene. Dougisvery cute… But this is afirstdate. Andwhile he seems nice, I have no idea if he’s anti-brunette like Lance. Which is why we will not be sliding our fingers through clay as we share a single potter’s wheel. At least not today.
Besides, nothing throws two strangers together like making fools of themselves on stage. Or maybe it’s nothing throws two people together like making musical magic on stage. I’m pretty sure Troy and Gabriella didnotmake fools of themselves.
