“Yeah. Just scared.”
“Declaring you love someone is always a little bit scary,” she pointed out.
I chuckled. “Yes, I suppose it is. Especially in such a public way.”
“See you in an hour.”
I hung up the phone and finished getting ready. Slipping into my outfit, I texted Brody and Kieran and let them know I was headed to the senior center. I’d called Brody after Mom and the girls left last night to tell him how I felt about Jacob. To say he was shocked was an understatement, but in the end he told me what I needed to hear…that he loved me, he liked Jacob, and he just wanted to see me happy.
I threw a larger t-shirt over my outfit just in case I ran into Jacob before the talent show started. I didn’t want him to see anything beforehand. Grabbing the one and only prop I’d need, I let Thor out in the backyard and prayed I’d be coming home with the answer I wanted.
Ten minutes later, I pulled my car into an empty space outside the senior center and hurried inside. I’d seen Mom’s car in the parking lot, so I figured most of the girls were already here.
“About time,” Gilda said as I walked backstage of the small performing arts center.
“Oh, hush,” Ingrid said. “Cut her some slack.”
“I gave the recording to Judge,” Mimi said. “All you have to do is cue him and he’ll start it.”
I pressed my palms to my stomach and breathed deeply. “I can do this.”
“You can do this,” Mom agreed.
“Have you seen him at all today?” Mimi asked.
I shook my head. “No. His truck was still at my house when I left.”
“Good,” Mimi said. “Let’s go over our plan one more time.”
***
At seven o’clock the senior center’s coordinator walked up to the microphone to get the talent show rolling. I peeked out behind the curtain and was surprised to see about seventy people milling around. It didn’t take me long to spot Jacob. He and Daniel were helping Judge back by the audio system.
Kieran and Brody sat in the second row back, and both waved. I waved back and laughed when Kieran gave me a thumbs up.
The show started, and I tried to remain calm. I knew there were four acts ahead of us, so no need to freak out for a little while longer. When it was finally our turn to take the stage, I sent up a silent prayer.
The five of us shed our t-shirts and strutted onto the stage. Immediate cheers went up. We were dressed in ourTrinity Falls Sexy Seniorsuniforms. Willing my heart to stop leaping out of my chest, I walked shakily to the microphone, set down my prop that was covered with a towel, wiped my hands on my jeans, and looked straight at Jacob standing in the back of the room.
I cleared my throat. “Before we begin, I want to dedicate our performance to Jacob Parkerson.” A few heads turned his way, and I swallowed hard. “If you could come forward, please.”
Jacob pushed off the wall and slowly ambled up the aisle. His look wavered between bemusement and humor. I figured the humor was because every now and then he’d look down at my chest which shouted I was aTrinity Falls Sexy Senior. He stopped a few feet in front of the stage.
“Okay, Judge,” I said. “We’re ready.”
Judge Thurgood gave me a thumbs up and a few seconds later, the chorus of Foreigner’s “I Want To Know What Love Is” filled the air.
I sang along with the chorus while Mom, Mimi, Gilda, and Ingrid did the classic Doo Wop Shuffle behind me. I could see Mimi’s overexaggerated movements in my peripheral, but forced myself to concentrate on Jacob. Because his was the reaction I needed to see.
The music changed again, and this time I sang a couple lines about a friendship that turned into love. I crooked my finger at Jacob, and he walked to the front of the stage, hoisted himself up, and then stalked toward me…his flashing eyes never leaving mine. When he was a few inches from me, I lifted my hand so he’d stop.
The music changed once again and a few lines from George Strait’s song about how love goes, check yes or no filled the air, and I sang a few of those verses. Then the music stopped, and the girls all pulled out their cell phones from their pockets and held them to their ears.
It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
I reached down and picked up the prop with the towel and held it in front of me. I gave a nod to Judge, and a few seconds later the title line from Lionel Richie’s “I Just Called To Say I Love You” filled the room. With a wink to Jacob, I whipped off the towel to expose the Fisher-Price telephone.
Jacob threw back his head and laughed.
