I just pray I don’t regret it.
I take a small sip of my drink and look to the stage, waiting to see what song Claire chose. If the devious grin on her face is any indication, it’s a good one.
The beat drops, and I can’t help but burst out laughing when he sings the opening lines of “I’m Too Sexy”.
And he’s not embarrassed about it either. He struts. He owns it like it’s an audition for a singing competition. Women whistle and catcall, and by the first chorus, the entire bar is on their feet dancing along with him.
As he circles his hips, Claire leans into me, laughing. “Now he’s just showing off for you.”
I blink, shooting my eyes toward her. “What do you mean?”
She gives me a pointed look. “I’ve known Joshua since we were in diapers. He’s definitely into you.”
“Into...me?”
“Of course.”
“Oh.” I glance back at the stage, her words making me view Joshua in a different light.
He’s grinning and dancing like he doesn’t have a single worry. Like the past doesn’t weigh on him. Like joy is something he allows himself to have without apology.
Unlike Hayden.
“It’s sort of why we invited you.” Dylan nudges me. “Not that we don’t enjoy your company,” she adds quickly. “But we saw the way he was fawning over you the second you walked into my mom’s house.”
Claire smooths a dark curl behind her ear. “No pressure, of course. Just thought it would be a good opportunity for you to get to know each other better.”
“Joshua is definitely…” I trail off, searching for the right word.
Not brooding.
Not guarded.
Not carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met a man willing to sing about being too sexy in front of a bar full of people and completely own it.”
“That’s Joshua,” Claire says fondly. “He doesn’t carewhat people think. And he’s loyal. One of the best people I know.”
I shift my eyes back to the stage. “I can see that.”
The song ends to thunderous applause. Joshua bows again, then hops off the stage, hugging a few people he knows as he makes his way back to us.
Before I can say anything, the MC squints at his clipboard again.
“All right, Rowan! You’re up!”
My stomach drops. “I don’t know if I want to follow that.”
Joshua squeezes my arm. “You’ll do great.”
The way he looks at me should make butterflies explode in my belly.
Instead, there’s only a small flutter.
Not like when Hayden looks at me.
Or when his mouth found mine and the world went quiet.
