“And next up we have Grayson and Cami giving us a rendition from the movie, ‘High School Musical’.”
My eyes widen. “You didn’t?”
Gray chuckles. “It’s your favourite song.”
“When I was twelve.”
He laughs, knocking back the rest of his drink. “I’ll go myself then.” He stands and swaggers towards the small stage, leaving me frozen in my seat, as if it’s glued to my backside. I can’t physically seem to move.
The music to ‘Start of Something New’ plays, and my heart skips a beat. We sang this when we were kids at my parents’ beach rental the same year we went to Orlando and saw the cast on stage.
Thanasis appears out of nowhere, thrusting a mic in my face. “You singing, neh?”
I nod and take the mic, along with deep breaths, as Thanasis helps me up from my seat. Gray sings the opening line, his husky voice much deeper than it was the last time we sang this song. His eyes follow me, and with a trembling hand I bring the mic to my mouth and sing Gabriella’s part.
Gray’s lips turn upwards into a smile, and he curls his finger, telling me to go to him. With Thanasis guiding me towards the stage, I’m no longer in control of my legs and just focus on the singing. That I can do. I don’t need the screen with the words. As soon as the music started, the words came flooding back, sending me on a trip down memory lane.
Gray helps me up the small step to the stage just big enough for the two of us, but he doesn’t let go of my hand and sings the lyrics while gazing into my eyes.
My heart flutters. Could this really be the start of something new? I have to remind myself to keep singing and smiling as the whole taverna’s eyes have fallen on us. My body is on fire, heat rolls off me in waves. The apples of my cheeks burn as Gray’s eyes bore into my soul.
His thumb rubs circles on the back of my hand, and it’s the only thing keeping me calm. Or is he adding to my anxiety? I don’t know anymore, but what I do know is that right now, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than by his side.
At the end of the song, I let out a long breath. Gray wraps me up in his arms with a rock of his body from a silent chuckle. The taverna whistles and claps. All people he knows, I’m sure.
“We still got it,” he whispers. “Come on, let’s get another drink.”
CAMI
Grayson’s hand brushes against mine, causing a shiver down my spine as we walk along the promenade. “Are you cold?” His hand slips around my waist, pulling me close to his side.
Another shiver courses through me. I’m tempted to say yes so he will keep me close like this. “Not cold. The temperature is nice this time of day.”
“So you like the Floridian weather now, huh?” The deliciously sweet scent of him from the tearoom is replaced by the fruitiness of the figgy cocktails, but just as sweet and delicious.
“Perhaps it’s the company keeping me warm.” I bite my lip before I say anything else. As much as I want this night to turn into a proper date that ends with a kiss, we have to work together. Getting over him was hard before. If we cross the line, I don’t know if my heart could move on from that.
“Yeah, I am pretty hot, aren’t I?” He chuckles, keeping his arm around me as we kick the sand.
I swat his chest, but don’t correct him. He’s the hottest guy I know and the most amazing. Ugh. That’s my teenage self talking. Annoying is what he is, but only because I can’t have him.
Up ahead is a gated community. “Is that—”
“Candy Cane Country Club. You remember when we broke in?” Grayson’s body shakes with a silent laugh.
“I couldn’t forget, seeing as I almost died.”
“Hey, you were never in any danger. I got you. I wouldn’t let anything happen to you back then.” He stops walking and tucks a blonde curl behind my ear. “Or now.”
We approach the fence where we snuck in, although they’ve upgraded their security since and the wooden fence has been replaced with a metal one. The place is empty at this late hour, with only the moonlight bouncing off the pool like a mirror.
“You know, when you gave me CPR that night after I fell in the pool, it was my first kiss.” I bite my lip and glance down at my shuffling feet on the shingles.
“You count that mouth to mouth as your first kiss?”
I hum, not daring to meet his gaze.
“We were stupid teenagers.” He chuckles. “We should never have snuck that liquer from our parents. I shouldn’t have let you drink as much as you did.” His finger curls under my chin, lifting my face to his.
