“Remember payback for the nail polish pic you sent to my family?” he calls out.
I flip him off as I make my way to the stage.
I used to hate singing in front of people.
But not anymore.
“All right, Lexy, what song are you picking?” the MC asks.
“Beautiful Disaster by Kelly Clarkson,” I say. “I’ll play it myself. Just need the lyrics on the screen.”
He nods.
I move to the piano.
My fingers hover over the keys.
I may not be able to form the words… but maybe I can sing them to him.
“I… uh…” I clear my throat. “I guess I want to dedicate this to someone I misjudged when I first met him.”
I glance up.
Dex is exactly where I left him, his arms crossed, his eyes locked on me.
“But he taught me I should never judge a book by its cover… and this song, I hope it says what I haven’t been able to say with words, so…”
My throat tightens. “Pan, this one’s for you.”
Then I start to play.
???
Dexter
I’m captivated by the piano, the lyrics to a song I don’t know well but already know I’ll be listening to on repeat… sung by her.
The crowd is silent as she lets her magic loose like pixie dust.
And I’m her biggest target.
I don’t even try to resist.
Every second that passes only sharpens the need in me, something low and insistent that makes it impossible to look away, impossible to think about anything but holding her close.
And the song dedicated to me…
Yeah.
I’m not wasting any more time.
“Damn, I guess you’re not the only one who’s got it bad.”
Ethan nudges me, but I don’t look at him. I can’t take my eyes off her.
“I guess so,” I say, barely hearing anything beyond her voice, aware of Cas, Penny, Summer, and the rest turning toward me.
“You admit it? You finally admit it?” Penny says from beside me.
