His face appears to grow paler, although I can’t say that with full certainty because we aren’t sitting near each other. But that’s definitely a shocked and panicked expression he’s wearing.
Tipping my head to the side with a sarcastic smile, I give him a little wave and turn back around.
“Satisfied?” Jake asks from beside me. Grabbing my vodka soda, I turn my furious face to him. He swallows hard, looking slightly intimidated by me. “I’ll take that as a no.”
No is right. My phone buzzes, and I decide to ignore it. It buzzes again while I’m talking to Levi and Stevie about the group onstage having what seems to be a whole lot of fun, all the while thinking of the man sitting at a table not too far from me.
Buzz. Buzz.
I’m about to give in and check the texts when my name is called. “Emma and Stevie, come on up!”
Guess he’ll just have to settle for my performance.
My friend group cheers, and I take one more sip of my vodka soda before sliding out of the booth behind Levi and Stevie. Stevie grabs my hand, and we run up to the small stage. We move in front of the mic stands, the alcohol finally hitting me, making me just tipsy enough to grow the confidence to sing this extremely difficult song.
Stevie and I discussed the song we would sing yesterday, picking a classic yet badass karaoke song. She, Levi, and I are the only ones in the group who can sing, but surprisingly, we’ve never done a duet and need to rectify that immediately.
I don’t feel a thing except excitement, a touch of nerves, and a fiery sensation in my chest when my eyes meet Grayson’s.
His jaw is clenched, a hand on the table curled into a fist, while the woman in the witch costume is chatting him up. He’s not paying her any attention.
His look, body language, and facial expressions remind me of the beginning of the semester when he was still trying to keep some distance between us. I’m sure he’s mad at me for ignoring his texts, but I’m the one who has the right to be upset.
The woman next to him lays a hand on his chest and brushes it up and back down. I look away, feeling a bit of pain from the action. Stevie gives me a reassuring thumbs-up, and I smile. Her old stage fright has clearly disappeared, based on the excitement that lines her face, and I’m quickly reminded that this is supposed to be a fun moment for Stevie and me. Her husband is one of my best friends, and I want to bond with her as much as possible. It’s not the time to be angry, although it does help fuel the feeling of the song.
“You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette plays, and I jump in, glancing at Stevie, knowing she’ll join when she’s supposed to, until we sing the chorus together.
As the song builds, my friends cheer, making me smile, and I sing the chorus as powerfully as I can, matching Stevie’s register. Thank God for those tequila shots. I’m not shy about singing, but this song is a damn challenge, unlike Stevie, who doesn’t need a single drop to do it.
During the second verse, while Stevie is singing solo, and I bob my head while doing a small dance, I decide to face Grayson again and jump in just before I emphasize the lyrics I want to. As I look at him, and sing, “Fuck her?” I can’t help the smirk that pulls at my lips. By the flinch on his face, he seems to get the message.
Going back to Stevie, the next chorus sounds better and stronger than the first. During the short break where only lightvocals are needed, I slide down my mic stand, with Stevie following my lead. Someone in the crowd yells, “Take it off!”
It causes Stevie to snort into the mic, both of us knowing it’s a girl who’s been saying it to almost everyone onstage all night.
Still laughing, the final chorus hits, and Stevie and I go all out, using our entire bodies to sing the ending of the song. I point to my friends, who are now standing and clapping along to the rhythm.
I might be having a great time with Stevie, but my feelings are a total mess. Eventually, I lose myself in the music and put the mic back in its stand as the song comes to an end.
By the time the song is over, I’m breathless and looking at Grayson, who’s still sitting but surrounded by standing people applauding, including his date. His eyes are wide, jaw slightly ajar, and his hands are still clenched into fists.
Shifting my gaze to where my friends are, Stevie and I hug, then bow and run off the stage. The group gives us compliments, while Jake shoots me a knowing look despite the glaze over his eyes from the tequila. I raise both eyebrows at him and shake my head, silently letting him know this is none of his business.
My neck prickles with awareness. Grayson’s eyes are on me, I can feel them, and I need a breather after all that.
“That was so much fun!” Stevie yelps, and gives me another hug.
“It really was. We need to do it again.” And I mean it. Despite everything else going on, I let loose and had fun singing karaoke with someone who could keep up with me.
Levi gestures to let me back into the booth, but I shake my head. “I need to get some fresh air.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” Levi asks.
“No, don’t worry about it. I’ll use the side entrance. I won’t be far, and I’ll be back in time to hear you and Stevie sing.”
“Okay.” He sits back down, and Stevie’s braided wig falls around her shoulder as she leans on Levi.
“Take your jacket and phone just in case.” Kamila hands memy coat and cell. I thank her before hurrying past the stage, where the next person is already performing, and to the side door, where a security guard stands.
