It’s precisely the right thing to say as Nelly jumps up and down before hugging Jax, who manages to give his drink to Spade just in time. She gives him a peck on the cheek, and they both laugh. I turn around and get a funny feeling in my stomach. My hands form into fists as the smile on my lips vanishes.
I get up and tell my team I need to go to the ladies. I can still hear Jax’s deep and throaty laugh as I walk toward the restroom, trying to ignore the feeling that I shouldn’t feel toward my boss. It can’t be him that I lust after. Even though my track record isn’t the best, crushing on my boss feels like a new low.
Our table erupts with catcalls and hooting when it’s time for Jax and Nelly’s duet. The duo walks to the stage, whispering animatedly. Nelly didn’t want to ruin the song for Jax before they were on stage, so I wonder what they are talking about.
The first notes of “I Love Rock ’N Roll” by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts start playing from the speakers. Jax glances at Nelly when he realizes what they’re performing. She smiles and shrugs her shoulders in a way that makes us laugh.
“This should be fun,” Spade snickers beside me.
“It looks like jefe is finally getting a taste of his own medicine,” Dom continues before high-fiving Rogue.
“What does jefe mean?” I ask and take another sip of my drink.
He looks at me, grinning widely. “It means boss in Spanish. I call him that because I know it strokes his fragile ego to be called the boss.”
I chuckle, even my brain shoutsthank you, amigo, but I didn’t need another reminder that he’s our boss. But before I have time to say anything aloud, Jax starts singing.
What I don’t expect is that he knows how to sing.Holy fucking shit.
That voice, like satin, wraps around me, making me feel warm instantly. I’m hot and bothered like someone decided to shock my entire system and show that there’s much more to a guy I should not find attractive.
Based on our conversation last year, I knew that Jax played guitar and still plays with Ollie and Eli, but that doesn’t always mean that person can sing. I once dated a guy who was talented with his fingers in more ways than one, but when he tried to sing, it was like a bunch of screeching alley cats. I was prepared for something similar with Jax too. But, of course, things couldn’t be that simple with him. Once again, Jackass Bennett wins. And I can’t stop watching him as he performs one of my favorite songs that my da played nonstop when I was little.
Nelly joins Jax, and their voices go well together. Their stage presence captures everyone in the room. People are singing, dancing, and whistling, giving their all to join the show. It’s like we are at a live concert, and everyone is soaking up the energy on the stage.
After the duo finishes, the rest of the bar cheers them on. There are shouts for an encore, but ignoring everyone, Jax walks towards our table, and our eyes meet over the others. He lifts his right eyebrow, a move that I take as a challenge.
Walking onto the stage twenty minutes later, I hear my team and other patrons cheering. I adjust the mic to be at the right level with my mouth and take a deep breath to focus on my performance. There have been hundreds before, but each time, the first minute feels like I’m singing for the first time. The song I picked tonight is one of my favorites to perform. It’s fun, flirty, and brings out a good mood in me.
“Hey, Brooklyn, what's up?” I say to the mic. “My name’s Soph Kennedy, and this song goes to every 90’s baby in the audience.”
The backing track plays from the overhead speakers, and the first audience members cheer. I don’t know who whistles from our table, but I smile their way. As I start singing, everything else but him disappears.
I would remember the lyrics even if I closed my eyes. But I keep them open to see his reactions to my performance. He swallows and keeps looking my way when he realizes I picked my childhood favorite, “Wannabe” by Spice Girls.
As I keep going, listing all the qualities I expect from someone who wants to be my lover, I relax. I move my hips and dance like nobody's watching.
After I sing the last note, all my new friends stand up, and Spade whistles while the others laugh at Jax’s stunned reaction. I bow to show my gratitude to the audience for their enjoyment and excited claps. Standing to my full height, I look directly at Jax, and the corners of his mouth turn up. That one little gesture reminds me of the night he walked into the bar.And it starts something inside me. A fire that I can’t extinguish.
“Holy fuck, woman, you can sing,” Nelly shouts over the next performer once I get to our table a minute later.
I smile at her and make myself a new drink as I can’t tell where I left my previous one. “Thanks. Performing has always been close to my heart.”
“Anything else we should know about you?” Rogue asks from my right.
“I also play guitar and piano but haven’t been able to play since the accident. Let’s see if I can start to practice soon.” I lift my arm now that my sling was removed earlier today.
“I knew something was different about you tonight,” Dom laughs.
Jax and Spade are in the middle of a conversation when the rest of us take shots. Vodka burns my throat and the smell of it reminds me of the night of the accident as Jax was drinking vodka that night. Remembering the little detail, the entire room around me starts to spin.
“I need air,” I tell the table as I hastily start walking toward the front door. I have to stop and lean against the wall as I don’t feel too good. This happens at times when I think about that night. But I thought I was doing better this week.
When I keep walking, I feel him behind me. It can’t be anyone else, as my body only reacts like this when he is near. I still keep walking forward without looking back. Once I make it outside, I stop near the entrance and turn around.
“What do you want from me?”
Those damn beautiful eyes stare at me, their depths filled with so much emotion. “Are you okay?”
