Page 124 of Home of the Brave

“We’re going to a karaoke bar,” he said.

“We are?”

“Yes, Kendall made reservations last week. She figured we’d need an outlet either way and chose this.”

I raised my brows. “Are you guys frequent karaokers?”

He bobbed his head. “Some of us enjoy it more than others, but it is generally a good time, and Kendall was right that it’s a fun release after stressful games.”

“Well, then, lead the way.” I held out my hand, and he slid his fingers between mine.

“Would Cambrie want to come?” he offered.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if this were her favorite pastime, but she had plans to meet up with some friends who are here for only a few days.”

“She’s going to miss out,” he grinned, and we walked a few blocks before meeting up with the others.

“Are you guys ready?” Wyatt rubbed his hands together.

“Yes, come on,” Erik waved us inside, and a host guided us back to a private room where food was waiting for us, along with a small stage in front of a white screen.

“Nice,” Derrek nodded as he scoped out the microphone and speakers. “‘Benny and the Jets’?” He asked Amelia.

“Of course,” she eyed him. “You better hit the note this time.”

“Oh, boy,” Josh slipped his arm over my shoulders. “Those two take it very seriously. I have a theory that they practice at home.”

“The things retirement does to people,” I tsked.

“Everyone make a plate, then we’ll get the playlist sorted.” Madi waved everyone to the back of the room where a small buffet had been set up with buffalo wings, sliders, tater tots, onion rings, and cupcakes.

“Wow, our season is finally over, and time to let loose,” Erik grinned as he added three sliders to his plate before picking up a chocolate cupcake and licking the frosting. “I haven’t had sugar in so long,” he moaned.

“Yes, this is the reward for winning,” Kendall teased. “If you lost, I would have called and had them change it to chicken, rice, and broccoli.”

Wyatt gagged. “Don’t say those words again until September."

Josh handed me a plate, and I went through the line, not quite as greedily as the guys, then found a seat.

“What’s your go-to?” Josh asked as he sat next to me.

“I don’t have one,” I admitted. “This is really not my thing.”

“You don’t have to sing if you don’t want to,” he assured me. “They might pressure you, but if you tell them no, it just means more time for them to perform.”

I laughed. “I’ll do one duet with you, then call it good.”

He grinned. “Disney or classic?”

I grimaced. “I don’t have a Disney princess voice.”

He leaned over and pulled a booklet from the stack near the stage and flipped it open. It was full of song titles by genre, then by duets and groups. “What about ‘Islands in the Stream’?”

“I can’t do Dolly justice,” I put a hand over my heart. “She’s sacred.”

He chuckled. “Okay, ‘You’re the One That I Want’?”

“Maybe.” That felt more realistic for my level of talent.