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“Start with You Belong With Me,” Chiara calls from behind us.
I whip around. “Traitor!”
She raises her beer. “Happy birthday!”
“Oh, we're doing it.” Penny is already writing something down.
“We are not.”
“You said we were picking every Taylor song.”
“Picking. Not singing.”
Summer laughs. “Oh, honey.”
I turn to Lexy. “Help me.”
She shakes her head. “You're on your own.”
“I hate all of you.”
“No, you don't,” Penny says.
Unfortunately, I'm starting to think she's right.
“You okay?”
I look over my shoulder to find Jude standing behind me, one eyebrow raised as he glances between the karaoke booth and me.
“I'm okay.” I smile.
“NORA!”
I jump and turn towards the stage, where Penny is already standing with a microphone in her hand.
Oh no.
“Get your ass up here!”
I shake my head. “Absolutely fucking not.”
The opening notes start, and I know them immediately. My mouth falls open just as Chiara lets out a scream.
“YOU BELONG WITH ME!”
“I fucking hate you!”
“LOVE YOU TOO!”
Penny starts singing, badly enough that I almost feel sorry for Taylor. Summer joins her, followed by Grace, and Lexy lasts approximately ten seconds before giving in and climbing onto the stage. Chiara follows soon after and gestures wildly for me to join them.
I stare at the five grown women butchering Taylor Swift in front of an entire bar.
Penny points the microphone at me. “Come on, birthday girl!”
I look at Jude. “Save me.”
He shakes his head. “Nope.”