揧ou抳e created a monster,?I told Wyatt. 揝he抯 going to be disappointed when you leave.?
My heart stopped as I realized what I said. Wyatt and I stared at each other for a moment, his mouth slightly parted at the acknowledgement of him leaving soon if he placed well at Pacific Rim.
揑 mean厰 I trailed off. I had nothing.
揑抦 going to miss Miri, too,?he said, and the side of his mouth lifted in a sad smile.
My heart clawed up my throat and I heaved in a breath, letting it out as a sigh.
Just as I started to like a guy, he was going to leave.
He put his hand on mine. 揑 want to talk to you about something.?
My heart lifted. 揙kay.?
揂lright, drunks of Queen抯 Cove!?Joe crowed into the microphone and a laugh bubbled out of me as the bar patrons cheered. 揂re you ready to sing your hearts out??
Another big cheer, half of it coming from the table of women beside us. A big smile stretched over my face and I glanced over at Wyatt, easing back into his chair and stretching out.
揥e抣l talk later.?His eyes sparked with amusement.
揟onight is not just karaoke night, folks,?Joe continued. 揑t抯 Queen抯 Cove抯 fourteenth annual karaoke sing-off.?A round of cheers rose up. 揂s always, the winner gets to take home the terrifying and unhygienic Toilet Paper Princess Patty.?He reached out and Olivia handed him a doll with an unfortunate haircut. The doll抯 skirt stretched around a toilet paper roll and it had those unsettling eyes that blinked. 揟his creepy doll has been in my family抯 bathrooms for generations and the winner gets to take care of her until next year抯 competition.?
Every year, the doll changed hands based on whoever won the sing-off. The winner had to kiss the doll on the lips in front of everyone, because it was tradition.
揝o Queen抯 Cove, I have a question for you,?Joe asked. 揂re you ready??
Another round of cheers and applause rose up as Joe waved the doll in the air.
The first singer stepped up and belted out a pitchy version of Seal抯 Kiss from a Rose. The bar didn抰 care that the grocery store owner couldn抰 sing. They fed off his enthusiasm, clapping and hollering and cheering him on. They gave the next singer the same warm welcome, and the next. The group of women from the table beside us sang Sister Sledge抯 We Are Family and got a standing ovation. They returned to their table with bright eyes and flushed cheeks and something sweet and sharp panged in my chest at their happiness.
I thought about Div and his drag show, how fearless and confident he was. How he was afraid but had no regrets.
揑抣l be right back,?I told Wyatt, slipping out of my seat. He brushed my arm as I passed, a brief gesture that sent sparks up my arm and emboldened me further. I exchanged a few words with Joe and returned to my seat.
Wyatt quirked a curious brow and I bit back a smile.
揧ou抮e up to something, bookworm.?
I nodded, smiling wider. 揑 am. It抯 the dress.?I gestured down at it, the sequins catching and reflecting the light. 揑t makes me bolder.?
揑t makes you fucking radiant,?he bit out, a hungry look passing through his eyes.
Girlfriend, he had said. As sweet as it was, it pinched in my chest. Girlfriend until next week? Girlfriend until he got on a plane?
I shoved the thoughts out of my head. Tonight was my night. I could worry tomorrow.
揘ext up,?Joe抯 voice boomed, 揌annah Nielsen抯 singing Wannabe by The Spice Girls!?
揙h, shiiiiit!?a guy I went to high school with called from the back. 揊uck yes! I love that song!?
Wyatt抯 eyebrows shot way up with delight. 揧eah??
I shook my head and took a deep breath. Nerves rattled my ribcage and my hands shook. 揧eah. I don抰 think I抣l ever be ready, but I抦 going to go for it.?
He winked. 揋ood girl. I抣l be here.?
As I passed, he pulled me down and gave me a hard kiss in front of everyone. The table of women beside us lost their minds and I flushed with pride. Wyatt was mine, even if it was just for now.
People clapped and beamed at me as I walked up to the microphone.
My heart thudded in my chest. Joe handed me the mic and I stepped into place. People could probably see the sequins flickering with light as my chest pounded against them. I swallowed and my throat went tight. Everyone watched. My gaze snagged on Avery, leaning against the bar. She must have just slipped in. She gave me a wide-eyed, beaming grin and thumbs up and I nodded and sucked in another deep breath.
Holy shit. Everyone was staring at me.
Also, I was a terrible singer. Like, awful.
Holy shit.
揢mm厰 I said into the mic. 揝o I抦 going to sing a Spice Girls song. Some of you may know that I like them.?
The bar burst into laughter and I frowned.