揥e are aware,?someone said in a dry tone.
Oh. They weren抰 laughing at me. I played Spice Girls all the time in the store. Of course they knew I liked them. Right. I let out a light laugh.
At our table, Wyatt watching with an amused, proud expression.
I wanted to be worthy of his pride, and I also wanted to be worthy of my own pride. My mom flickered into my head, so full of life and joy and passion.
Okay. The smile creeped up my face, into my eyes as they crinkled and I nodded at the bar. At all these people who knew me, and some new faces, like the group of women.
揧eah, Hannah! Wooooo!?One of them桽hima, I think梥creamed and a bunch of new cheers erupted.
揙kay, so, here goes.?My voice was shaky.
The opening bars of the song played and a rush of fuck it energy whistled through my blood. I had heard this song a thousand times and like every other time, it filled me with excitement, energy, and of course, girl power.
I began singing with the music, not even needing to look at the screen with the lyrics. I knew this song by heart. The lyrics flowed out of my mouth. My head bobbed with the beat. I took a few steps. I made eye contact with people and they cheered me on. I was worthy of wearing this dress up here. I was good enough. I was fun enough. I had a terrible singing voice but people cheered and clapped. Olivia turned up the volume so loud, the roof was going to blow off the place. When I held the mic out for one of the later choruses, half the bar sang with me. My face hurt from smiling.
I was doing it. I was that hot girl, confident and carefree.
My gaze returned to Wyatt, leaning forward, chin on his palm, watching me with a look of pure adoration. My heart somersaulted.
I finished the song and the place exploded. I winced from the noise but couldn抰 stop laughing and grinning. My heart raced in my chest, my hands shook, and I waited for the embarrassment to set in, but it never showed up.
If my mom were here, she抎 be on her feet, laughing with me.
The group of women beside our table screamed their heads off.
Joe took the mic from me and I stepped off the stage, high-fiving people along the way back to my chair.
揋ive it up for one of our own, Hannah!?
Another round of cheers rose up.
揂lright, folks, Hannah was the last singer for tonight.?His voice boomed across the sound system and everyone fell quiet. I reached the table and Wyatt pulled me into his arms.
揧ou did it, bookworm,?he whispered into my hair.
I nodded and grinned into his chest. He didn抰 let go, so I shifted to see the stage while leaning against his warmth.
揥e judge the karaoke championship against a rigorous set of criteria,?Joe continued, 搃ncluding song choice, dance moves, and overall stage presence.?He paused for effect. 揟he winner of the Queen抯 Cove karaoke sing-off is?Hannah Nielsen!?
Another explosion of cheers. Over at the bar, Olivia rang the loud bell and the clanging only revved everyone up more. Wyatt squeezed me and laughed with me before he pressed a hard kiss to my mouth.
揋o on.?He tilted his chin to the stage.
揧eah, Hannah!?The women beside us chanting, clapping and beaming. 揧ou killed it!?
I walked back up to the stage and accepted the terrifying toilet paper doll from Joe before turning to the crowd and holding it up high in the air to show them.
揧ou know what to do, Hannah,?he said into the mic and everyone laughed. 揟oilet Paper Princess Patty awaits.?
I made a kissy face and held the doll up to my mouth as Olivia snapped an instant photo. A flash went off the second the doll抯 plastic mouth touched mine and I blinked.
揝he抯 yours for the year. Don抰 lose her, please.?
I shook my head at him. 揑 won抰。 I抣l keep her in the bookstore behind a case.?
Back at my table, I slipped into my seat as Miri appeared.
揌annah! Look at you.?She wrapped me in a tight hug. 揑 don抰 even know who you are anymore.?
My throat choked with happiness. I couldn抰 stop smiling. Wyatt watched me with an amused grin.
揌uddle up,?Miri directed, gesturing between Wyatt and I. 揑 want to get a photo of you two.?
Wyatt grabbed my hand and pulled me into his lap. His arms wrapped around me from behind and he pressed another kiss to my temple. Miri took a few shots on her phone before pausing to admire them. She put a hand to her chest with a wistful expression before she returned to her table.
I moved to stand up but Wyatt held me firm.
揙h my god, you were amazing!?Shima yelled. Empty glasses littered their table and their faces were flushed. They all nodded with enthusiasm.
I beamed back at them. 揑t was fun.?
I didn抰 know what I was so worried about, singing karaoke. No one had cared if I couldn抰 sing. Karaoke was about looking stupid and loving it. I sighed and settled further into Wyatt抯 chest.