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“What’s my prize? And it better not be any offer having to do with money or paying for school.”
“Then you pick. What do you want?”
Did I dare? Was this my chance to put it out there? “I’ll have to think about it, but I need another couple of shots if I’m to entertain the idea of getting up on stage.” Or to ask him to kiss me if I won.
“Okay, choose a song and then name your prize later.”
Two shots and a martini later, I found myself on stage. We’d spent the last hour flirting and chatting it up. I was right in thinking alcohol would quell the nerves and the darkness which hid most of the audience helped too. But really, there was one motivation larger than anything else propelling me up in front of everyone. A chance to go for it with Colby. If ever there was an opportunity, this was it.
I wished like hell I had my guitar. When I’d said as much to the man in charge of the karaoke night, he, much to my delight, somehow managed to find me an acoustic one. He handed it over.
“Do you prefer the background music, or you want to sing without it?” the man asked.
“Without, please.”
Singing acapella was more my style than trying to keep up with the bouncing ball on a screen. I strummed the strings, refusing to look out into the crowd, but focused on how appropriate this song was right now. Biting my lip, I closed my eyes, getting lost in the opening chords of “California Dreamin’” by The Mamas and The Papas. I mean, who could resist the title alone, given my situation?
My voice hit its full range with the opening words, and I hoped it wasn’t too loud in the microphone. Mine wasn’t a quiet one. Finally, at the end, I glanced out into the crowd. You could’ve heard a pin drop. My anxiety started creeping up as I thought maybe it hadn’t been good until everyone erupted into full applause, complete with whistles and people standing up. I smiled broadly, handing the guitar over to the man in charge.
Stepping off the stage, I stumbled most likely because of the dark and the alcohol, before an arm went around my waist from the back. I immediately recognized the feel of Colby this time. When I turned around, my breath caught at the intense look he was giving me.
He swallowed hard and then seemed to snap out of whatever he’d been thinking. “Nice song choice.”
“I couldn’t resist. So I guess liquid courage did the trick, and I won the bet.”
“I’d say so. I knew you’ve always loved music, but I didn’t realize you sounded like that. You were incredible.”
I blushed. “Thanks. I think the shots are starting to hit me. Do you think it’d be okay to go back to the room and maybe sit in the hot tub?” I’d spotted the Jacuzzi out on the terrace and it would fit in nicely for what I had in mind for my prize.
“Sure, we can head back. Come on.”
On the way out, quite a few people stopped me to compliment my singing. I was on an unimaginable high from finally being able to perform in front of others. Now, if only getting drunk before an audition was acceptable, I could maybe start to contemplate music school.
* * *
Thirty minuteslater we returned to the hotel, but when I tried to get out of the car, I realized I was quickly passing the point of tipsy into full-on drunk.
Colby laughed, putting an arm around me to steady my walk.
“You doing okay?”
“Sure am,” I slurred, causing him to laugh even harder.
“I think those shots are catching up with you. Come on.”
He led me up to the room via the elevator and, once inside, handed me a bottle of water. “Drink this before you go to bed, sweetheart.”
“What happened to the hot tub?” At least that’s what I meant to say, but it didn’t sound quite right to my ears.
“I think you’ve reached your limit. You need to chug some water, then sleep it off.”
“I need my prize from winning the bet first.” I pouted.
He smiled indulgently. “Have you decided what it is you want?”
I stepped into him, putting both hands on his chest, meeting his eyes. I could feel his heart racing with the contact, matching my own. “I want a kiss. And not one on the cheek, not a peck, but a real one.”
He didn’t pull back, which was encouraging. “Why?”
