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“I so will.” She grins at me and my heart thuds in my chest. “I won’t let you down.” Her eyes are soft and inviting, her smile is hazy. When she extends her hand to pull me off the couch, I take it.
* * *
The opening bars of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” make me choke out a laugh.
“This is your choice? Really?”
Adriana and Luz are watching us expectantly, and I feel itchy and awkward. Not something I’m used to.
“Do you not know the words?” Callie’s eyes are sparkling.
“Oh, I know them. This was my sister’s favorite song as a kid.”
“Bring it, then.” She makes a beckoning motion with her hand and passes me the mic. “Oh, and you have to do Timon and Pumba’s dumb parts in the beginning.”
I stumble through the first bars, fumbling the silly dialogue, until Adriana and Luz join in, like the world’s drunkest peanut gallery.
Callie pumps a fist in the air, and I can’t help but smile. My part comes and I manage to sing the lines. It’s easier when I’m not looking at Callie or her friends. She gives me an encouraging smile, and then she belts her lines, and my jaw drops so fast that I nearly drop my mic. She’s electric. I can’t look away. I muddle through the words while she closes her eyes and pours her heart into every word.
I look at Adriana with wide eyes, and she shrugs, a small smile on her face, like this is a common occurrence. Callie owns the room, and I try to keep up, stumbling over the words and jumping in a little too late. But true to her word, she carries us both. Holy shit. She can really sing. She can really fucking sing. The final lines come, and she holds my gaze while she sings them.
“Another?” she immediately asks, and the girls cheer.
“Sure. Another.”
“You did good. Little stiff in the hips but—” She shrugs. “You’re a newb.”
“A newb? I’ll show you newb. Give me the book.”
“Someone’s cocky,” she crows, but she’s smiling.
I know exactly which song I want, so I find the number quickly and punch it in. I loosen my tie and roll my sleeves while the opening bars play.
When the backing track to an Elvis hit starts playing, I bring the mic up with a flourish, start crooning the lyrics, and do my best impression while Callie laughs. I add an extra swivel to my hips while she watches. I look like a fool, but she loves it. She flops onto the bench next to Luz while I perform, and when I finish, I bow with a flourish and the girls cheer.
“Tens across the board,” Luz shouts.
“And the singing wasn’t bad either,” Adriana adds and the group dissolves into giggles.
They’re clearly drunk and I grab their last beer, partly to keep Callie from having any more.
“So where to next?”
“I’m heading home.” Luz rises to her feet unsteadily, and Adriana follows.
“Me too. I have an early morning workout class,” Adriana says.
“Sadist,” Callie says with a grin.
“Let me have my driver take you back. You’re in the city?” I’m already texting Lou to bring the car around.
“Oh no. It’s okay,” Adriana refuses. “We’ll take the train.”
“Shut up,” Luz says. “I want to be driven.”
“Good choice.” These two are in no shape to be on public transit.
We burst into the fresh October air, and Lou is already there. I slip him an extra bill, along with their addresses. He gives me a surprised smile. “Walking, Mr. Crown?”
