Page 77 of Can’t Say No

Connor tangles his fingers through my hair and angles my face up towards his.

“Can I tell you a secret, Lanie baby?”

My heart skips a beat.

“I never thought I’d get the chance to love you like this. I’ve loved you in silence for so long that I convinced myself that was all it would ever be. And now that we get to be together, I don’t think I’ll ever be quiet about it again.”

A soft smile plays on his lips, but it never gets the chance to grow before I kiss him, deep and sweet, like we are the only two people at Eddy’s.

A wolf whistle sounds from somewhere behind us, bursting us out from our bubble.

“Okay, you two!” Caroline shouts from the makeshift stage. “I’ve picked your song! Get your asses up here.”

Connor quickly racks our cues and we make our way over.

“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart. Fitting.” He laughs as we take the microphones.

Singing karaoke at Eddy’s is hardly a performance, but the moment my verse starts, I feel it. The intoxicating high that I’ve been chasing since I was a kid. I’ve missed it more than I realized, and a warmth settles over me as I harmonize with Connor through the chorus.

As the crowd starts to sing along, a truth hits me. I’m fucking good at this.

Singing, performing, entertaining a crowd. So much of my career has felt manufactured. I let myself get caught up in all the lies about who I am, that I’m a selfish has-been who’s future is just one big downward spiral.

But this? This magic is real. My heart is still in it.

And good God, Connor is a horrible singer. His megawatt smile makes up for the fact that he’s tone deaf, and as the song ends, he’s grinning wider than I thought possible, eyes locked on mine the whole time.

“Well, how was your first time, Lanie Lou?” His steady hand guiding me down the steps off the stage, eyebrows waggling at his innuendo.

“Pretty fucking great Connor. Thanks for popping my karaoke cherry.”

“Happily.” Connor slings his arm over my shoulder and gives me a squeeze.

“Y’all are gross,” Wells grumbles from his corner in the booth as we slide back in.

Caroline pats his hand.

“Don’t worry old man, one day it’ll be you. Hell, maybe the love of your life is gonna walk through that very door and sweep you off your feet.”

As if on cue, the front door swings open and a crew of older ladies walk inside.

All eyes at our little booth turn to Wells. After a beat, he lets out a booming belly laugh that sends us all into a fit of giggles.

“I mean, I’m all for the expertise of an older woman… but I’m not convinced I’m looking at my soulmate.”

Caroline smiles wide, but I don’t miss the glassy sheen in her eyes. I also don’t miss the tightening in my own chest. A year ago, hell, six months ago, I couldn’t have imagined finding a group of friends like this, and I certainly never expected to find it here in Ridgecrest.

With every passing day, Ridgecrest feels more and more like home.

Wells flags Vic down and nods towards the group of older women.

“Will you put their first round on my tab? Might not meet my soulmate, but worth a shot, right?”

Connor squeezes my knee under the table. His words are for Wells, but his eyes locked on me.

“Yeah, definitely worth a shot.”

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