Page 135 of Salto

I pushed the thought aside and let my smile fade, letting Rove think he'd won.

There was still one thing Eero Rove apparently hadn't learned about me.

I never backed down from a challenge.

I let the victory sit with him for about five seconds before I set my drink down and started moving.

After scooting out of the booth and pulling my hair up into a bun, I turned to look back at him.

The confident look on his face had vanished, obviously not expecting me to actually do it. I think I’d genuinely caught him off guard.

The realization sent a small thrill through me.

“I’m going to put my name on the list," I announced to the table, and everyone’s heads turned in my direction.

Lexi smiled and Dean gave a little whoop.

“Scarlet is going to put on a show. Let’s go!”

Miles and Matt nudged each other and AJ looked mildly intrigued.

My heart was hammering, but the shock on Rove’s face was worth the adrenaline rush I was about to experience. And he’d have to do it after me, and I couldn’t wait to see that.

I went up to the DJ and gave them my song.

“There’s one person in front of you,” the DJ yelled over the music. I nodded and hung out by the stage, waiting my turn.

When the song ended, an electric thrill shot through me as I took the microphone.

“Next up is Scarlet!” the DJ announced and I heard a few cheers that made my pulse increase.

Super Bass by Nicki Minaj started playing over the speakers and I tried my best to summon the version of myself that used to sing with Jamie when we had impromptu dance parties together in our living room. Or when Laney, Mia, and I blasted our music together and sang at the top of our lungs getting ready for a meet together.

I closed my eyes, summoned the courage to show a side of myself I hadn’t allowed to shine through since arriving here—and then started to sing.

For half a second, I wondered if I'd completely lost my mind.

Then the words came flooding back.

I memorized them when I was nine years old. It was one of the songs that had sparked my love of rap. I let the nostalgia take over as the first verse rolled out effortlessly.

I watched Dean shoot to his feet, throwing both arms into the air.

"HOLY—"

The music drowned out the rest, but the expression on his face filled in the blanks.

Lexi was doubled over laughing, clapping to the beat while the other guys nodded along, grinning as they watched.

And Rove.

He wasn't laughing or singing along. He was just watching me.

His elbow rested on the back of the booth, one hand pressed lightly against his mouth as he fought a smile.

He gave the smallest shake of his head.

Like he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing.