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Luca’s eerie pale blue eyes zeroed in on Trace’s shirt. “What are you wearing?”
Trace sat back and pulled the shirt away from his body. “This? Olivia bought it for me.”
Avery snickered. “You bought him an ‘I Love Ketchup’ shirt?”
“He has a strange obsession with the stuff,” I shrugged. “I thought everyone should know.”
“Ketchup is delicious,” Trace licked his lips.
He looked at the time on his phone and stood. “I better get up there,” he pointed to the stage. “You can wait here till I finish my first song,” he informed me.
I watched him bleed into the crowd.
“I can’t believe you’re going to get up there and sing,” Avery shook her head.
“Are you good or do you suck?” Luca asked me.
Avery snorted and answered for me. “Olivia is amazing, but she’s too shy to sing in front of people. I caught her singing by accident.”
“Hmm,” Luca hummed, adjusting his fedora to hide the scar on his forehead. I noticed, that for once, he wasn’t wearing a vest. It seemed weird, seeing him without one. It was like his vests were an extension of his laidback personality. “You look more like the type to draw or something.”
I snorted. “I’m the least artistic person, ever. I can’t draw worth crap.” I had learned that the hard way when Trace took me for painting lessons.
A finger tapping against the microphone ceased our conversation as we turned to face the stage. There were still people standing near the stage, but most people had taken a seat, so I had a clear shot of Trace sitting on a stool. Another guy sat in the corner, with a guitar in his lap, he scratched his stubbled chin, and flipped his wavy dark hair out of his blue eyes.
My gaze quickly left the other guy and focused on Trace. He looked gorgeous sitting up there so casually. His dark brown hair was mused from running his fingers through it. “I’m going to sing, Only You’re the One, by Lifehouse. This one’s for Olivia,” he smirked in my direction. He motioned over his shoulder for the guy to start playing the guitar.
I sat, riveted, as the lyrics poured over me, along with Trace’s raspy singing voice.
“’I’m with you when the lights go down. Take my hand I’m all yours now. I know you’re the only one that would never lead me on. I’m with you when the lights go down ‘cause you’re the one and…Only you’re the one and…’”
I swallowed thickly as the words of the song registered in my brain.
His green eyes never strayed from mine, as each word left his mouth, making their meaning more powerful.
“Whoa,” Avery gasped when the song ended, clapping her hands mechanically.
I clapped too, along with everyone else in the room, completely enamored with the man on stage that was mine completely.
Trace bowed his head under the crowd’s praise. “Thank you everyone,” he grinned. “If y’all don’t mind, I’d like to sing another song, with my girlfriend.” He waved me up on stage. “Get up here, Olivia.”
With red cheeks, I made my way up to the stage.
An older man, who worked there, brought out another stool and microphone. “Thanks, Griff,” Trace said to the man.
I sat on the stool and faced the large crowd. I took several deep breaths to calm myself but it wasn’t working.
Trace’s hand entwined with mine and he gave it a light squeeze. My gaze slid from the crowd and connected with his green eyes.
“You can do this, Olivia,” he assured me. “Forget about everyone else. It’s just me and you, baby.”
I swallowed down the lump in my throat and whispered, “You and me.”
He nodded, smiling reassuringly.
Trace nodded to the guy on the guitar again.
There was no turning back now.
