AllFreeNovel
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“It’s good. Real good with this girl here.” Nate motions toward Hannah.
I go to rub her leg in athat’s my girlkind of way and am so glad I stop myself just in time to rub my own leg instead.
“I see we’re having a little reunion over here!” Emma, the owner of Pony Up, says. “How would you guys like to get onstage to perform just one number, for old times’ sake?”
Hannah and the guys all look at each other, seeming to be up for the idea.
Cole speaks up first. “Let’s do it. You still have equipment back there? Obviously, I don’t travel with my drum set,” he teases.
“Sure do,” she replies in her sweet tone.
They all hop out of the booth before I realize I need to move, so Hannah can get out. She nudges my leg with her own, and when I look at her, she tilts her head, saying, “Want to let me out?”
“Sorry.” I move out of her way and step to the side, so she can exit the booth.
She places her hand on my chest, just like she has many times before. “Thank you.”
When she realizes what she did, she quickly moves her hand back and heads toward the stage in a bit of a rush.
I sit back down in the booth and scoot back, so I’m facing the stage. I raise my arm and rest it on the back of the booth and lean back to take a sip of my beer.
Ellie, Leah, and Tony talk about everything and nothing, but I’m not hearing a word they’re saying. My mind is all about Hannah and the way we’ve gone back to our normal ways, even after not seeing each other for five years.
Two days ago, she wasn’t a thought in my mind, yet now, I can’t get her out of my head. I need to stop it, too, because I know she’s not staying. She’s got a career in Nashville. She already left me for there once. I won’t give her the opportunity to do it again.
It takes a few minutes for them to get ready, but when Emma comes to the stage, I sit up a little straighter, preparing myself to see her perform again.
I used to love sitting in the audience and watching her. I was so proud to say, “That’s my girl.”
“We have a surprise for you,” Emma sings into the microphone. “I want to welcome back to the stage for the first time in five years, Mason Creek’s The MC Band!”
The four of them enter the stage while everyone applauds their arrival.
“Thank you! It’s good to be home!” Hannah says, making everyone scream more. “Did you guys know we have an album coming out next week?”
They all cheer again, and even I give a loud whistle.
“Well, the first song we’re releasing is called ‘On My Mind,’ and we’re going to play it for you tonight before anyone else gets to hear it.”
While everyone is clapping, Hannah looks to the guys as they count down their start with Cole and Nate beginning with a beat that’s slow in tempo.
As Hannah sings the first lyrics, my entire body is covered in goose bumps. She had a beautiful voice in high school, but now, it’s spectacular. The way she carries the notes from high to low in a way only a professional can blows my mind.
I can’t help but close my eyes for a brief moment and let her voice wash over me. When I open them, Leah is staring at me. I ignore her questioning eyes and take a sip of my beer, trying to blow off my actions.
The longer I sit there, the more watching her affects me. Before the song is over, I can’t handle it anymore, so I grab my beer, down the last of it, and leave without saying good-bye to anyone—especially Hannah.
CHAPTERTWENTY
Hannah
I don’t know why I let Matthew leaving last night bother me so much. When we finished our song, I was flying so high. When we came back to the table and I saw he wasn’t there, I felt like a balloon slowly losing helium and falling to the ground.
We hung out until the bar closed, and then I couldn’t get to sleep because every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was him.
I was finally able to fall asleep, only to be woken up by a loud bang coming from the front room.
After I sit up in bed, completely disoriented, it takes me a few seconds to gain my bearings, to figure out that I’m not at my place in Tennessee, but in Mason Creek. Then, I hear the noise again.
