AllFreeNovel
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“I found a cool restaurant,” Joel said. “It’s got live music.”
“Like karaoke? Are you gonna sing, Ma?”
Joel slid a glance her way. “Sing?”
Ayesha shook her head. “I don’t think so, baby.”
“Why, Ma? You have a really pretty singing voice, but you only sing for me and Theo. You should sing for Joel.”
“Yeah, you should.” Joel nudged her arm. “I want to hear this pretty singing voice.”
Goosebumps prickled his arm where their skin touched. He’d had no idea she sang. For as long as they’d been together, it surprised him that he’d never heard her.
“They have skateboard parks out here too, Josiah,” he added. “We’ll come back with you and Theo. You’ll love it.”
“That would be awesome.” Josiah stared at them, his smile not so much as wavering. “Well, let me let you kids go have fun.”
They laughed.
“We will,” Joel said. “I love you. Let Theo know we called.”
“I love you too. I love you, Ma.”
“I love you, Josiah.”
He waved, still smiling.
Aleksi yawned.
They waved back until he disconnected.
“Singing voice?” Joel teased.
Ayesha left the bed, walked to the closet, and pulled out her outfit for the night—a top with the back cut out and skin-fucking-tight leggings he knew she’d wear with heels to show off her legs and those curves she claimed she needed more of.
Nope.
For him, she was perfect, and he would show her what he thought of her body until she was too spent to disagree with him.
CHAPTER18
The restaurant wasn’t packed, the atmosphere was comfortable, the lights were low, and the food was delicious. The performers, so far, were all remarkably talented. Some had entire bands and had been performing for a while. Others were amateurs who’d wanted to face their fears and sing in front of a crowd for the first time.
Ayesha was surprised to find most of the music had more of a soulful vibe. There were Spanish, Swedish, German, and English songs. Even the ones she couldn’t understand, she felt the depth behind them. The pain of losing a love, missing one, or needing one.
She glanced at Joel, whose gaze was fixed on the stage. For dinner, they’d had the infamous Swedish meatballs. Joel took his with a side of veggies and mashed potatoes, and she went with egg noodles. After dinner, they shared a slice ofkladdkaka, a dense chocolate brownie-like cake. Then they relaxed and enjoyed the show.
He felt her looking, turned, and smiled, and her heart flopped like a fish pulled from the ocean. How he could have ever thought she’d want anyone else but him was beyond her. It didn’t matter what she said in her dreams.Hewas her dream. He was her thoughts, wishes, and her renewed hope, and she couldn’t believe she’d found him.
A round of applause broke her stare, and the host for the night, a man who’d introduced himself as Zaid, hopped up on the stage. “She was amazing, wasn’t she?” he said. “Can we have a hand for Dahlia one more time, please?”
The audience clapped and whistled.
“Now, I had someone pull me aside and ask if she could perform tonight, even though she is terrified. She’s never sung in front of even her closest friends. The lovely Miss Ayesha, are you ready?”
Joel looked her way.
Ayesha bowed her head, said a quick prayer, and headed toward the stage. Zaid held out a hand to help her onto the platform. Then, to her surprise, he gave her a tight hug.
