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The lights dimmed, and a spotlight shone down on the middle of the stage. It was then I noticed the microphone.
“There’s your girl.” My body tensed at her description. My new friend clearly had more time on her hands than she needed if she could keep conversing with me. My head shifted to the ‘employees only’ doors to the left by the stage. I didn’t see her.
A faint voice echoed in the microphone. “Hey, everyone. Thanks for being here tonight.”
My head whipped around so fast I was surprised I didn’t pull a muscle. “Hazel?”
I didn’t realize I’d spoken out loud until the bartender added, “Well, shit. Was this supposed to be a surprise?”
The ice that had filled my veins quickly melted as fire replaced it. Holy fuck. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. “Apparently so.”
My eyes hungrily swept over Hazel’s luscious body. I’d been too distracted earlier and only gave this dress a cursory glance. That had been a mistake. Under the lights it sparkled and showed off every dip and curve of her body making me want to go up there and throw a blanket on her. There was no way others weren’t seeing the beauty before them, and I didn’t want to share.
A cat-call erupted in the audience.
Hazel’s cheeks grew pink as she laughed nervously into the microphone. My gaze narrowed as I sought the person out. He was only a few tables away from me. Clearly, I needed to teach him about boundaries and being appropriate. No one made my girl uncomfortable. Ever.
I pushed away from the bar ready to make sure he was taken care of. A slight hand wrapped around my shoulder. “She would not appreciate this well-intentioned gesture on her behalf.”
I yanked my shoulder from Niki’s grip. “She doesn’t need to know.”
Niki tsked. “You’ll embarrass her. She can take care of herself and if she can’t? That’s why we have Mike.” She pointed to the bouncer that had let me in.
He sent another glare my way. At the very least these two knew and were protective of Hazel. But I was the one who should keep her safe. Not that I wanted to look too close at that fucking feeling.
Hazel cleared her throat, drawing my attention to her bright green eyes and the way she bit her bottom lip. “I decided to sing Olivia Rodrigo’s song, “All I Want” tonight to start. Sometimes songs can help us feel the things we’re burying deep down inside. I want to find a love like this but sometimes it seems impossible.” The audience quieted at her sincere confession and shy smile.
I noticed the sadness that chased across her face before she took a deep calming breath in. As she let it out the instrumental part of the song began by a guy on the piano off to the side. I hadn’t even seen him. I was so fixated on Hazel. She nodded to him to indicate she was ready and when she opened her mouth it was like hearing an angel sing.
“Doesn’t she just light your soul on fire with that voice,” Niki commented. Her gaze glued to Hazel. “You feel it all with every word.”
Niki wasn’t wrong. The hope, the sorrow, the worry all sung by the sweetest voice shone a spotlight on who the song was intended for. Me. The words sliced through me as they left her lips and laid her heart out on the line in front of us all. Her desire to find a lasting love was like knives along the edge of my skin. I hated that she wondered why her love wasn’t reciprocated.
My breathing grew erratic and my palm rubbed a hard circle on my chest. The pain that radiated from that site would have been concerning if I didn’t know better. It wasn’t due to a physical problem. It was emotional. Something I’d avoided at all cost for the greater part of my adulthood. But hearing Hazel question if something was wrong with her, hit me harder than I expected.
Hazel was more than worthy of a good man’s love. A good man’s love. Not mine. She deserved the greatest love of all time. One for the ages. The kind poets wrote sonnets about.
It destroyed me to hear her question her self-worth because I was a fucking bastard. I despised myself for all the times I pushed her away. Yet even knowing all this I wouldn’t have changed any of my actions.
She was better off without me.
“Hey, you okay?” I heard Niki through the slight buzzing in my ears.
I threw up a hand, not sure if I was trying to tell her to leave me alone, or that I was fine. Either way it didn’t matter. I needed to get out of here.
CHAPTER 9
Hazel
Idabbed at the sweat sliding down my chest, heading toward the v of my dress, courtesy of the napkin Niki tossed my way. “Thank you. You’re a Godsend.”
She snorted and placed a large glass of ice water in front of me. “I don’t know about that. You were amazing once again, Hazel.”
I jumped up onto a bar stool and took a big gulp. “I’m so glad you and Lacey pushed me to sing here. Over the past few months I’ve become much more confident in front of an audience.” Niki Belmont, the older sister of my high school best friend Lacey, had encouraged me to sign up when they began open mic nights.
The bar/restaurant belonged to the Belmont’s. It had been in their family for generations. It wasn’t the fanciest place around, but I knew Niki had plans to update the space once her family gave in and let her officially take over management.
“We all knew you could do it.” I’d been at the Belmont’s just as much as my own house growing up. They invited me and Gran to all their family functions and helped to move her into the nursing home when the time came.
