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“I liked the song,” I said, my butt still firmly planted in my seat.
“You love music,” he countered.
“I do.” I finished my water. “But I don’t sing in front of people.”
“Stagefright?”
“No. I just…I just don’t.” I twisted my napkin. “I mean, I sing Christmas songs with Jetta or lullabies to Kevin, but I don’t do the whole stage thing.”
He leaned forward, curiosity on his face. “Okay, whatever it is that has you looking like that, I want to know.”
“Looking like what?”
“Like there’s something going on in your head that’s more than being too shy to do karaoke.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You are far too observant.”
“But I’m not wrong.”
I sighed, knowing he wouldn’t let this go. It wasn’t like it was some deep, dark secret.
“I thought about becoming a musician, or doing something in music,” I explained. “Maybe even a music teacher. But I couldn’t take a risky job. Education used to be the ‘fallback’ job, especially for anyone in the arts, but it’s not a stable field anymore, especially not music or art.”
He frowned. “You should be able to pursue your dream.”
I smiled, touched at his frustration on my behalf. “You’re not spoiled, Damon, but you also don’t understand what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck. You’ve been fortunate enough to have the means to go after what you want, which is great, but not all of us have had that luxury.”
He looked frustrated, but not at me. “Is it hard to work at the store? Helping people who might be doing what you wanted to do?”
I shook my head. “I don’t see it like that. My family needed me to have a job that was financially solid. I’m working on an associate degree in accounting. Online classes and only one or two at a time, but I’ll get there.”
He studied me for a moment, then stood and held out his hand. “Come on. Sing with me. You’re not backing out of your commitment to your family by sharing something you love with me.”
Was that what I’d been doing? Not letting myself do anything that could possibly remind me of what I’d given up because I felt like I’d be betraying the promise I’d made to myself that I’d do what was needed of me and never look back, never be bitter or resentful?
Heart thumping in my chest, I took his hand and let him lead me to the stage. While everyone had been polite and respectful about approaching Damon, the moment people saw where he was going, they cheered. I heard a few surprised mutters, probably wondering who I was, but no one sounded annoyed.
“What do you want to sing?” he asked. “My one request is that it not be a Holden song. I consider that cheating when it comes to karaoke.”
“How about ‘Summer Nights’ fromGrease? Or is that out of your range?”
He raised his eyebrows. “I’ll have you know that I once played Danny at college for a day as a dare.”
“I think you’re full of it.”
Our little debate had been caught by the microphones, so Damon turned to the customers-turned-audience. “Should I prove her wrong?”
A resoundingyessounded, with applause and laughter mixed in. The lights made it impossible to really see anyone, but that made it easier for me to focus on Damon as the music started.
I couldn’t believe I was going to do this.
Twenty-Six
Damon
Last night hadn’t gonethe way I’d expected, but I’d enjoyed every minute of it. I’d thought I’d really screwed things up when she’d told me why she didn’t sing in front of people, but then I’d convinced her to do something she loved.
And she’d been amazing.