Page 83 of Fun and Games

"Nope, I'm all good watching from out here," he said quickly.

We headed back to our booth, planning on watching the rest of the show while finishing our beers, but Mason stopped halfway there when someone called his name.

"Hey Mason, you taking the night off for once?"

Cerise Moreau, mega-famous superstar and hottest rocker chick alive, dressed in a leather pleated skirt, heavy black combat boots and thick, perfectly applied eyeliner, was approaching us.

I forced my gaping mouth to snap closed when she came up to Mason and put a hand on his arm in greeting.

I hadn't been all that interested in the idea of meeting famous people when Mason told me he used to be in the music industry. It was a sort of abstract thing. But being confronted, in person, with the lead singer of Cherry Lips, the main lyricist and songwriter, the woman who wrote songs about love, and loss, and heartbreak, the woman who made millions cheer, and scream, and cry their eyes out…

"Hey there," Cerise said to me with a charming smile on her cherry red lips. "You're Mason's friend? It's nice to meet you."

"Hey there," I managed to squeak out.

"I'm surprised to see you somewhere other than in that office," Cerise told Mason. "Did someone finally convince you to take it easy?"

She gave me a subtle, conspiratorial smile, and I returned it weakly.

"Great song choice up there, by the way," she said to me. "Most Disney songs make me really emotional. I would have been a sobbing mess if you'd chosen the theme song fromBeauty and The Beast."

On the one hand, I couldn't imagine someone as bad-ass as Cerise sobbing over anything. On the other hand, I knew her songs were often full of sorrow, grief and anguish. There was no way she could write the kinds of songs she did without being in touch with her emotions.

"Maybe Bree should have chosen a Cherry Lips song," Mason said. "Give you some competition."

I could see Cerise suppressing a smile, the corners of her lips almost twitching up. She and I both knew I wasn't even close to the same league as her. If Cerise shined like a star, I was less than a 30-watt bulb in comparison.

"Maybe you should get up there," Cerise told Mason. "I don't think I've ever seen you take part in karaoke night."

Mason blanched, just like he had when I'd threatened to drag him up on stage.

"Your ears are much better off if I stay in the audience, believe me," he said.

"You want to join us for a drink?" Cerise offered, looking at both of us.

"Thanks, but I'd planned on spending some quality time with my girl," Mason said.

My eyes bugged out. I almost let out a choking sound, but swallowed it.

His girl.

Had Mason really said that? Had he really meant it?

I looked up at him, wide-eyed, but he was still chatting with Cerise. Either he hadn't noticed my reaction or he was carefully ignoring it.

I put a hand to my stomach to quell the butterflies flapping away inside. I bit my lip to stop a silly smile from spreading across my cheeks.

His girl.

Thirty-Two

Masonand I returned to our booth at the back. It was a bit secluded and far enough from the other tables that the murmurs of conversation were hushed and inaudible.

"I still can't believe I met the lead singer of the hottest rock band alive," I said as we continued sipping at our beers.

"They're all just normal people, when you get down to it," Mason said.

"She did seem pretty chill," I replied.