Page 29 of Semi Sweet (Working For Love #1)

“What will it be?”

“Ohh, sing something sexy,” Beth hissed. “You have to make Sean want you.”

“I really don’t think that is an issue,” Max deadpanned. It appeared that he was the more serious of the two.

“Any recommendations for songs that require backup singers?” I asked.

The DJ looked borderline miserable. “I don’t know, the Supremes? Destiny’s Child?”

“DESTINY’S CHILD!” Beth exclaimed. “Let’s sing ‘Survivor!’ You could sing about Evan!”

Max rolled his eyes. “Because that’s going to make Sean want to jump her bones.”

“The birthday lady has spoken,” I said with a nod. "We’ll sing ‘Survivor.’”

We took our place in front of the microphone and a nearby TV monitor was playing the introduction to the R&B hit blasting through the sound system. I exhaled. Ready or not.

As the song began, I sang along timidly.

It had been so long since I heard the hit, I’d forgotten the words.

The more I read them, the clearer the parallel with my life became and that made me sing with more confidence.

Someone had told the songwriter they would be nothing without them and they were making a point of telling them and the world they were doing just fine.

I was determined that my life would be no different.

Maybe it was the epiphany or maybe it was the alcohol, but soon I had unclipped the microphone and was belting as I moved about the stage.

I laughed out loud when I saw that Beth and Max were doing some semblance of choreography behind me.

When the song was finished, the room erupted with cheers.

Did karaoke count as therapy? Because it was something I could see myself getting behind.

“You are not a real person,” Sean commented when I returned to the table. My backup singers didn’t seem to notice his sly smile as they were already working on their next dance number for when Beth went up to sing again.

“Don’t you steal my catchphrases!” I warned.

“What?” he asked. “You write, you are too kind for this Earth, and I just learned that you can sing decently.”

“You’re drunk.”

Sean laughed. “I’m not.” He got serious. “I have to work tomorrow actually.”

“What about my two in the morning sob story?” I asked.

He checked his phone. “Can we settle for an eleven at night teary-eyed tale instead?”

Knowing that nothing good would come of me drinking more and satisfied I’d made Beth’s birthday a memorable one, I nodded and reached for the birthday girl’s arm across the table. “Beth, I think I’m going to head out.”

She looked alarmed. “You can’t go alone! What if Evan is out there looking for you? I don’t want you to be in the next true crime special I watch.”

“I’ll make sure she gets to her friend’s house. I’ve got to open tomorrow,” Sean said, coming up to stand beside me.

Drunk Beth was a bit more punchy towards her boss than the sober version was. She raised her eyebrows before she began to chant “Get it, Sean. Get it, Sean.” She did a dance as if she was championing for him.

“Alright,” he said with a red face, guiding me towards the exit. “I will see you at your next shift. Happy birthday.” We could hear Beth’s mantra until we were outside with the door shut behind us. “She’s...one of a kind.”

“I had fun,” I replied. “I needed that.”

Sean nodded. “I did, too. It was the most social thing I’ve done since I moved here.” I was prepared to ask him more about that, but Sean must have been perceptive about me attempting to shift focus again. “It’s time to tell me about your dad….”

“Damn it,” I cursed. “You’re persistent.”

“I thought that was obvious.”

I exhaled with a huff before I searched for the words. I had just enough alcohol in my system to feel brave. Brave was less than I’d consumed the night of the disco party. “It’s a shame, really, that I didn’t meet you first.”

Sean nodded. “I think about that often myself.”

I didn’t want that admission to throw me off, so I kept talking. “My father likes people who have plans. He likes them even more when they have practical backup plans to support those big plans.”

Sean looked impressed. “I take it riding the coattails of a family business didn’t impress him.”

“That would be correct,” I replied. “I’m not sure what he’d think now. He might think the corporate upgrade is a suitable backup plan.”

“I think if he knew what you’ve been through, he’d get in line to kick Evan’s ass,” Sean contested. “After me, of course.”

I wanted to believe that, but so much time had passed. I had no idea what he’d think of my living situation now or why I waited as long as I had to escape. It didn’t matter. Just thinking about it was wasting time and energy.

“I was stupid.” I despaired.

“How so?”

“I was stubborn.” I attempted to explain. “We’re a bit similar that way. I wanted to be an adult when I wasn’t ready. He told me not to come back. I just wanted to prove him wrong and neither of us were ready to back down. That’s how I ended up in this pathetic situation.”

“Sounds like a huge misunderstanding,” Sean said.

I could see his apartment building in the distance, a concrete fortress reaching for the dark heavens.

“Maybe at the time.” I bit my lip. “I’m not sure what you would call it now.”

“I can’t make you do anything, but what’s the worst that could happen if you were to stop by? Or even call?”

“We’ve been over this, Sean,” I despaired. “I'll be rejected, cussed out. I’ll tear that wound open.”

“Does speculating help? Wouldn’t talking to him clear the air once and for all?”

I grumbled nonsense at him. “Why do you have to be so wise all the time?”

He shrugged as we cut across the lot for the apartment complex. “More life experience?”

“You’re twenty-seven, not eighty-seven.”

Sean scowled at me. “You don’t want me to go there, do you?”

We were at the lobby door now. I waited for him to let me in as I snapped, “What are you talking about?”

Sean opened the hallway door. He looked like he was going to regret what he was about to say. “Just because you haven’t lived at home since you were nineteen doesn’t necessarily mean you have all the answers.”

“And you do?” I felt the artificial confidence make my hackles go up. I placed my hands on my hips as he put his keys in the lock.

“Slow your roll, Hale,” Sean warned as he let me into the apartment. “I don’t want to see you live with any more regret. You’ve built this wall to protect yourself from more pain, but it’s so thick, it’s hard to get in sometimes.”

I turned my back to him and reached down and pet Bear, who had gotten out of his bed to greet us.

Once again, he was right. Being tough when I felt alone had been the only way I’d survived this long.

I wanted to explain it to him, but it was more than I could even hope to cover in one sitting and he had to work in the morning.

“I will go with you to talk with him. I’ll hold your hand while you call him on the phone. You will never get closure otherwise.”

I turned to look at him. His face was sincere and I got the feeling that if I took him up on his offer for help, it would be for nothing extra, not unless I wanted it to be. I flopped dramatically on the couch. “I need a therapist.”

Sean laughed softly as he sat down beside me. “Lucky for you, I know a lady.”

“Because that’s not a conflict of interest or anything,” I replied with an eyeroll.

When Sean didn’t retort and just looked at me with warm eyes, I found myself leaning in slightly closer.

“But thank you, seriously. For listening, for suggesting, for letting me sleep on your couch. You don’t have to do this. ”

His smile was broad as he replied, “It’s my pleasure.”

I didn’t know if it was the remnants of the alcohol or if he had chipped away part of my defenses, but I found myself closing the limited space between us.

In a strange sort of communication without talking, he met me for the kiss.

I felt him reach for my face like he was going to pull me even closer, but instead he gently broke the kiss.

His dark eyes looked conflicted as he held my gaze. He let out a shaky breath before he murmured, “Sometimes you make it really hard to be a gentleman.”

I shut my eyes as he let me go and felt the couch move when he stood up.

I searched for something simple, something that wouldn’t turn into another long, heavy conversation.

I couldn’t find what I was looking for. I couldn’t even find the words to apologize for kissing him. I wasn’t necessarily sure I was sorry.

“I should go to bed.”

“ Goodnight,” I whispered, the faintest smile crossing my lips.

He nodded at me. “Goodnight.”

I watched him walk towards the bedroom and shut the door behind him.

Bear plodded over to me. I threw my arms around the dog and held him tightly.

This whole thing was becoming more and more complicated.

I knew what Sean was trying to do. As Max had mentioned at the bar, I’d only been free of Evan for a few days.

I knew I’d been officially single that long, but I’d been pining for Sean, even when it had just been his words, for months.

He was trying to be respectful and give me time to deal with all the head baggage I had because of Evan.

It couldn’t have been easy on him with his feelings and now with me staying in his small place. I knew he was trying to protect me.

I heaved a sigh as I let Bear go and went to look for something to wear to bed. I told myself it was probably for the best, because the minute I went behind that closed door there would be no going back.