Page 109 of That Friendzone Feeling

“Oh, fuck, yeah,”Connorsays, screwing up his face. “Thatis bad.”

Butshe’s doing it—fully committed, head held high, sparkly hearts bobbing around on top of it as she sways in time with the music.

Mostpeople in the crowd are pulling faces or putting their hands over their ears, but in an affectionate way.They’resmiling and have anawlook on their faces.Afew enthusiastically cheer her on and whistle.

Onlya small handful shake their heads and furrow their brows.Theyreally don’t get it.Well, that’s a terrible shame for them.Becauseif you can’t see the charm, the pure happiness, the love in what’s going on here, then you have no soul.

Aman and a woman at the table next to ours grab the coats off their chairs and head for the door.

“She’sscaring away customers,”Owensays.

“Couldn’tcare less.”Ipoint atEmily. “Lookwhat she’sgiving me in return.Whatshe’s giving everyone in this whole room.”

Herface is lit up with the childlike pleasure of going for it and not giving a fuck.

Shesteps off the stage and disappears in the crowd for a second.Well, her body disappears, her voice still cuts through the air like a blunt knife through a brick.

She’sback in view within seconds as the crowd parts, clearing her path.

Oh, holy shit, she’s going to dance all the way up to me.Mycheeks strain from the enormous smile plastered across my face.

Yup.Hereshe comes, stepping one foot out to the side, then the other.Herpink dress swinging from side to side in time with her hips.Thenher non-microphone-holding hand is over her head, punching the air.

Theroom pulses to the rhythm of everyone clapping in time.

Connor,Owen, andElliotare all up on their feet, joining in.

I’mstaying right here in this seat, waiting for this beautiful, amazing, dazzling woman, who has a worse voice than a tone-deaf crow with a sore throat, to make her way to me.

It’sdefinitely her turn to come get me, andI’mgoing to let her.Andrevel in every moment of her journey.

Asshe moves closer, she hits the song’s cheesy chorus.

It’syou and me against the world

It’salways been that way.

Nowwhat wouldIdo without you?

Ithurts too much to say.

Whenshe gets to the last line, she comes to a halt rightin front of me.She’sso close the breath from the effort she’s putting into belting out every wrong note hits my face.

Insteadof continuing to the next verse, she leaves the crowd, which is now in full voice behind her, to take over.

Emilypicks up my hand from the table, her touch sending a quiver through me that the touch of no other human could ever spark.

Thewoman controlling the music lowers the volume, and the crowd’s singing fades with it.

“I’msorryIwas a dick,” she says and lifts the back of my hand to her lips.

Laughterripples around the room.

“MeetWalker, everybody,” she says, turning to face our customers and holding my hand in the air.

There’sapplause, and a couple of whistles fromConnorandOwen.

“Iwouldn’t be here if it weren’t for this man.Hecreated every beer you’re drinking.”