Page 57 of Destiny

“No, no. I want you to.”

“What’s with all of your trepidation in the first place? As far as I understand, you used to sing live all of the time?”

She takes a deep breath in and out. “I did. But that was until the incident.”

I sit up a little. “I’m listening.”

“Okay, I don’t talk about this to almost anyone.”

“Well, then I’m honored.”

“There was this one night when I was singing in a bar that I was hired to perform in regularly.”

“Okay.”

She’s chewing at her fingers like she always does when she’s nervous or concerned.

“And my mind just went blank. The guitar player started the beginning of the song over and over again. But the words just never came to my mind.”

“You didn’t have them typed out or anything?”

“No, it was a song I’d sung probably hundreds of times.”

“Hmph. We all have off-times, Bea.”

“I know, but the stage was where I felt most comfortable. And in that moment, it stopped being my safe space and turned into an enemy of sorts.”

“Well, thank you for telling me about that night, and I’m sorry that happened to you.”

“Thanks.” Then, she looks up at me with doe eyes. “Does that mean you feel sad for me, and you’re going to let me back out of our deal?”

“Absolutely not, missy!”

“Darn it.”

She cuddles in next to me. “You’re going to do great. I promise.”

“You say that now, but wait until I bomb tomorrow, and you want to break up with me due to the pure humiliation you feel.”

I take her face in my hands. “Sorry to tell you this, but it’s going to take a heck of a lot more than that to get rid of me.”

A small smile spreads across her face. “Good.”

We kiss again.

Chapter 5 – Bea

I’ve been so nervous all day that my hands are literally pruney from all of the sweat.

And I’ve made up my mind at least a dozen times to call Marco and tell him that I can’t do it, but part of me wants to push myself to get back up on stage finally. I do miss the rush of a good set.

“You’re kidding!” Micky says after I tell her I’m going to sign up.

“Marco made a deal with me that I have to do it.”

“Ah.” She laughs. “He withheld that ‘d.’”

I looked around to make sure none of our customers heard her.

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